Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail) on 6-2-12, #95-35.
Lion’s Tail, Wild Dagga
Leonotis leonurus
lee-on-OH-tis lee-on-or-uss
Synonyms of Leonotis leonurus (7) (Updated on 12-19-23 from Plants of the World Online): Hemisodon leonurus (L.) Raf., Leonurus africanus Mill., Leonurus grandiflorus Moench, Leonotis leonurus var. albiflora Benth., Leonurus superbus Medik., Phlomis leonurus L., Phlomis speciosa Salisb.
Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Leonotis. It was named and described by Robert Brown in the second edition of Hortus Kewensis in 1811. It was first described as Phlomis leonurus L. by Carl von Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753.
The genus Leonotis (Pers.) R.Br. was named and described by Robert Brown in the second edition of Hortus Kewensis in 1811.
As of 12-19-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 9 accepted species in the Leonotis genus. It is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae with 232 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
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Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail’) on 6-11-12, #99-37.
I bought this Lion’s Tail (Wild Dagga) from an Ebay seller along with several other plants in 2009. I was living at the mansion in Leland, Mississippi at the time and had plenty of space.
This plant had been on my wishlist for a while because I like its flowers. They look like they are stacked in rows which is similar to plants in the Phlomis genus which it was formerly in. The leaves and many other things separate them from that genus though.
This is one of those confusing plants that grow as an evergreen shrub in USDA Zones 10a-11 but are treated as a perennial in zones 8 and 9 I think. According to information online, north of zone 8, it can be brought inside to overwinter. Supposedly, you can grow them as annuals but seeds need to be started indoors in the winter and then transplanted after the last frost date. They can be grown in containers and if they flower in the fall, you can bring them inside in a sunny location where they will continue to flower through the winter. If they DO NOT flower in the fall, the containers should be brought inside and kept in a cool, sunny location and returned outside after the last frost date. THEN they should flower in late spring through summer. GEEZ! You can also take cuttings from overwintered plants in the summer to overwinter inside. DOUBLE GEEZ!
Even though I received this plant in the spring of 2012 and it was in full sun, it did not flower. Then I moved back to the family farm in Missouri in February 2013 so I don’t know if this plant returned in the spring of 2014 or not.
Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail’) on 7-13-12, #110-11.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: South Africa
Zones: USDA Zones 8 to 11 (30 to 40° F)
Size: 3-6’ tall x 2-4’ wide plus
Light: Sun to light shade
Soil: Average, well-drained soil
Water: Regular watering. Drought tolerant once established.
Flowers: Red-orange flowers in late spring and summer or fall… Depending on how you grow them I guess.
Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Tail’) on 8-12-12, #115-68.
This plant is sometimes used as a Cannabis substitute and has similar, umm, effects and medicinal uses, although less potent. I have been told that the scent of the leaves is also similar to Cannabis. There is plenty of information about this online, too. It is also illegal in some countries but not in the United States. Personally, I have never even tried Cannabis.
I am not sure if I will try this plant here on the farm or not. Sounds kind of complicated at the moment although the flowers are very tempting to try…
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