Leopard Plant (Ligularia
species) is a perennial plant. The foliage is a glossy dark-green with a purple
underside. The dramatic leaves are large and round or heart shaped. It is also known commonly as tractor seat
plant or ragwort.
The daisy-like, bright-yellow or orange flower are held on
tall stalks that bloom in early- to mid-summer.
It is native to Asia and is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8.
It can reach 5 feet high and 4 feet wide.
Ligularia is
closely related to Seneceo and Farfugium.
Hummingbirds love it as well as various kinds of bees and
butterflies.
Leopard plant is deer-resistant, but the foliage can
be damaged by slugs and snails.
It grows best in rich, damp, and humusy soils in part shade
to full shade. Plant it in a location sheltered from winds and out of the hot
afternoon sun.
Ligularia will
wilt during the summer heat, but quickly recovers after a deep watering.
To propagate Ligularia,
divide it in the early spring.
Popular cultivars include: 'King Kong', ‘The Rocket’ and
‘Britt-Marie Crawford’.
Leopard Plant: You
Can Grow That!
The video was produced
by Washington Gardener Magazine.
Audio, Video. Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz
Editing by Aicha Bangoura
➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up
and subscribe to our Youtube
channel (thank you!)
➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new
videos are out
"...there has been no greater love in my life than flowers and gardens. And specifically, their ability to impart eloquent tidings to us, and to heal and nurture us in so many ways."
This winter/spring session, I have taken on two editorial interns. Look for their author byline in upcoming Washington Gardener Magazine issues and on this blog -- as well as on the Washington Gardener YouTube videos and GardenDC Podcast. As a first assignment, I've asked them to write a short introduction to our readers so you can get to know them.
My name is Aicha Bangoura (pictured at right) and I'm currently a senior studying journalism in
Philip Merrill College at the University of Maryland. After freelancing diverse stories for several
experience, I plan to show and tell stories about the beauty of the ecosystem and the people
who contribute to it. In my earlier school days, I took classes that involved planting and I
enjoyed the process and anticipation. I’m ready to start a brand new journey as an intern at the
Washington Gardener Magazine.
Hi! My name is Lauren Bentley (pictured at left) and I am currently a senior studying at the University of Maryland. I am a double major in journalism and criminology and criminal justice. I've written all throughout high school and college. Most recently, I worked at the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, part of the university's Capital News Network. In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, baking, and hanging out with my friends. I am so excited to be working for the Washington Gardener this upcoming spring, and hope to expand my knowledge and skill-level in gardening.
In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with aPeggy Singlemann, host of Virginia Home Grown, all about using plants and other solutions to hide ugly landscape features. The plant profile is on Star Anise (Illicium) and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Being a Serial Seedling Killer" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.
BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!
And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!
In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with author Shelley S. Cramm about creating a Bible-inspired garden. The plant profile is on Ligularia and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Fresh Beginnings" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.
BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!
Shelley's book, My Father is the Gardener, is available at https://amzn.to/3ZhGwex(note this is an affiliate link and we may earn a few pennies when you click on it.)
And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!
UPDATE: Our online registration has ended for the 1/31 Brookside Gardens event, but we still have a few spots left. If you'd like to join us, come to the registration desk just inside the Auditorium at Brooksde Gardens starting at 12noon on Saturday. The program gets started at 12:30pm. (Or sign up for next week's event at Green Spring Gardens on 2/7. See the Eventbrite ticket order links below for that one at the bottom of this post.)
Here are the speakers for the upcoming Washington Gardener Seed Exchanges 2026. Seed Exchange attendees trade seeds, exchange planting tips, hear expert speakers, and collect goody bags full of gardening treats.
Talk 1 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange atBrookside Gardens:
Debby says, "One of my absolute favorite things to grow is lettuce." There areso many different varietiesthat I end up growing over 30 in the fall garden. Lettuce can bestarted indoors in summerfor larger transplantsor direct seeded once temps cool down a bit. Debby will share her tips and tricks for growing greens all year round.
Talk 2 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange atBrookside Gardens:
"Grow the Cutting Garden of your Dreams - One Seed At A Time! "
Have you ever wanted to grow a garden full of flowers, but felt too overwhelmed at a nursery or just didn't want to spend the money on lots of seedlings? Sowing your own flowers is an easy way to get lots of bang for you buck and there are lots of different ways to approach this growing technique. Alex will teach you the various ways she grows from seed for her flower farm, Quince Blossom Ridge. The talk will review the different types of seed, how best to sow them and multiple ways to start your seeds (including plug trays, soil blocks, bulk sowing, winter sowing, and if/when to direct sow). Whether a novice or a pro, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks for great germination, healthy seedlings, and happy transplants to grow a bountiful array of flowers, filler, and foliage.
Talk 1 on 2/7 at the WG Seed Exchange atGreen Spring Gardens:
“Cucumbers Love Sunflowers: Companion Planting for the Home Garden"
Speaker: Linda L. Jones, owner, Elements of Nature
Companion Planting is a method of growing plants in proximity to each other because of their ability to enhance or complement the other's growth or attract beneficial insects or repel insect pests. Companion planting includes techniques such as trap cropping, spatial protection, beneficial habitat, and nurse cropping.
Linda L. Jones is a certified master gardener and owner of Elements of Nature - Botanicals and Farmaceuticals, Clinton, Maryland . She focuses on growing flowers and herbs and gardening education. She is an avid seed collector and has a collection of over 500 varieties of open-pollinated and heirloom, annual, perennial and herb seeds.
She has presented on several diverse gardening topics and has led workshops throughout the DMV since 2010, beginning as a master gardener intern. She often incorporates tips on creative, effective and alternative ways to maximize growing potential and space. In addition she uses her knowledge of growing, food, herbs and flowers and incorporates them into designer and exotic loose leaf teas, lotions and other home arrangements and into her natural products and skin care line - all of which are available at www.elementsofnatureusa.com She believes that “Through saving and sharing seeds we are all helping to spread hope and enrich lives across the world”
Talk 2 on 1/31 at the WG Seed Exchange atGreen Spring Gardens:
"Grow the Cutting Garden of your Dreams - One Seed At A Time! "
Have you ever wanted to grow a garden full of flowers, but felt too overwhelmed at a nursery or just didn't want to spend the money on lots of seedlings? Sowing your own flowers is an easy way to get lots of bang for you buck and there are lots of different ways to approach this growing technique. Alex will teach you the various ways she grows from seed for her flower farm, Quince Blossom Ridge. The talk will review the different types of seed, how best to sow them and multiple ways to start your seeds (including plug trays, soil blocks, bulk sowing, winter sowing, and if/when to direct sow). Whether a novice or a pro, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks for great germination, healthy seedlings, and happy transplants to grow a bountiful array of flowers, filler, and foliage.
