Bloemen-flowers Leonotis leonurus

• Article number: LEOLEO01

Leonotis leonurus is also known as Wild dagga in Australia. This perennial is family of the Lamiaceae just like mint and sage. The plant originates from the south of Africa.
In the past, the plant was used by African tribes for its beneficial effects on snake bites, headaches, fever, cough, diarrhea etc.

The elongated leaf resembles cannabis and is also called wild dagga (wild cannabis).
Leonotis leonurus contains an active substance called leonurine. By smoking the dried leaves and especially the flowers, a calming and slightly euphoric feeling seems to evoke.
Can be drunk as tea, but smoking gives a stronger effect. Leonotis leonurus is legal and unrelated or comparable to cannabis.

What may also be called euphoric is the vigorous growth and flowering of this beautiful perennial.
The plant can grow up to 150/200 cm high and 1 meter wide, if too large it can be pruned in early spring.
In the summer beautiful orange colored flower clusters with a diameter of 10/12 cm appear. The long flowering period continues until November and attracts many butterflies.
The lion's ear likes to be placed in a sunny warm place and it is also well tolerated.
A place as eye-catcher in your border is a must, place it slightly backwards, because through its rapid growth it sticks out above the rest of the plants.

In the winter, Leonotis leonurus prefers not to be wet.
The winter hardiness of the Leonotis is reasonable if unprotected, but zone 8a is not a problem for the plant. If the plant overwinters above the freezing point, it will not lose any leaves and will remain green.
If colder than extra protection at the rootstock and on the ground may be sufficient.
After the winter, prune back to the live part of the road and from there it shoots out again with fresh new shoots. We prune the plants that hibernate in a frost-free greenhouse in October back to 15/20 cm.  
Winter hardiness zone 8a (-12 / -14ºC).