Common Name: Leopard Plant

General Information

Farfugium japonicum is an evergreen, clump-forming perennial plant growing from a rhizomatous rootstock; it can grow around 70cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental, there are many named varieties, some with variegated foliage[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southeast China, Korea, central and southern Japan.

Habitat

Rocky cliffs near sea shores[, ]. In the long grass of streamside meadows[]. Lower elevations in forests, on grassy slopes and valleys in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Farfugium japonicum is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures falling to around -5 to -10°c[].
Prefers a deep moist fertile humus-rich soil[]. Succeeds in quite dense shade[]. Requires a sheltered position[]. Plants often wilt on bright sunny days if they are growing in a sunny position[].
Plants grow well outdoors in a woodland garden setting in the milder areas of the temperate zone[].
A good plant for growing in a window[].
There is possibly some confusion, in the references quoted, between this species and Ligularia japonica[].

Edible Uses

Leaf stems - cooked[, , ]. The leaf stems are boiled in water to remove a bitter taste, the outer peel is removed and they are then added to salads, soups etc[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antidote[]. They are taken internally to treat fish poisoning and externally to treat lacquer poisoning (caused by Toxicodendron species)[]. They are also applied to suppurating abscesses and pox[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring.