Leonotis leonurus

Lions Tail is a semi-evergreen upright shrub in the mint family with a woody base and herbaceous stems.  It boasts very showy rings of bright orange hairy two-lipped tubular flowers that look great in flower arrangements.  Originally from South Africa, this plant is tolerant of extreme heat, drought, and dry soils.  While it can freeze to the ground in the winter it will often resprout from hardened wood in the spring which is why it is often considered a perennial.  Mulching the crown in the winter will help ensure the plant survives.  Prune annually after flowering to maintain a bushy dense shape.

Plant as a screen or let it naturalize in the landscape through self-seeding.  Pollinators love the nectar in this plant and it is often visited by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.  Deer leave this plant alone.  Propagate by green stem cutting or seeding in the garden before the last frost date.