Search

[?]

Open the Advanced Search

Willdenow's Leopardsbane

Doronicum x willdenowii

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae (Daisy)
Also in this family:
Alpine Blue Sow-thistle, Alpine Cotula, Alpine Fleabane, Alpine Saw-wort, Annual Ragweed, Annual Sunflower, Argentine Fleabane, Autumn Hawkbit, Autumn Oxeye, Beaked Hawksbeard, Beggarticks, Bilbao Fleabane, Black Knapweed, Black-eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Blue Fleabane, Blue Globe-thistle, Bristly Oxtongue, Broad-leaved Cudweed, Broad-leaved Ragwort, Brown Knapweed, Butterbur, Buttonweed, Cabbage Thistle, Canadian Fleabane, Canadian Goldenrod, Carline Thistle, Chalk Knapweed, Chamois Ragwort, Changing Michaelmas Daisy, Chicory, Chinese Mugwort, Chinese Ragwort, Coltsfoot, Common Blue Sow-thistle, Common Cat's-ear, Common Cudweed, Common Daisy, Common Dandelion, Common Fleabane, Common Goldenrod, Common Groundsel, Common Michaelmas Daisy, Common Mugwort, Common Ragwort, Common Wormwood, Coneflower, Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Cottonweed, Creeping Thistle, Daisy Bush, Dwarf Cudweed, Dwarf Thistle, Early Goldenrod, Eastern Groundsel, Eastern Leopardsbane, Elecampane, English Hawkweed, Fen Ragwort, Feverfew, Field Fleawort, Field Wormwood, Fox and Cubs, French Tarragon, Gallant Soldier, Garden Lettuce, Giant Butterbur, Glabrous-headed Hawkweed, Glandular Globe-thistle, Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy, Globe Artichoke, Globe-thistle, Goat's Beard, Golden Ragwort, Golden Samphire, Goldilocks Aster, Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Great Lettuce, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Grey-headed Hawkweed, Guernsey Fleabane, Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, Hairless Leptinella, Hairy Michaelmas Daisy, Harpur Crewe's Leopardsbane, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Heath Cudweed, Heath Groundsel, Hemp Agrimony, Highland Cudweed, Hoary Mugwort, Hoary Ragwort, Hybrid Knapweed, Intermediate Burdock, Irish Fleabane, Jersey Cudweed, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lance-leaved Hawkweed, Lavender-cotton, Leafless Hawksbeard, Least Lettuce, Leopardplant, Leopardsbane, Leptinella, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Sunflower, London Bur-marigold, Magellan Ragwort, Marsh Cudweed, Marsh Hawksbeard, Marsh Ragwort, Marsh Sow-thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Mexican Fleabane, Milk Thistle, Mountain Everlasting, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Musk Thistle, Narrow-leaved Cudweed, Narrow-leaved Hawkweed, Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, New England Hawkweed, New Zealand Holly, Nipplewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Northern Hawksbeard, Norwegian Mugwort, Oxeye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, Pearly Everlasting, Perennial Cornflower, Perennial Ragweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Perennial Sunflower, Pineapple Mayweed, Plantain-leaved Leopardsbane, Ploughman's Spikenard, Plymouth Thistle, Pontic Blue Sow-thistle, Pot Marigold, Prickly Lettuce, Prickly Sow-thistle, Purple Coltsfoot, Rayed Tansy, Red Star Thistle, Red-seeded Dandelion, Red-tipped Cudweed, Robin's Plantain, Roman Chamomile, Rough Cocklebur, Rough Hawkbit, Rough Hawksbeard, Russian Lettuce, Safflower, Salsify, Saw-wort, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Aster, Sea Mayweed, Sea Wormwood, Seaside Daisy, Shaggy Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shaggy Soldier, Shasta Daisy, Shetland Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shrub Ragwort, Sicilian Chamomile, Silver Ragwort, Slender Mugwort, Slender Thistle, Small Cudweed, Small Fleabane, Smooth Cat's-ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sow-thistle, Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Spear Thistle, Spotted Cat's-ear, Spotted Hawkweed, Sticky Groundsel, Stinking Chamomile, Stinking Hawksbeard, Tall Fleabane, Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Tansy, Thin-leaved Sunflower, Treasureflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White African Daisy, White Butterbur, White Buttons, Winter Heliotrope, Wood Burdock, Wood Ragwort, Woody Fleabane, Woolly Thistle, Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, Yellow Fox and Cubs, Yellow Oxeye, Yellow Star Thistle, Yellow Thistle, York Groundsel
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
60 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Gardens, hedgerows, roadsides, rocky places, seaside, towns, woodland.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, many petals
 
