Ligularia is a plant of bold leaves and late summer flowers, with clumps of big, glossy foliage topped by orange daisies or tall spires of yellow. Grown well, it brings a lush, almost tropical feel to the edge of a pond or a damp corner where little else holds its own.
It also needs something many plants do not, which is constant moisture. Most of the plants we write about cope happily with drought, and ligularia is the exception, so this guide starts with an honest look at the kind of garden that suits it. It then covers planting, watering, slugs, winter care, safety and good companions.
Ligularia at a glance
- Botanical name Ligularia, popular forms include Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' and Ligularia 'The Rocket'
- Common name Leopard plant, ligularia
- Plant type Clump-forming herbaceous perennial, dies back in winter
- Hardiness Fully hardy, 'Desdemona' is RHS H6 (-15 to -20C)
- Height and spread Around 1m for 'Desdemona', up to about 1.8m in flower for tall spire types, spreading 60cm to 1m
- Flowering July to September, orange or yellow daisies in clusters or on tall slender spires
- Foliage Large rounded or jagged leaves, in 'Desdemona' dark green above and maroon-purple beneath
- Position Partial shade, or sun with shelter from the hot midday and afternoon sun and from drying winds
- Soil Reliably moist to boggy, rich in organic matter, clay suits it well
- Good for Bog gardens, pond margins, stream sides and damp shady borders
Check your soil before you buy
Ligularia is not drought-tolerant. On dry, sandy soil or in a sunny border that bakes in July, the leaves collapse every afternoon and scorch at the edges, and the plant never reaches its proper size.
If your garden has heavy clay that stays damp, a pond, a low spot where water collects or a shady border that never dries out, ligularia will be at home. If you garden on light soil, as many people on Lincolnshire's drier east side do, either build a bog bed or choose plants from our drought-tolerant range instead.
The best spots in the garden
The ideal place is the margin of a pond or stream, where roots reach moisture all year. A north or east facing border on clay, a damp corner under a light tree canopy or ground beside a downpipe all work well too.
Some sun is fine and gives more flowers, as long as the soil stays wet and the plant is shaded from the strongest sun after midday. Shelter from wind helps, since the large leaves lose water fast and tear in exposed spots.
Building a bog bed on drier ground
A simple bog bed holds water around the roots and lets you grow ligularia where the natural soil is too free-draining.
- Dig out an area at least 1m across to a depth of about 45cm.
- Line it with an old pond liner or heavy polythene, and push a garden fork through the base a few times so it drains slowly rather than turning stagnant.
- Refill with the excavated soil mixed generously with garden compost or well-rotted manure.
- Soak the bed thoroughly before planting, and top it up with a hose or water butt in dry spells.
Planting and mulching
Plant in spring or early autumn while the soil is moist and warm. Dig in plenty of organic matter, set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and water heavily straight afterwards, even if the ground already feels damp.
Finish with a thick mulch of compost, leaf mould or bark, 5 to 8cm deep, keeping it just clear of the stems. Renew it each spring. This mulch is the single most useful thing you can do to keep the roots cool and the soil moist through summer.
Watering and that afternoon droop
Even in damp ground, ligularia leaves often droop on hot afternoons as they lose water faster than the roots can replace it. If the plant perks up by evening, it is fine. If it is still limp the next morning, the soil is too dry and needs a long, deep soak.
In dry spells water two or three times a week rather than giving a light daily sprinkle, and direct the water at the soil. A spring feed of general fertiliser or a layer of manure is all it needs to fuel those big leaves.
Slugs and other problems
Slugs and snails are the main pest, and they can shred young spring leaves overnight. Protect new growth with wildlife-friendly slug pellets, copper bands, beer traps or night patrols with a torch, and clear hiding places nearby.
Brown, crispy leaf edges mean too much sun or too little water. Powdery mildew sometimes appears in late summer when plants are dry at the roots, which is another reason to keep them well watered.
Cutting back, dividing and winter
Cut faded flower stems down after flowering unless you like the fluffy seedheads. Once frost blackens the foliage in autumn, cut the whole plant back to ground level and add a fresh mulch. Ligularia is fully hardy and needs no winter protection.
Every four to five years, lift and divide crowded clumps in spring as the shoots appear. Use a spade to split the tough rootstock into fist-sized pieces and replant them in well-prepared, moist soil.
Safety with children and pets
Ligularia contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that can harm the liver if eaten in quantity. It is not known as a common cause of poisoning, but it is sensible to plant it away from grazing pets such as rabbits and tortoises and to teach children not to eat garden plants.
Wear gloves when dividing or cutting back if you have sensitive skin, and wash your hands afterwards.
Planting partners for damp ground
Ligularia leaves pair well with other moisture lovers that offer contrast in shape. Try it with Rodgersia, hostas, Astilbe, Japanese primulas, Siberian iris and ferns such as Matteuccia.
Dark-leaved 'Desdemona' looks striking beside lime-green hostas or the feathery plumes of Astilbe, while tall yellow spire types make a bold vertical accent at the back of a damp border.
Questions about Ligularia
Why does my ligularia wilt every afternoon?
Large ligularia leaves lose water faster than the roots can take it up on warm afternoons, so some droop is normal. If the leaves recover by evening, the plant is healthy. If they stay limp into the next morning, water deeply and consider more shade or a thicker mulch.
Can ligularia grow in full sun?
Only if the soil stays wet all summer, such as at the edge of a pond. In ordinary border soil, full sun leads to scorched leaves and constant wilting. Partial shade or protection from afternoon sun gives far better results in most UK gardens.
Is ligularia poisonous to dogs and cats?
Ligularia contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are harmful if eaten in large amounts. Most dogs and cats ignore it, but it is best kept away from pets that chew plants and from grazing animals. Contact your vet if you think a pet has eaten a significant amount.
Does ligularia come back every year?
Yes, it is a long-lived hardy perennial that dies back to the ground in autumn and reappears in spring. Clumps get larger each year in good conditions. Watch for slugs on the new shoots as they emerge in April and May.
If your garden has a damp corner that needs bold leaves and late colour, browse our perennials collection to see ligularia alongside plants for every kind of soil, from bog to gravel.