Leonotis leonurus

This showy plant’s botanical name says it all. Leon from the Greek means Lion and Otis means ear. It’s easy to see how the name came about as its individual blooms resemble the fuzzy ears of a lion. A shrubby member of the Mint family, it usually blooms a little when planted out in spring, but really comes on in late summer and fall. The whorled clusters of bright orange flowers make quite a glowing display in the autumn garden. It is of the Mint family, it usually blooms a little when planted out in spring, but really comes on in late summer and fall. The whorled clusters of bright orange flowers make quite a glowing display in the autumn garden. It is of the Mint family, it usually blooms a little when planted out in spring, but really comes on in late summer and fall. The whorled clusters of bright orange flowers make quite a glowing display in the autumn garden. It is listed hardy to zone 8, although we’ve had it survive several years in our zone 6b garden in Stillwater. Known as Wild Dagga in Kenya, it is found growing in the Great Rift Valley and a few other districts.