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Conservatory GreenhouseShrubs

Leonotis leonurus

lion's tail

A semi-evergreen shrub to 2m, with lance-shaped leaves to 12cm long, and whorls of reddish orange to red flowers 6cm long in autumn and early winter

Other common names

lion's tooth
lion's ear

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Leonotis can be annuals, perennials, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, with aromatic leaves and 2-lipped, tubular flowers borne in whorls towards the ends of the branches
Name status: Correct
Plant range: South Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Treat as a tender perennial and grow in a cool greenhouse, or plant outdoors after frosts in a sunny border or against a warm wall

Propagation

Propagate by seed or greenwood cuttings in late spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 10, in spring, if grown perennially outdoors. If grown under glass, or as a tender perennial, cut to ground level in early spring

Pests

Under glass glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly may be a problem

Diseases

Susceptible to grey moulds under glass

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