How to Plant and Grow Leopard’s Bane
In shady locations, this spring bloomer produces yellow daisy-like flowers.
Leopard’s bane is an exceptional perennial in two respects. It is one of the first perennials to bloom in the spring that is not a bulb, and it loves shade. In the late spring, the plant produces cheerful yellow daisy-like flowers for several weeks. After the bloom and the onset of summer heat, most varieties of leopard's bane recede into the soil and go dormant until the following spring. Some return in the fall and bloom again when grown in ideal conditions.
Where to Plant Leopard’s Bane
A suitable planting location is in partial shade where the soil is moist, well-drained, and slightly acidic. You can plant leopard’s bane in a perennial shade border, partially shaded rock garden, or a woodland garden, together with other shade-garden perennials such as lungwort.
Spring-blooming bulbous plants—from late-season tulips and daffodils to leucojum—make perfect planting partners for leopard's bane. Jacob's ladder and other perennials that start emerging from the soil just when leopard's bane is beginning to bloom are equally good companions.
Leopard’s bane also does well in containers.
How and When to Plant Leopard’s Bane
Transplant nursery-grown plants in the spring. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and about the same depth. Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil and water it well. Water it regularly during the first growing season to encourage young plants to develop a strong root system.
Spacing depends on the landscape use and the variety and can range from 12 to 15 inches apart to 8 to 10 inches apart for mass planting and compact types.
Leopard’s Bane Care Tips
Leopard's bane often goes dormant during the summer, which adds to the easy care of this plant.
Light
Part shade is the best for leopard’s bane, except in northern locations with cool summers where it can tolerate full sun. Leopard’s bane grows in full shade but limited sun exposure will decrease the flowering. At the southern end of its zone range, it should be planted where it gets afternoon shade..
Soil and Water
While leopard’s bane is not too fussy about soil quality, it needs well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.2.
Regular moisture is a must; this plant does not tolerate drought. During the first growing season, give the plant a thorough soaking once a week when rainfall is less than 1 inch a week. Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch around plants to prevent soil-moisture loss and to keep their shallow roots cool.
Temperature and Humidity
Leopard's bane is native to rocky alpine woodlands in Europe, where summer temperatures are moderate and nighttime temperatures are cool. The plant does not tolerate heat and humidity well. Above Zone 7, it is usually grown as an annual as it won’t survive hot humid summers.
Fertilizer
Don’t fertilize the plant in the first year after planting. In the early spring of the second year, feed it with a complete slow-release balanced granular fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, following product label instructions.
Pruning
Except for dead-heading the spent flowers to extend the flowering period, leopard’s bane does not require pruning.
Potting and Repotting Leopard's Bane
The plant makes a good container plant. Select a pot with large drainage holes and use well-draining potting soil. Although the plant is winter-hardy in locations with subzero winters, growing it in pots requires some winterization as roots are exposed to the cold, unlike in garden soil. In the fall, you can sink the pot into the ground, wrap it with a thick layer of burlap or bubble wrap, or place the pot in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo.
Keep in mind that potted plants need more frequent watering and fertilizing than plants in the landscape.
When the roots have reached the sides of the container, repot the plant into a larger pot with fresh potting mix or divide it.
Pests and Problems
Leopard’s bane is not affected by serious plant diseases. The most common pests include aphids and sawflies. Deer and rabbits usually leave the plant alone.
How to Propagate Leopard's Bane
Leopard’s bane is best propagated by division. After the bloom, the plant withers and goes dormant in early summer. This is a good time to divide the clump. Dig it up with a shovel and divide it into several large sections. Make sure each section has ample roots and foliage. Replant divisions at the same depth as the original plant and water them well.
Types of Leopard's Bane
‘Little Leo’
This variety with brilliant yellow, double flowers grows only 1 foot tall and wide, which makes it a favorite for small spaces and container gardening.
‘Leonardo Compact’
True to its name, Doronicum orientale ‘Leonardo Compact’ is a very compact cultivar, only reaching 8 to 10 feet in height and slowly spreading 10 to 12 inches wide.
‘Magnificum’
Unlike other leopard’s bane, the foliage of this tall variety remains dark green during the entire growing season. The plant reaches 2 feet in height and spreads 18 inches. Because of the long stems, it is a favorite cultivar for cut flowers.
Companion Plants
Astilbe
Astilbe has fern-like bronze-and-green foliage and feathery plumed blossoms. Even if astilbes never bloomed, the healthy foliage of these plants adds wonderful texture and color to a garden. In the spring, new foliage often emerges bright green with blushes of bronze. It grows best in partial shade, although it tolerates sun as long as it is kept moist. Zone 4-8
Lady's Mantle
Lady's mantle looks great in the garden and in a vase. Its scalloped leaves catch rain or drewdrops, making them look dusted with jewels. The chartreuse flowers appear in playful, frothy clusters above the foliage. Lady's mantle is ideal for softening the edge of a shaded path or creating a groundcover in dappled shade. Zone 3-8
Solomon's Seal
Solomon's seal is a classic shade garden plant that adds an architectural component to garden beds, thanks to its arching stems. In spring, the stems are lined with small, bell-shaped, white blooms. These plants make great backdrops for other shade-loving perennials in the garden. Zone 3-9
Garden Plans For Leopard's Bane
Summer Cottage Garden Plan
Add plenty of color and texture to your yard with this eye-catching, summer-blooming cottage garden plan. It relies on classic perennials such as bellflower, lamb's ear, cranesbill, and delphinium, just to name a few of the showstoppers in this free design. It's perfect for a sunny border along a lawn or walkway.
Download this garden plan now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does leopard’s bane spread?
The plant spreads by rhizomes and forms clumps but not in an aggressive and uncontrollable way. It is not considered invasive.
Is leopard’s bane toxic?
The plant is not known to be toxic to humans or pets, unlike wolfsbane or monkshood (Aconitum) which is sometimes also referred to as leopard’s bane. It is a different plant and not related to leopard’s bane (Doronicum orientale).
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