PlantFiles: Leopard's Bane
Doronicum orientale

Little Leo popped up last spring in our new home. It's just about to bloom again (April-end). We are zone 8a wet Pacific climate.
It is a little treasure, because it appears to be trouble-free and there is not much else in bloom yet. I will divide and move it around to go with tulips, perhaps mauve/purple rock plants, early rhodos...

This wonderful plant sends up its yellow blooms when nothing else is blooming yet and makes it possible to believe that spring will indeed come. I was puzzled to see it listed as zone 4b on this site because so many are growing it in colder zones. I do not give it any special protection and it comes up reliably every year.

Just purchased three of these plants this spring. Lovely, perky, yellow flowers. Does anyone have any idea whether these plants are prolific seed droppers?

Jeepers what a perfect little plant! Its out there as I write in late March in 35 degree snowy weather, blooming its little heart out amongst the daffodils. And it goes until fall? If so, I'm planting 100 of them from seed. March color problem solved!

I like this little plant, it comes up and flowers when not many other perennials are and then is inconspicuous the rest of the year.

I have successfully grown leopard's bane in Calgary (zone 3) and Saskatoon (zone 2b). We cover them with a mulch of leaves in the fall, and they have come back every spring. I currently have two plants, which are both under "part sun" conditions - although one is more shaded than the other. They both do well -- over 40 blooms on the one plant this spring!

I purchased 3 tiny leopard's Bane plants last year. It has grown amazingly well. Full bloom. It seems to have grown to it's maximum height
Do I cut the flower heads off or do I cut it back. I live an hour north east of Toronto in zone 5.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thank you!

Little Leo has been growing in our garden for five years. It started out from a 3 inch pot, and now the clump is about 18 inches around. It is growing in clay, in what was semi-shade but the tree blew down, so is now in full sun. It blooms reliably every year and is among the earliest of the perennials here, often snowed on. The leaves are attractive even after the daisy like blooms are gone. We will be dividing it this fall.

Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils in full sun in the cooler areas of its range, but needs some afternoon shade in hot, humid southern climates. Not reliably winter hardy throughout all of Zone 5, so it is best grown in a protected location with a winter mulch therein. Shallow roots also benefit from a summer mulch which will help keep them cool.

Soil must not dry out while plant is actively growing.

Divide in spring or fall. Sow seed indoors in late winter or early spring.