We return after the summer break and in this return, also to the city, taking a walk we find, in the very center, some well-known plants that stand out from the rest because at this time of late summer they are still in full bloom. For this reason we want to resume the blog after the summer break with these plants that are either late-flowering or continue flowering until the beginning of autumn.
And one of them is **_Leonotis leonorus_** , which is a herbaceous, perennial plant, native to South Africa, where it is used in traditional medicine and was introduced in Europe at the beginning of the 18th century for ornamental purposes.
The origin of its name refers to the orange morphology and color of the petals that supposedly resemble lion's ears, a fact from which its common name also derives, as it is known as lion's tail or lion's ear.
Leonotis is a compact shrub formed by numerous square-sectioned stems on which lanceolate and alternate leaves are arranged, which are fragrant when rubbed. It is a fast-growing plant and in full development it reaches about 120cm high and about 90cm wide.
Flowering begins in early summer and lasts until the beginning of autumn. The flowers are tubular and hairy, bright orange in color and are arranged in staggered whorls surrounding the stems.
It prefers to be located in full sun, is very resistant to lack of water and grows well in hot and dry climate areas, although it can also be cultivated in temperate climate areas with slightly moist soils. It is not a particularly demanding species in terms of soil type, but it prefers medium-textured soils, well-drained and rich in organic matter.
It is sensitive to frost, tolerating only light frosts, down to -5ºC. In areas with stricter winters, it can be grown as an annual plant or in pots. It does not present significant pest or disease problems, although it is advisable to watch for the presence of whitefly and spider mites.
In terms of maintenance it is an easy plant to grow; it only requires intense pruning at the beginning of spring so that it sprouts vigorously and periodic cleaning of old or dry branches. It can go without watering until the soil is completely dry but prefers a certain degree of regular moisture to show off in all its splendor.
It is a suitable species for borders, as an accent or to create low flowering hedges in dry, medicinal or educational parks and gardens. Its flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees and some birds, as they produce abundant nectar.
It adapts well to pot cultivation and its flower stems can be used as cut flowers.
At Sala Graupera we can also find another cultivar of Leonotis with very similar characteristics and white flowers, **\*L. leonorus \*\*\***"Harrismith White"\*\*
Images: own / www.imageria.com / redwoodbarn.com