Guide to growing garden plants - Doronicum (Leopard's bane)
Doronicum are hardy perennials that bloom with daisy like flowers of yellow in the spring and start of summer.
They can reach heights between 30 and 90cm, which makes them ideal for use as a border plant.
One of the common names for Doronicum is Leopard's bane.
How to grow Leopard's bane (Doronicum)
Doronicum can be sown straight onto the soil surface either at the start of spring or the start of Autumn. They prefer to grow in lightly shaded areas, but may require full sunlight in areas where it is not very sunny. Doronicum like a moist soil that is rich in humus. If you plan to grow Leopard's bane indoors first, then the process should be started about 9 or 10 weeks before the plants are due to be put in the garden in the early autumn, or before the last frost of spring. It usually takes about three weeks for the plants to germinate at a temperature of 21 degrees Centigrade. The seedlings of Doronicum should be planted out with a spacing of 30cm (small varieties) or 40cm (larger species).
Caring for Doronicum plants
Once growing the ground that Doronicum plants grow in should be kept moist by regular watering, and the plants should be cut back once the flowering season has finished. Doronicum require mulching in spring and winter. Although a perennial Doronicum plants only have a short life span so should be divided every three years or so to create new plants, this is best done in the autumn.