Pruning Leopard plant 'The Rocket'

Ligularia 'The Rocket' does not require regular pruning in the traditional sense, but it does benefit from seasonal tidying to keep it looking its best and to maintain plant health. The main task is cutting back spent flower stems and foliage in October or November, once flowering has finished and the leaves begin to die back naturally with the first frosts. Use clean, sharp secateurs or garden shears for the job. Cut the tall flower spikes down to ground level once they have faded and turned brown—this prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and keeps the border tidy. The large, deeply toothed leaves will also collapse and blacken after frost; cut these back to just above ground level, removing all dead foliage. This autumn clear-up reduces the risk of slugs and snails overwintering in the decaying leaves and helps prevent fungal diseases taking hold in the crown over winter. During the growing season, deadheading individual spent flowers is not necessary, as the tall racemes of yellow blooms are produced on single spikes that are best left intact until autumn. However, if any leaves become damaged, scorched by sun, or disfigured by pests during summer, you can remove them at the base to improve appearance without harming the plant. Avoid cutting back healthy foliage before autumn, as the leaves are needed to feed the roots. Ligularia is a clump-forming perennial that does not need pruning to control size or shape; simply allow it to grow naturally and cut it down once a year in late autumn.