Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br.

Lion's Ears; Lightning Rod Plant; Christmas Candlestick

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Lion's Ears is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to tropical Africa and India. In Alabama, it can be found in the southern third of the state. Lion's Ears occurs in pastures, around old home sites, on roadsides, and on sand bars and disturbed areas along rivers. It is an annual with a tap root. The stems are 3-9 feet in height, green in color, 4-angled, and pubescent. The plant is usually branched above the middle with short, erect branches. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate in outline, pubescent, and have toothed margins. The bases are sometimes almost cordate. Flowers are produced in globose, head-like cymes that completely encircle the stems. The calyx is tubular, 7-8 toothed, each tooth with a spine tip. Flowers are two-lipped, the upper lip hood-like and the lower lip 3-lobed. The flowers are tubular in shape, pubescent, and bright orange in color. The fruit are mericarps that remain within the calyx, which becomes papery and brown in color. The seed are released when the plant is disturbed. Lion's Ears is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental. The seed are available from some nurseries. The plants prefer a sandy soil in full sun, and average moisture. It is drought tolerant once established. Lion's Ears flowers are visited by several species of butterflies and hummingbirds. The seed heads are sometimes used in dried flower arrangements. Lion's Ears has been used to prepare an herbal tea that is used to treat fevers, coughs, and malaria. Dried leaves have also been smoked to relieve anxiety and tension.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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