Ligularia dentata Britt-Marie Crawford - Leopard Plant

Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford', also known as Leopard plant, is a large perennial herbaceous plant that deserves a prominent place in gardens. Its spectacular foliage, cordate, rounded and generous, is particularly dark, with a mahogany reverse, and its fragrant flowers are its greatest assets. It produces vibrant yellow star-shaped flowers resembling daisies in the middle of summer, appearing above its green and purple foliage. This robust and sculptural perennial thrives in a garden with partial shade and gentle sunlight, where it will never lack water. 

Ligularia dentata is native to China and Japan. The variety 'Britt-Marie Crawford', from which it originates, belongs to the Asteraceae family. This robust perennial forms a large compact clump that can reach over 1 m (3ft) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width under favourable conditions. Its growth is quite slow. The leaves can reach 30 cm (12in) in length and are borne on long peduncles. They are tough, cordate at the base, and very rounded, with serrated edges. The upper side of the leaves is tinted with violet-black, with very dark green hues that intensify as the season progresses. From July to September, large corymbs of bright and warm yellow capitula, with a 10 cm (4in) diameter brown centre, bloom at the top of tall red and branched stems.

Plant Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' in moist, rich, deep, neutral to acidic soil. This plant cannot tolerate water shortage. It adapts well to clay soils, provided they are humus rich and not waterlogged. Thriving vigorously in wet and deep soils, Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' can cover large areas. It pairs well with large hostas, osmundas, meconopsis, lysimachias, and willowherbs to decorate the edges of water features. It naturalises well wherever the soil is constantly moist, protected from the scorching rays of the sun. It is a good plant for a shaded area, on the north side of the house.