Farfugium japonicum, formerly known as Ligularia tussilaginea and Ligularia kaempferi, is a clump-forming perennial that is grown in gardens more for its attractive foliage than for its autumn flowers. Native to moist meadows and stream banks in Japan and eastern Asia, the foliage consists of huge, long-stalked, glossy, leathery, kidney-shaped, dark green leaves that form a basal clump to 2’ tall. Leaves are evergreen in warm winter climates, but will die to the ground when temperatures fall to 20 degrees F. Daisy-like, yellow flowers (1-2” across) bloom in loose corymbs in late summer to fall. Var. giganteum has larger leaves(to 18” across).
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-10. Foliage will wilt in too much sun.