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Leopard's Bane

Doronicum (dor-ON-ih-kum)

Family: Asteraceae Non-native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Leopard's Bane is a genius of 38 species of showy spring-blooming plants. They produce bright yellow daisy-like flowers on strong stems and make great cut flowers. They are native to Europe in rocky alpine woodland areas. Leopard's Bane is best suited to areas with cool night temperatures in summer as they do not tolerate heat and humidity well. Grow as and annual in zones above 7. They may die down in the heat of summer and return in fall in ideal conditions. The plant spreads by rizomes. Plant in average to humusy, moist, well-drained soil in part shade. Does well in containers, rock gardens, shade borders and woodland gardens. Pests: Aphids, Sawflies

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 53 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenulate; Denticulate; Entire
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are heart-shaped and deeply toothed. Shape and size vary between species.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Medium bright yellow, daisy-like flowers borne singly on erect stems rising above the foliage.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Achene is oval, flattened and ribbed
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Erect green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, Asia-Tropical, Africa and Asia-Temperate
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Cutting Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#daisy-like #cool weather plant #border planting #spring interest #rock garden #butterfly friendly #partial shade tolerant #mass planting #yellow flowers #perennial #container plant #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Rabbits
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.