Ligularia 'GOLD TORCH' ligularia, leopard plant

Ligularia is probably too beautiful to worry about its common name. There are so many of them such as leopard plant, golden groundsel, rayflower, even tractor seat, and still mostly everybody call it ligularia. This variety is a hybrid of more species and although it is sometimes listed as l.intermedia, the scientific nomenclature does not accept its second name for it is a hybrid.

Gold Torch is what this ligularia variety is called and right it is. When in full bloom it glows like medieval torch lighting up old castles and dwellings. It produces up to 1m tall, purple-black, strong stems with spikes of golden yellow flowers. The leaves are large, kidney-shaped, red-veined, and serrated at margins. Their shape helps the plant grab most of rainwater towards its roots.

It is because ligularia loves moist and wet sites. Use it along river banks, at ponds and garden lakes, or grow it in a common border which will be regularly irrigated since the soil must never dry out. It likes medium fertile soil and full sun with some midday shade. Provide some protection from slugs and snails which love its newly emerging leaves. Fully hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 02-01-2013