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Lamiaceae
Lion's Tail
Leonotis leonurus
Resilience and the warmth of Africa.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Leonotis
- Native to
- South Africa
- Bloom season
- Late Summer, Fall, Winter
- Type
- evergreen shrub
- Height
- 120–200 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, sandy
- Water
- low; drought-tolerant
- Hardiness
- 8–11
- Lifespan
- perennial shrub; 5–10 years
Did you know
- The tubular flowers are arranged in dense whorls that look like stacked orange pom-poms along the stem.
- Known as 'wilde dagga' in South Africa, the plant has a long history in Khoisan traditional practices.
- Sunbirds hover at the flowers much like hummingbirds, reaching deep into the tubes for nectar.
- It thrives in poor, dry soils where many other ornamentals fail, making it a xeriscape champion.
- The velvety texture of the flowers comes from dense, fine hairs that protect against UV and water loss.
Color meanings
Orange
vitality and creative energy