Lion’s Ear or Lion’s Tail
Leonotis leonurus (LAMIACEAE, formerly LABIATAE)
Planting and Growing Lion’s Ear
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow lion’s ear or lion’s tail in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, fruit, and seeds of lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- Growing conditions for lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- When and where to plant lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- How to plant lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- How to shape, prune and control growth of lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- Landscape uses of lion’s ear or lion’s tail
- Pest and disease control for lion’s ear or lion’s tail
Growing Lion’s Ear
Several cultivars of slow-growing, erect, branching, evergreen shrubs, 5–7 ft. (1.5–2.2 m) tall and 4–6 ft. (1.2–1.8 m) wide, with opposite, green, textured, soft, lance-shaped, pointed, coarsely toothed leaves, 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) long.
Lion’s tail, Leonotis dysophylla and Kilp Dagga, Leonotis nepetifolia, are closely related species with similar care needs.
Lion's Ear Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Tiers of lipped, blue, orange red, tubular, hairy flowers, to 2-1/2-in. (63-mm) long, in radiating whorls, to 6 in. (15 cm) wide, in summer–autumn, form small, segmented, nutlike fruit bearing seed in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 8–11. Tender.
Soil Type and Fertility
Dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average–low. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 2–4 ft. (60–120 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Avoid fertilizing. Deadhead spent flower stalks. Shear in late autumn. Protect from frost. Propagate by cuttings, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, banks, fencelines, paths in cottage, formal, meadow gardens and roadside plantings. Good for cutting. Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. Pest and disease resistant.