Free Shipping on Orders $199+

Reserve Your Spring Garden Now
Growing Zone: | Garden in
Find your Growing Zone!

Little Rocket Leopard Plant

Ligularia stenocephala 'Little Rocket'

Nature Hills Nursery
$5487
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Out of stock
Plant not supported in Growing Zone. Update address

Unfortunately, this item cannot be shipped to your state.

Shipping to a different address?

Shipping to your area may be delayed due to weather conditions.

Shipping to a different address?

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone
Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: This plant thrives in partial to full shade, ideally receiving about 2 to 4 hours of direct morning sunlight. Avoid hot afternoon sun, as it will cause the large leaves to wilt dramatically. While it can survive in deeper shade, you might see fewer of those bright yellow flower spikes compared to a spot with gentle morning light.
  • Soil: Little Rocket loves moisture-retentive, rich soil that acts like a sponge. If you have sandy soil that drains too quickly, amend it heavily with compost or peat moss to help hold water. It is actually one of the few plants that tolerates heavy clay well, provided the clay stays consistently damp rather than baking into a hard brick.

Watering Requirements

Hydration is critical for this plant. During the first season, water deeply twice a week to help the roots establish. Once established, it is not drought-tolerant and requires consistent moisture; think of it as a plant that prefers "wet feet." If watering is inconsistent, the plant will react theatrically by wilting flat during the day, and chronic dryness will lead to brown, crispy leaf edges and stunted bloom spikes.

Pruning Tips

This perennial blooms on new growth, so you don't need to worry about cutting off next year's flowers. During the summer, snipping off the spent flower spikes right at the base keeps the plant looking tidy and directs energy back into the foliage. In late autumn after a hard frost turns the leaves brown (or early spring before new growth emerges), cut the entire plant back to the ground to clear the way for fresh, healthy leaves.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring just as you see new green shoots poking through the soil. Avoid using high-nitrogen liquid fertilizers late in the summer. Doing so can push soft, weak foliage growth that won't have time to harden off before winter, potentially causing damage when the frost hits.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Plant Sentry Protected

Plant Sentry™ Protected

Your order is protected by our compliance system that:

  • Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
  • Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
  • Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases

Learn more about Plant Sentry™

Delivering pure drama, The Little Rocket Leopard Plant (Ligularia stenocephala 'Little Rocket) 'features large, heart-shaped, serrated leaves and phenomenal vibrant-yellow flowers held aloft on tall, dark purple spires! It even has a cool name to share with your garden visitors for conversation starters!

Exciting when in bloom, these plants look like bottle rocket fireworks! With their extremely long flower spikes held above the rough, extremely large leaves. Even the stems are dramatic! Pair these with trailing selections like Golden Creeping Jenny or vibrant creeping Sedums. They also look lovely with the similar blossoms of Astilbe, or Coral Bells and their vibrant foliage!

Little Rocket looks great all season long! The huge leaves have neat jagged edges and the entire clump is smaller and more compact than other Ligularia. These are very easy care, deer-resistant and cold-hardy perennials! Plus, the fall seed heads are filled with nutritious food for songbirds!

Planting and Application:

Theater-loving gardeners will appreciate this selection as a thriller for their water gardens or large containers. This plant lives large and grows tall and wide in fertile, wet soils. Use these along the water's edge. Rain Gardens, where the gutters drain and perfect additions to water features and container water gardens! Add color and style around poolside and patio plantings,

Leopard Plants are just as eye-catching in a vase and floral arrangement as they are in the garden bed and border! Adding incredible flair as a specimen, these good-sized plants create quite a stir in shady Perennial borders while updating a boring Cottage garden! Any moist to occasionally soggy shady garden location and woodland garden.

  • Large, Dramatic Accents & Specimens
  • Great for Cut Foliage Arrangements
  • Bright Yellow Rocket Blooms
  • Pollinators & Bird Food
  • Perfect Water Garden Accent

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Ligularia loves a partially shady site or morning sun with afternoon shade. Plant in very moist, but well-drained soil that is highly organic and enriched. Remove dead leaves after a heavy frost in autumn to clean up the mounds.

  • Part Sun & Part Shade
  • Very Moist Well-Drained Soil
  • Rich Organic Soil, Tolerates Wet & Clay
  • Deer Resistant
  • Herbaceous Perennials Zones 4-9

The dramatic Little Rocket Leopard Plant will have heads turning, so don't miss out on this unique shade perennial. People across the country are on the hunt for this superior selection so order at NatureHills.com today!

Growing Zones 4-9

Find Your Growing Zone!
Back to top

Find Your Garden's Growing Zone!

Your Current Growing Zone:

Zone

ZIP Code:

✓ Growing Zone Set Successfully!

Your zone has been saved and will be used throughout the site.

⚠ Unable to locate a growing zone for that ZIP code.

Please check your ZIP code and try again.

Looking up your growing zone...

When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone.

You can determine your garden's USDA hardiness zone by entering your Zip Code below.