Blog by Michelle Schlegel
I found a ‘Leopard plant’ in a deep shady area of a local nursery. I hadn’t ever seen one before and found the large, glossy leaves so attractive. The leaves are about 1 foot across, kidney-shaped, and a beautiful deep green. They grow to 2 feet high and 3 feet wide clumps. Eventually, these rhizomatous plants spread to form new clumps. The leaves will stay evergreen above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the fall, it sends out 3-foot stalks of yellow daisy-like flowers. The ‘Leopard plant’ prefers moist soil, lots of humidity, and partial to full shade. Where I live, it is quite hot and dry in the summer, so keeping it looking so beautiful might be a bit difficult. Also, the leaves would surely get beaten up in our occasional gusty winds, so I am rethinking how I can protect them. But beware, snails and slugs love these beautiful plants!
This plant came with the name tag of Ligularia tussilanginea but has subsequently been reclassified as Farfugium japonicum. It is native to the moist meadows and stream beds of Japan, Korea, and eastern Asia. The cultivar F. aureomacula has also gained an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
