Ligularia Gregynog Gold - Leopard Plant

Ligularia 'Gregynog Gold' is a stunning and majestic ornamental plant. Its spectacular, dark green, decorative foliage is dominated in summer by long spikes of flowers, which are golden orange with a brown centre, grouped in tightly conical clusters. A robust perennial with large growth, loving damp soil, shade and rain, this Ligularia is a structural and luscious plant, with a beautiful effect.

This Ligularia is part of the Asteraceae family.  It is a hybrid resulting from a cross-breeding between Ligularia dentata and Ligularia veitchiana. Perennial and robust, it forms a spectacular bushy clump 1m wide, with rounded deciduous foliage,which is dark green, measuring 10 to 35 cm (4 to 14in) long. The basal leaves are heart-shaped, rough, and veined. From August to October, large pyramidal clusters bloom, from 1.5 to 1.8 meters (5 to 6 feet), composed of numerous inflorescences measuring 2 to 10 cm (1 to 4in) in diameter, which are golden orange with a bronze centre. This flowering attracts many pollinating insects.

This cultivar received the Award of Garden Merit awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993.

With great longevity, this vigorous and very cold-resistant Ligularia prefers wet soils, even heavy soil including clay, or marshy soils, as well as semi-shade, or even complete shade. Forming an imposing, dense, and compact mass, measuring 80 cm (32in) to 1 m (3ft) in diameter, its magnificent foliage will make an impression in the garden, in shaded and wet areas. This magnificent ornamental plant will be particularly suitable for the water's edge (pond, ditch, basin, stream...). It will also be ideal for flower beds or mixed borders, even tolerating a relatively sunny position, provided that the soil remains moist and wet, a necessary condition for the development of its foliage. Slow to establish, it takes two to three years for this Ligularia to reach its adult size. It will be the perfect companion for many perennial shade plants such as Campanula lactiflora, Hosta, Rodgersia, Kirengeshoma, Astilbe, Thalictrum, Ligularia stenocephala, Veronikastrum sibiricum, Euphorbia palustris, or Iris chrysographes. It will also work wonders when planted in a large pot, as long as there is constant moisture in its substrate.