Leonotis leonurus var. alba

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Botanical Name

Leonotis leonurus var. alba

Family

Lamiaceae - The mint and salvia family

Pronunciation

lee-oh-NO-tis lee-oh-NOR-uss

Common Name(s)

English: Wild Dagga; Lion's Ear; Cape Hemp

Afrikaans: Wildedagga; Duiwelstabak

IsiXhosa: Imvovo; Umfinafincane

IsiZulu: Imunyamunyane; Utshwalabezinyoni Omncane

Sesotho: Lebake

Plant Group

Shrub A woody plant of relatively low height, having several stems arising from the base and lacking a single trunk; a bush.

Plant Size

Medium to Large

Tree 15m to 20m

Shrub 2m to 3m

Perennial/ground cover 60cm to 75cm

Bulb 60cm to 1m

Succulent 60cm to 1m

Position

Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.

General Information

Deciduous to Semi-deciduous In warmer areas a deciduous plant may not lose its leaves during winter at all, or may lose its leaves for a very brief period, or may only lose part of its foliage.
Drought Tolerance: High The plant is well adapted to arid conditions; it can survive long periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
Frost: Hardy The plant can withstand freezing temperatures or frost without artificial protection.
Prune hard after flowering Fast growing shrubs that grow lanky within a season. Cut off branches and stems of these plants to a third of their original length. This will increase the yield of flowers, improve the plants shape and enhance the structural strength of main branches.
Roots Non-invasive Safe to plant near pools, paving, walls or buildings.
Sand tolerant Plants adapted to survive in nutrient poor, very sandy soils.
Water Wise Plant species originating from low rainfall regions that require less water to survive and thrive than other plant species.
Wind Tolerant Plants able to withstand the effect of strong winds.

Specific Information

Leonotis leonurus is a robust woody shrub with long, narrow, slightly rough leaves. The flowers produce nectar in abundance making it an excellent plant for attracting birds, bees and butterflies. Although commonly called Wild dagga, this plant is not in any way related to Cannabis.

Leonotis was one of the first South African plants to be cultivated overseas - in 1663!

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Flowers

Description

compact cluster of furry, tube-shaped flowers in whorls

Season

Autumn to Winter Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.

Colour

white

Growth Rate

Very Fast Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.

Plant Uses

Attracts bees, butterflies or other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
Border A strip of ground, at the edge of a driveway or path in which ornamental plants or shrubs are planted.
Boundary A plant useful for planting around the edges of the property to form a green or colourful backdrop, an impenetrable hedge, to hide walls or create privacy.
Filler Either a fast growing tree or shrub used temporarily to fill in an area while the permanent plants grow to a desired size, or a plant used to fill gaps in borders or beds.
Pioneer for new gardens A very fast growing plant, able to withstand hardship, that can be used to populate land that has recently been cleared of natural vegetation. These plants pave the way for slower-growing species by adding nutrients to the soil and creating leaf litter.
Rock Garden An area constructed of larger rocks, arranged naturally, to emphasise the use of stones as a main element. Generally plants used do not need a lot of care.
Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
Suitable for smaller gardens Such plants do not have invasive root systems, remain small or controllable and can often be grown in containers.
Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.

Distribution and Habitat

Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, amongst rocks in grassland

Planting Suggestions

Plant in well-drained soil with a little compost. Mulch to retain moisture. To form a dense shrub and encourage flowering, tip off the growing points periodically during spring and early summer. Prune back hard at the end of winter.

Medicinal Uses

Traditionally the wild dagga is a widely used medicine for treating fevers, headaches, coughs, dysentery, snake bite, the relief of hemorrhoids, to relieve stomach ache and as a purgative. It is also used as a charm to keep snakes away. When smoked it produces a mildly narcotic effect and it was used by the Khoi in place of tobacco.

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Author: Lorraine Solomon