How to Grow Ligularia Plants

Guide to Growing Leopard Plant, Golden Ray, Summer Ragwort, and Golden Groundsel

Members of Ligularia are hardy perennials that can reach from 30 cm to 1.8 m (1 to 6 feet) in height.

They have tall stalks that grow out from large leaves.

The Ligularia genus plants can produce two distinct types of flowers: either daisy like or as long racemes.

Ligularia Halifax
Ligularia Halifax by InAweofGod'sCreation.

These flowers are usually yellow in both cases, and bloom in the summer.

Ligularia
Ligularia by Wallygrom.

Some of the common names for Ligularia include Goldenray, Summer Ragwort, and Leopard plant.

Commonly Grown Ligularia Species Photographs and Plant Identification

Ligularia dentata

Ligularia dentata
Ligularia dentata (Summer Ragwort / Leopardplant), photograph by Koichi Oda; CC.

Ligularia fischeri

Ligularia fischeri
Ligularia fischeri (Fischer's Ragwort / Elegant Goldenray / Fischer's Leopard Plant / Gomchwi), picture by Dr. Alexey Yakovlev; CC.

Ligularia Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Leopard Plant, Golden Groundsel, Golden Ray, Summer Ragwort.
Life Cycle: Hardy perennial.
Height: 24 to 72 inches (60 to 180 cm).
Native: Europe. Asia. Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 4 to 8.

Flowers: Summer.
Flower Details: Yellow, orange. Stalks. Racemes. Daisy-like ray and disc florets.
Foliage: Herbaceous. Leathery. Large. Kidney-shaped. Deeply cut. Green, purple.

Sow Outside: Surface. Start of spring - before the last frost, or early in autumn. Spacing 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: two weeks to two months. Temperature: 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors in the spring.

Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade in warmer areas. Moist soil, ordinary soil. Mix in organic matter when planting. Regular watering during dry periods. Spring mulch. Occasional feed in spring and summer.
Tidy dead inflorescences. Cut back to the ground in autumn. Divide every three years to maintain vigour. Propagate: by dividing in the spring.
Miscellaneous: Some species of Ligularia are used in traditional Chinese medicine as they have antibacterial properties.

How to Grow Goldenray, Leopard Plant, and other Ligularia Plant Species

When growing Goldenray and other Ligularia outdoors from seeds, then they should be sown on the soil surface. This can be done in autumn or before the last frost of spring.

They prefer to grow in sunny areas of the garden, but are able to tolerate shady conditions. The soil that Ligularia grows in should be moist.

If first growing Ligularia seedlings indoors, then they should be prepared about one and a half months before due to be put out in the garden, in the spring.

They should take from two to six weeks to germinate at 12 to 18 degrees (54 to 64°F).

Caring for Ligularia Plants

Ligularia are fairly easy to look after. They requirE regular watering to a maintain moist soil. A fertilizer should be applied in spring and summer.

After flowering has finished, cut back the stalks.

At the end of the growing season in autumn, cut Ligularia plants to ground level.

To help maintain vigorous growth, it is best to divide Ligularia plants every three years in the springtime. This method also enables the propagation of more plants.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Ligularia plants. You may also enjoy my gardening guides on how to grow Fennel, Ipomoea plant, Begonia plant, and Synthyris plants.