Drimiopsis maculata
A bulbous South African ornamental geophyte with spotted leaves that forms spreading clumps, goes through winter dormancy, and bears small white flowers on short racemes, valued as an indoor plant.
Common Names
Little White Soldiers, Leopard Plant, African Hosta, African False Hosta
Summary
Originating from eastern South Africa to Tanzania, the Leopard plant is a robust bulbous perennial reaching about 30–35 cm tall, with globose bulbs mostly at the soil surface and 2–6 leaves heavily blotched with translucent green or dark spots; spring spikes up to about 30 cm bear tiny white to pale green bells, giving foliage a green, spotted, wavy-margined appearance.
Cultivation notes: undemanding, prefers light shade to partial sun and well-drained soil; water regularly during growth and is drought-tolerant otherwise; propagates by bulb division or seeds; leaves may die back in winter and the plant tolerates light frost but not hard freezes; used as ground cover, in rock gardens, or as a houseplant and can be grown in containers.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12-14 inches
Spread
6-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7b-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained loam soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil; avoid waterlogging
Soil pH
6-7, neutral to slightly acidic
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall color; evergreen.
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Rapid
Seasons of Interest
Spring
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Vegetative reproduction (offsets)
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Lindl. & Paxton
- Publication
- Paxton's Fl. Gard. 2: 73 (1851)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Genus
- Drimiopsis