Cordao

Leonotis nepetaefolium
Family: Lamiaceae
Perennial if protected from freezing, grown as an annual in the temperate north.
Highly decorative, with tall whorled spikes which hold arrays of long-tubed and
curving orange flowers. Hummingbirds love them. Children pluck the orange florets
and suck out the copious nectar. Locals have taken to smoking the leaves of this plant
as a mood elevating substitute for more debilitating smokes. Note: This is not the
shiny, lance-leaved species which is Leonotis leonurus (Wilde Dagga), but
nepetaefolia and leonurus are very similar in appearance and activity.
Cultivation: Extra care. Get an early start when sowing these as an annual, since
they require a long growing season to fully develop their potential. Sow seed in flats
in the greenhouse. Germ in 5-9 days. Thin to 2 inch spacing. Transplant out to
garden after the last frost. Plant 2 feet apart. Grows as tall as 9 feet.

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