Lions Tail – Desert Horizon Nursery

Lions Tail

Leonotis leonurus
Categories:
Shrubs  ·  
Flowering Shrubs
Light
Full sun
Water
Low to moderate water once established; water deeply, then let the upper several inches of soil dry. Provide supplemental irrigation during prolonged Phoenix summer heat; reduce watering in winter.
Size
4-6 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide
Habit
Upright shrub
Toxicity
Not Established
Description
A South African shrub with aromatic, narrow leaves and striking tiers of fuzzy orange flowers encircling upright stems.
Bloom Time
Fall to winter
Deciduous / Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Upright shrub
Mature Size
4-6 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide
Flower Color
Orange
Foliage Color
Medium green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Screen, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden
Garden Style
Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Formal, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Autumn sage, Damianita, Desert marigold, Pink muhly grass, Red yucca
Not Established
Not established — verify
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to light shade; afternoon shade is beneficial in Phoenix, especially near hot walls or pavement.

Water: Low to moderate water once established; water deeply, then let the upper several inches of soil dry. Provide supplemental irrigation during prolonged Phoenix summer heat; reduce watering in winter.

Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; tolerates relatively poor soil but dislikes waterlogged roots.

Mature size: 4–6 feet tall and wide; occasionally taller with ample water and mild winters.

Bloom: Typically late summer through fall, sometimes extending into winter in frost-free locations; extreme summer heat may reduce flowering.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; may become semi-evergreen or die back after freezes in Zone 9b.

Growth rate: Fast during warm weather with adequate moisture.