Leonotis leonurus

Leonotis leonurus, sometimes called Lion's tail, is a superb perennial plant with a woody base originating from the sunny plains of South Africa.  It is interesting for its orange flowering, as original as it is spectacular, which can be enjoyed from summer until the first frosts, of a rare colour for summer-flowering shrubs. At the end of the current year's stems appear tubular and villous flowers, bright orange, arranged in tiered crowns. This cousin of Phlomis proves to be more hardy than one might think: in a sheltered situation, it can survive brief frosts of around -12°C. Depending on the region, it will be grown in open ground or in large pots to be sheltered over winter.

Leonotis leonurus (synonym Phlomis leonurus) belongs to the family of Lamiaceae, like thyme and sage. In nature it is found in prairies, at the edge of woods and on rocky slopes of the Cape region in South Africa. Local populations also call it 'wild dagga' and smoke its leaves for their reputed euphoric properties. The Lion's tail has naturalised in California, Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia, but also on the French Riviera and the Atlantic coast: this plant easily restarts from the stump if frost has destroyed the aerial parts.

This fast-growing plant has a habit reminiscent of Phlomis. It is actually a large perennial with a lignified base and annual herbaceous stems that can also be grown as an annual in our less favourable climates. Rather erect at the beginning of the season, the Leonitis forms a large clump of leafy stems that widen, or even sag over the months: at maturity, it reaches about 1.50 m (5 ft) in height and 1.20 m (4 ft) in spread in European gardens. On the Mediterranean coast it can reach 2 m (6.5 ft) in all directions.

The villous square sectioned stems become lignified at the base. They bear deciduous or semi-evergreen leaves depending on the climate. They are entire, lanceolate, long and narrow and roughly dentate, measuring 10 cm (4 in) long and 2 cm (0.8 in) wide. These leaves are rough, villous on the underside, avocado green finishing butter yellow and slightly aromatic when bruised.

The flowering takes place from July-August until the first frosts. If the soil is very dry in summer, the plant will flower as soon as the rains return, from September to November. The current year's stems produce a succession of whorls (or crowns) of bilabiate tubular and villous flowers of a colour intermediate between pumpkin and apricot. These crowns of flowers unfold in a spectacular way: the orange villous buds surrounded by their pale green calyx bloom by lengthening up to 5 cm (2 in) long, while bending towards the ground, forming astonishing flamboyant umbrellas. Several 'stages' of flowers thus follow one another until the frosts come.

Leonotis leonurus is a very vigorous plant, not very thirsty, whose only real enemy is severe frosts. It likes being by the sea, but also inland in a sheltered situation. You can grow it in dry gardens or in a large exotic bed, but also in a pot on a very sunny terrace or balcony. Its orange flowering, like its habit, may seem difficult to pair with in the garden: however, one can imagine beautiful combinations with a Salvia guaranitica with its almost black flowers, olearias covered with small white daisies, an Euryops chrysanthemoides or even with the silver foliage of bushy artemisias which enhance all bright colours. On the terrace or in the garden, place the Leonotis near a Cape Plumbago in azure blue or white, an agapanthus, or not far from a beautiful grass with feathery flowering like the Miscanthus Yaku Jima for the contrast of shapes and colours. Also include in original cut flower bouquets, taking advantage of its flower-covered stems, from which you have removed the leaves.