Ligularia dentata Dark Beauty - Leopard Plant

Ligularia dentata 'Dark Beauty' is a new variety with large leaves, ranging from copper green to dark brown, with a purple-brown underside! This Ligularia is spectacular with its enormous rounded clump adorned in the middle of summer with tall corymbs of large yellow-orange daisies, which are vibrant in contrast to the thick, dark kidney-shaped leaves, like leather. It is a perennial of wet places par excellence! Robust and fast-growing, it thrives easily in any good garden soil, moist to wet, in full sun or partial shade. Being large in size, it is an excellent groundcover plant in flower beds, as a specimen plant, or at the edge of a water feature.

Ligularia dentata, Leopard Plant, originates from China and Japan. The belong to the large family of Asteraceae. In sprin, this perennial forms a massive rounded clump reaching 1.2 m in height and 1 m (3ft) in width. Its growth is fast. The large leaves, approximately 30 cm (12in) in diameter, are carried by long petioles. They are tough, cordate at the base, and very rounded, with heavily dentate edges. From July to September, corymbs or inflorescences bloom in capitula, which we call flowers. Each capitulum, 10 cm (4in) wide, is composed of a row of ligulate florets, which are bright orange-yellow at the base, arranged in a loose collar around a central disc that is browner. These bloom at the top of tall, red and ramified stems, from an orange bud. The vegetation of Ligularia disappears in winter and regrows again in spring.

Plant Ligularia dentata 'Dark Beauty' in moist, rich, deep, neutral to acidic soil. This plant cannot tolerate water shortage and adapts very well to clay soils if they are humus-rich and not waterlogged. Ligularia dentata 'Dark Beauty' can be planted in groups of 3 to 6 plants or as a specimen plant, for example at the edge of a pond or in very moist areas of the garden. Combine it with other perennials with lighter or even golden foliage, such as hostas, Carex morrowii, lysimachias, and willowherbs, to decorate the edges of water features. The purplish and reddish blooms of certain heucheras and persicarias will bring out the full depth of the dark colour of its ornamental foliage. It may naturalise where the soil is constantly moist, protected from the scorching rays of the sun. It is a good plant to enhance a shaded area, on the north side of the house or to form a lush groundcover at the edge of a pathway, in a partially shaded border.