Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum orientale)
Leopard’s Bane is one of the first perennials to blossom here in the spring. Sometimes the flowers are described as showy, although they have always seemed rather plain to me, but I like the plant because it stays where I put it and it is a bright touch of color at a time when most of the rest of the landscape is still a drab brown. The daisy-like flowers are exactly the same shade of yellow as dandelion blossoms and are about two inches across, with a single row of narrow petals. The flowers last for only a short time, 
and by the end of May, as you can see from this photograph, the flowers have almost all died away. The leaves are large and heart-shaped with jagged edges, and the plant grows up to two feet tall. Leopard’s Bane does well in our climate because they actually prefer cooler summers and grow best in the areas where the nights are cool. They like partial shade and need to have a lot of moisture because their roots are shallow. Leopard’s Bane is a very easy, no-fuss perennial to grow as long as the soil is well-drained and can be propagated by division or seeds.
Written by Shirley | Filed Under Plants in my Gardens
Comments
Comment by Paul:
I live on the southside of Chicago. Can you recommend colorful perennials that will do well in clay soil and do not need a lot of water. The location I have in mind only gets partial sun.
Comment by Shirley:
I don’t have any experience with clay soil, but your local garden center or the Extension Service should be able to give you recommendations for perennials that will grow well in your area and in partial sun. I especially like foxgloves and hollyhocks and the other perennials I have written about in this blog, and if you check the articles on individual perennials, I usually tell what kind of soil and growing conditions they prefer.
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