For our final weekly profile of plants with “bounce-back ability,” here’s one I can honestly say is my all-time favorite shade-loving or filtered light-loving plant.
Ligularia is often referred to as a leopard plant. Why has never been completely clear to me, but in my research, I’ve found that earlier versions were spotted white. In the past two decades, though, they have not been spotted as much as solid green.
Recently, I’ve learned that another fun nickname for ligularia is the “tractor seat plant.” If you look closely at more modern versions, you’ll see why, although modern tractor seats look nothing like this.
Whatever you call it – ligularia, leopard plant or even tractor seat plant - just ask for it by name at Gulf Coast nurseries and garden centers. Most will know what you’re after.
I believe ligularia is most valued for its big, bold evergreen-like leaves … big like elephant ears but much darker. In most cases, it also comes with an offering of yellow flowers in the summer and fall. Interestingly, the yellow flowers are very daisy-like, though the rest of the plant has an almost tropical feel.
There are several ligularia varieties these days, some with spots on the leaves, some with huge leaves, and some with variegated leaves. They are almost evergreen in their behavior, but I have included them in my list of plants with bounce-back ability because, although they will look gnarly after temperatures in the 20s for several hours, they always come back in our region, no matter what.
Ligularia is also known to work in damp areas – what I call “plants that like wet feet.” Still, I wouldn’t recommend it for spots that never, ever seem to dry out. In other words, it’s not a bog plant.
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PHOTOS: Getty Images, Randy Lemmon