Herself’s Houston Garden

Gardening for fun and wildlife at the edge of Houston’s piney woods

Lion’s Ear ( Leonotis leonurus )

with 5 comments

I’m told this plant was used in religious ceremonies by Zulu priests and that if you smoke the dried leaves it causes euphoria. I don’t know any Zulu priests so I couldn’t verify this information.

Lion’s ear can reach 6′ in height and 3′ across. It needs little water once it is settled in and many locals lost theirs with all the rain this past summer. So find a relatively dry location for it.

I’m told hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, love this plant. They had already migrated through here before this plant bloomed so I’ll know better next year. I’ve also read it attracts many wild birds.

I picked up mine at the Conroe Extension office sale a few months back. After about a month in the ground it began to bloom. It will happily bloom in sun or shade, just less often in the shade. You will want to prune it back late winter to early spring to keep it looking nice, otherwise it will require little care. It will lose its leaves after a frost but should recuperate nicely.

There are many more photos in the photography section.  Go to photos and search for ‘Lion’s ear’.

Written by timestocome

December 31st, 2007 at 5:00 am

Posted in plants in Houston

Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

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5 Responses to 'Lion’s Ear ( Leonotis leonurus )'

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  1. This amazing plant blooming for all of December and only stopped when we had our 27′F temperatures last week. There are a few yellow leaves but it seems otherwise unharmed. I want a dozen more of this plant. I’m very happy with it. If I had to pick a favorite of all of this year’s plants, this would be it.

    Be sure to see photos of it fully blooming in the Dec. 2007 photo album.

    admin

    7 Jan 08 at 2:11 pm

  2. I’m disappointed this plant does not bloom in the summer. It spent most of the summer wilting and begging for mercy.

    I took cuttings and put some out front. The cuttings are growing like weeds.

    I’m hoping it’ll perk back up when the weather cools down.

    ljmacphee

    25 Aug 08 at 1:41 pm

  3. Ike wiped out every one of these much to my dismay. I’m hoping to replace them.

    ljmacphee

    26 Mar 09 at 9:00 pm

  4. I’ve one out front, the one out back didn’t survive the summer drought.

    Leaves wilt in the afternoon sun during droughts, otherwise it does fine.

    It just started blooming this week.

    timestocome

    9 Sep 09 at 6:03 pm

  5. This plant is playing dead after the three day freeze, waiting until spring to see if it revives. Do not trim any woody plants after a frost. Wait until you see new leaves before pruning.

    timestocome

    21 Jan 10 at 11:26 am

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