Leopard plant is a clumping herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae (daisy)f family grown for its large, bold leaves spotted with gold. Native to Japan and eastern Asia is is found growing along streambanks and in moist meadows. The species name japonicum refers to its native origins of Japan. It performs best in shade with leaves burning easily in the sun. Soils should be rich, and moist, and though this species tolerates drier soils than other members of this genus, it will do best to receive deep waterings in summer months. Showy yellow blooms appear in summer, lasting through fall and dying back by winter. The leaves are also showy and sometimes flowers are removed to showcase the leaves. This species of Ligularia is the best for the warm Piedmont and Coastal Plain, while the tall flowered types only prosper in the mountains. Use this perennial in small groups or mass plant along borders of woodland or shade gardens, in riparian areas, pools, ponds, or bog gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails are occasional pests. More information on Farfugium .
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Large (12" long) glossy, leathery, with golden spots. Basal clumps of kidney shaped spotted leaves with long petioles die back at temps below 20 degrees F.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb; Head
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1"-2" yellow daisy like flowers bloom on loose corymbs late summer to fall
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern China to Temp. Eastern Asia
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Pond; Pool/Hardscape; Riparian; Woodland
Landscape theme
Shade Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#piedmont #yellow flowers #shade garden #showy leaves #deer resistant #coastal plant #clumping #flowers mid-fall #stream banks #showy flowers #heavy shade tolerant #flowers early fall #flowers late summer #interesting leaves #wet soils tolerant #pond margins #border front #poolside planting #mass planting #boggy sites #perennial #meadow #woodland #small groups