Yellow, daisy-like flowers, 4.5 to 8cm across.
Fruit:
The fruit is an achene (seed) with a pappus of hairs at the end.
Leaves:
Dark green, roundish, toothed leaves.
Other Names:
Leopard's Bane, Leopard's Bane Doronicum, Leopardsfoot.
Frequency (UK):
Unusual  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Doronicum x willdenowii, also known as leopard's bane, is a hybrid plant in the Asteraceae family. It is a cross between Doronicum austriacum and Doronicum orientale. It is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows to a height of 40-60 cm (16-24 inches). It has large, glossy, dark green leaves and produces spikes of yellow, daisy-like flowers in the spring. The flowers are held on tall stalks, usually about 30-60 cm tall. It prefers moist, humus-rich soil, and shaded or partially shaded locations. It is often used in perennial borders, woodland gardens, and rock gardens. It is also used as a cut flower and in dried flower arrangements. It is tolerant of drought and can be grown in a wide range of soil types, and it is also tolerant of coastal conditions and pollution making it suitable for planting in urban areas. The plant is also known for its medicinal properties, the root of the plant is used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments such as fever, headaches and as an anti-inflammatory.

Blog

Willdenow's Leopardsbane, also known as Doronicum x willdenowii, is a beautiful perennial plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is a hybrid of two species of Doronicum, which are native to Europe and Asia. This stunning plant is named after its discoverer, Carl Ludwig Willdenow, a renowned German botanist and pharmacist.

The Willdenow's Leopardsbane is a hardy plant that grows up to 2 feet tall and spreads about 1-2 feet wide. It has attractive bright yellow daisy-like flowers with a dark central disc. The flowers bloom in the late spring and early summer and last for several weeks. The foliage of the plant is green and oval-shaped with a toothed margin.

This plant is ideal for garden borders and rock gardens, where it can add color and texture to the landscape. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It can tolerate a range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It is also drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens.

One of the unique features of the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is its medicinal properties. The plant has been traditionally used in herbal medicine to treat a range of ailments, including respiratory problems, fever, and digestive issues. It is believed that the plant contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antibacterial properties.

In addition to its medicinal properties, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane has also been used for ornamental purposes. It is a popular plant in European gardens, where it is grown for its attractive flowers and foliage. The plant has also been used in floral arrangements, where it adds a bright and cheerful touch to bouquets.

The Willdenow's Leopardsbane is also known by other common names, such as Leopard's Bane, Leopardsfoot, and Leopard's Bane Doronicum. Its scientific name, Doronicum x willdenowii, reflects its hybrid origin, with "Doronicum" being the genus name and "willdenowii" honoring its discoverer, Carl Ludwig Willdenow.

This plant is native to central and southeastern Europe, where it grows in meadows, woodlands, and rocky areas. It is a cross between two species of Doronicum, which are Doronicum pardalianches and Doronicum plantagineum. The hybridization process occurred naturally, and the resulting plant exhibits characteristics of both parent species.

Apart from its ornamental and medicinal uses, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is also a valuable plant for wildlife. It is a nectar source for bees and butterflies, making it an essential plant for pollinators. The plant's seeds are also a food source for birds and small mammals.

In terms of cultivation, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is an easy plant to grow. It requires minimal care and attention, making it a great choice for novice gardeners. The plant can be propagated by seed or division, and it generally blooms in the second or third year of growth.

The Willdenow's Leopardsbane is a versatile and valuable plant that has multiple uses. Its bright yellow flowers, attractive foliage, and medicinal properties make it an excellent choice for gardeners and herbalists alike. Additionally, its role in supporting wildlife underscores its ecological importance. Overall, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is a plant that deserves more attention and appreciation for its many virtues.

One interesting aspect of the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is its cultural significance. In some European countries, the plant has been associated with legends and folklore. In Germany, for example, it is said that the plant got its name from its ability to repel leopards, which were a common sight in the forests of central Europe centuries ago. It was believed that wearing a garland of Leopardsbane flowers would protect hunters from leopard attacks.

In addition, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It is particularly valued for its ability to treat respiratory ailments such as coughs and bronchitis. The plant contains compounds such as flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and essential oils, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and expectorant properties. It is often prepared as a tea, tincture, or syrup, and used to relieve respiratory symptoms.

Despite its many benefits, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is not without its challenges. The plant can be prone to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and root rot, particularly in humid conditions. It is also vulnerable to attacks by aphids and other insects, which can damage the foliage and flowers.

To prevent these issues, it is essential to provide the plant with adequate sunlight, air circulation, and well-draining soil. Regular watering and fertilization can also help promote healthy growth and prevent stress. In addition, it is important to monitor the plant for signs of disease or pest infestation and take appropriate measures to address them promptly.

In conclusion, the Willdenow's Leopardsbane is a fascinating and valuable plant that has much to offer. Its ornamental beauty, medicinal properties, and ecological benefits make it an excellent choice for gardeners and herbalists. While the plant may have some challenges, with proper care and attention, it can thrive and bring joy and benefit to its surroundings.


Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map