Practical
Plants

Farfugium japonicum

Leopard Plant

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Leaf stems - cooked[9][11][3]. 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[4].

Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The leaves are antidote[6]. They are taken internally to treat fish poisoning and externally to treat lacquer poisoning[6]. They are also applied to suppurating abscesses and pox[6].

Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Poultice

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and S. Japan.
Habitat
Rocky cliffs near sea shores[10][8]. In the long grass of streamside meadows[5]. Lower elevational forests, grassy slopes and valleys in China[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

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.

Cultivation

Prefers a deep moist fertile humus-rich soil[5]. Requires a sheltered position[2]. Plants often wilt on bright sunny days if they are growing in a sunny position[5]. This species is not very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to between -5 to -10°c[5] and succeeding outdoors in a woodland garden in the milder areas of Britain[2]. A good plant for growing in a window[1]. There is possibly some confusion, in the references quoted, between this species and Ligularia japonica[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  8. Flora of Japan www.foj.info

    ↩

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  10. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

Edit this page