Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona', also known as Summer Ragwort or Leopard Plant, is a large herbaceous perennial that deserves a prominent place in gardens. Its spectacular, heart-shaped, rounded, and abundant foliage, along with its fragrant flowers, are its greatest assets. In the heart of summer, it displays pretty, bright orange-yellow, daisy-like stars atop its green and purple leaves. This robust and sculptural perennial thrives in a garden with partial shade and gentle sun, where it will always receive ample water.
Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' belongs to the Asteraceae family. This robust perennial forms a large, compact clump over 1 m tall and 60 cm wide under favorable conditions. Its growth is rather slow. The leaves, reaching 30 cm in length and borne on long stalks, are leathery, heart-shaped at the base, and very rounded with serrated edges. The upper surface of the leaves is purplish-green, while the underside is strongly tinged with burgundy and bronze. From July to September, large corymbs of bright orange-yellow flower heads with brown centers, 10 cm in diameter, bloom atop tall, branching red stems.
Plant Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' in moist, rich, deep, neutral to acidic soil. This plant does not tolerate drought. It adapts well to clay soils, provided they are healthy and well-amended. Growing with exceptional vigor in moist, deep soils, Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' can cover large areas. It pairs well with osmundas, meconopsis, lysimachia, and purple loosestrife to decorate the edges of ponds, for example. It will naturalize readily wherever the soil is consistently moist, protected from the scorching sun.
Source: Ligularia dentata Desdemona - Ligularia - Perennial with decorative foliage (promessedefleurs.com)
