Doronicum
( doh - RON - ick - um )
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At-A-Glance InformationCommonly referred to as Leopard's Bane, this genus of perennial flowering plants includes species which need partial shade and regular water to perform well in the garden. Native to Europe, these plants bloom profusely in springtime. Flowers rise above a clump of foliage in springtime, and are great additions to cut flower arrangements. Blooms are typically yellow with orange-yellow centers. Plants generally reach up to between 2 and 4 feet tall, and have green foliage. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as all plant parts are poisonous to humans and animals.
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Doronicum Species and Varietals
The genus Doronicum is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes 38 species. Leopard's Bane grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 or Sunset growing zones A2, A3, 1-7 and 14-17. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Doronicum x excelsum (Doronicum plantigenium 'Excelsum') (Plantain Leopard's Bane) This hybrid species is great for wild gardens, with stems reaching 2.5 to 4 feet tall above a 2-foot wide clump of foliage. Each flower stem produces a few flowers. These plants will go dormant in summertime. Cultivars include 'Harpur Crewe' (with strong stems to 2-3 feet tall) and 'Strahlengold' (with more intense yellow flowers). |
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Doronicum grandiflorum (Large-Flowered Leopard's Bane, Great Leopard's Bane, Großblütige Gemswurz) Native to Europe, this species of Leopard's Bane produces yellow flowers with yellow-orange centers and reaches between 4 and 16 inches tall at maturity. Flowers bloom from July through August. |
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Doronicum orientale (Doronicum caucasicum) (Oriental Leopard's Bane, Heart-Leaved Leopard's Bane) This plant has single-flowered stems that reach 1.5 feet tall above a foot-wide foliage clump. Dies back in summertime in most areas. Varieties include 'Magnificum', 'Finesse' (both a little taller than the species and with bigger blossoms), and 'Little Leo' (a compact grower to 12-15 inches tall and just as wide). |
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Doronicum pardalianches (Leopard's-Bane, Great Leopard's Bane) This plant produces upright stems topped with light yellow daisy-form flowers with yellow-orange centers. Individual plants reach up to 1-3 feet tall when mature and in bloom. This species is considered invasive in the British Isles as well as Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, and Demark. |
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Doronicum plantagineum (Plantain-Leaved Leopard's Bane, Plantain False Leopard's Bane) This species is native to southeastern Europe, including Greece, Italy, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. These plants have also naturalized in the state of Oregon. Plants reach about 2 feet tall when mature, and produce yellow daisy-form flowers. This species is considered invasive in the United States (Oregon and Washington), and northern Europe. |
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Caring for Doronicum
Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as all plant parts are poisonous to humans and pets if ingested. Doronicum flowers can be grown in-ground or in containers, and typically prefer to be in partial shade. In areas with cool summers, they can handle full sun. Ideally, they should be receiving between 4 and 6 hours of sun each day or dappled sun all day. Afternoon shade is best for flowering. They are not fussy about soil quality, and can grow in poor soils. They prefer soil to be well-draining, however, with a pH of between 5.5 and 6.2. They do not tolerate drought well, so soil should be water-retentive as well. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Doronicums regularly to help them develop a strong root system. At maturity, these plants are not drought tolerant, and require consistently moist soil. Spread a thick layer of mulch around the base of plants to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain soil temperatures.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Doronicum plants is simple: remove spent blooms and any unsightly foliage. These plants bounce back well from pruning. Late in the season, plants can have a tendency to get leggy, especially if they are grown in too much shade. Plants can be cut down to about four inches tall at this point, and a flush of new growth and flowering will be triggered. These perennials can survive in the garden for over a decade before needing to be replaced, and will freely re-seed in the garden, providing plants indefinitely.
Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning Doronicum plants is simple: remove spent blooms and any unsightly foliage. These plants bounce back well from pruning. Late in the season, plants can have a tendency to get leggy, especially if they are grown in too much shade. Plants can be cut down to about four inches tall at this point, and a flush of new growth and flowering will be triggered. These perennials can survive in the garden for over a decade before needing to be replaced, and will freely re-seed in the garden, providing plants indefinitely.
Propagation
Doronicum can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Doronicum plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Doronicum by Seed
Propagating Doronicum by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Doronicum by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded and are typically round and have a feathery look to them. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Doronicum by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Doronicum seeds are attached to light white feathers that allow them to float through the air away from the parent plant.
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Doronicum seeds.
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Problems and Pests
Doronicum plants are typically free of pests and diseases, though they can have issues from time to time with the following:
- Aphids
- Botrytis Blight
- Powdery Mildew
- Root Rot
- Sawfly Larvae
Gallery
Leopard's Bane plants form tufts of green foliage and produce bright yellow flowers.
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Here, Blue Fescue contrasts against the green foliage and yellow flowers of Leopard's Bane.
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Flowers have uniform, somewhat thin petals.
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Videos
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Learn how to divide these plants.
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A quick look at these daisy flowers.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 292, Doronicum
