Bottle Rocket Leopard Plant
Ligularia x 'Bottle Rocket'
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
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 7-10 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
Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
- Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
- Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
Full Root Pouch planting guide
Choosing the Right Size
| Size | Plant Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 6 mo to 1 yr | Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings. |
| #1 Container | 1 to 2 yrs | Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners. |
| #2 Container | 2 to 3 yrs | Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment. |
| #3 Container | 3 to 4 yrs | Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size. |
| #5 and larger | 4+ yrs | Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact. |
Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
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
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners - www.provenwinners.com
Description
No one can forget the sight of the Proven Winners® Bottle Rocket Ligularia PP #24,486 (Ligularia x 'Bottle Rocket')! In bloom, or out of bloom this rugged charmer makes a very handsome addition to the wetter parts of your garden.
Plant these showy perennials for their foliage texture first and foremost! With leathery, reflexed leaves that feature boldly toothed edges, the unique leaves are a real show-stopper! The large, heart-shaped, serrated leaves form spreading clumps that look great all on their own.
But even their summertime blooms have bravado. Long dark racemes are held above the distinctive foliage in sturdy wands. Mustard-yellow flowers line their entire length for a gorgeous display you'll see from across the yard! Bottle Rocket isn't a shy, retiring type!
Butterflies "ooh" and "ahh" over these perfectly proportioned plants. You'll be so happy to know that your choice is supporting local beneficial pollinator populations. These hybrid Ligularia grow throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 9 and can grow up to 28-34 inches tall when in bloom, and spread 24-28 inches wide. Plus, the fall seed heads are filled with nutritious food for songbirds!
Landscape Application:
Bottle Rocket makes a real statement in Shade Gardens and you can use them where you have You'll take your landscape to the next level with this spectacular display. Easy enough for beginners, Bottle Rocket Leopard Plant develops into an architectural structural element that looks good all season!
Ligularia thrive in clay soils that retain water and trickier settings, so use them along banks of your ponds and brooks, around water gardens, or in your Rain Garden to help filter runoff from roots and streets. Mix and match with other Leopard Plants like the dwarf Little Rocket Leopard Plant.
These clump-forming perennials look great in a large outdoor container and really shine as a dynamic "Filler" at the base of elaborate, large-leaved Colocasia Elephant Ear corms. Mix with Sedges, Rush Grass, and other wetland perennials!
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.
Consider them rugged, textured groundcover that lights up damp areas in full shade or partial shade. Plant them two feet apart on center, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.
- Long Racemes Covered With Small, Orange-Yellow Blooms
- Chocolate Stems Make a Great Contrast
- Butterflies & Hummingbirds Love Their Nectar
- Thick Leaves Are Flaring With Serrated Edges & Corrugated Veins
- Forms Compact, Dark Green, Dense Clump
- Great Groundcover, Rain Garden Specimens & Container Plants
#ProPlantTips for Care
Ligularia loves a partially shady site or a location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Plant these herbaceous perennials in very moist, but well-drained soil that is highly organic and enriched. Deadhead the flowers after they fade and keep them tidy by trimming back the flowers once they are past. In springtime, clean up any winter-damaged leaves to prepare for another gorgeous season. Keep them well-hydrated for the best results! Provide a 3-4 inch deep layer of arborist mulch around the root system to keep them insulated and hold in soil moisture more consistently.
- Part Sun & Part Shade - Only Tolerates Full Sun With Afternoon Shade
- Wet to Hign Moisture Needs
- Rich Organic Well-Drained Soil & Tolerates Heavy Clay Soil
- Low Maintenance Superstar
- Deer Don't Prefer Leopard Plants
- Easy-to-Grow Herbaceous Perennials
This selection is a favorite with many of our plant experts, and garden designers across much of the United States love using them to impress their clients. You'll love it, too! Place your order for your own Bottle Rocket Ligularia today at NatureHills.com!
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Class
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Species
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Cultivar
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Growing Zones
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Height
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Width
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Bloom PeriodEarly Summer, Late Summer
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT, PR
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