Flowers – Wilde Dagga Lions Tail – Heirloom Seeds

The wild dagga is a fast-growing, soft-woody, robust shrub which grows up to 2-3m tall and 1.5m wide. The bush is comprised of mostly erect branched stems topped with multiple ball-shaped inflorescences which bear the nectar-rich bright orange flowers which protrude from the spikey calyx which protects the buds and later the seeds. The stems are velvety, woody at the base and distinctively square in cross section.  The stems are brittle and can break in strong winds.

The narrowly lanceolate 50-100 mm green leaves are rough on the upper leaf surface and velvety on the lower leaf surface and have toothed margins. These leaves are highly aromatic when crushed and have a strong herby scent.The flower heads are in axillary verticils and borne in clusters of 3-11 with various shades of orange to brilliant orange-red flowers. Individual flowers are tassel-like and consist of a long slender tube with four stamens, with an hirsute (having stiff hairs that are rough when touched) upper lip long and hooded and the lower lip short, smooth and reflexed. Flowering time is in summer, from November to January in some areas and from mid-autumn to winter (April to June) in others. Apricot, yellow and white flowered forms are also known.

The white flowered from was described as Leonotis leonurus var. albiflora Benth, and is still widely cultivated today as an attractive alternative to the orange flowered form. Hybrids between the two can sometimes be seen as apricot coloured or off-white individuals.