Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 15:50:19 -0400
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>


In a message dated 5/9/03 6:22:48 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
recoverywing@ATT.NET writes: " Plants - I came across leonotis(dwarf lions ear) gray green leaves, bright
velvety orange flowers in whorls, nectar was quite evident.
Anybody ever grow this? "

I have grown three leonotis species. Leonotis leonuris - lions
tail - is a large (8 feet or more in CA) shrub with whorls of
orange tubular flowers and leaves that give it the common name
"wild dagga' in South Africa. Apparently dagga is another name for
marijuana. I think leonotis leonuris is an OK hummer plant. I've
had it survive mild winters in Baton Rouge. I see more orange
crowned warblers than hummers use this plant in CA. My favorite
leonotis is leonotis nepetafolia - lions ear, although lions ear
seems to be an alternate common name for all plants in this genus.
This is a tall (6 ft or more) annual that is similar to L.
leonotis and is often mispabeled as such. They're not similar
enough to confuse most gardeners who are familiar with both. This
annual could be grown across most of North America, and I have
found lots of hummer use when I've grown a nice stand. The third
species I have seen is the one you mentioned. It is Leonotis
menthafolia, which grows only about 3 feet tall, and tends to have
mostly basal leaves with a taller flower stalk. Again, whorls of
orange flowers are produced, and I have seen lots of hummer usage
at certain stands of this plant. This one is a perennial, but
doesn't seem to be hardy in the southeast where frost occurs. I
think L nepetafolia and L. menthafolia are best grown from seed,
while cuttings are easier for L. Leonotis. All like full sun and
are moderately drought tolerant, although I have grown L.
nepetafolia in part shade in LA and it did fine. All respond well
to regular water and rich soil, but poor or dry soil should do
too.

Ron Rovansek
Huntington Beach, CA USDA zone 10