Names | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Family |
Lamiaceae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Botanical Name |
Leonotis nepetifolia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Synonym(s) |
N/A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
English Name(s) |
Klip Dagga, Lion's Tail, Lion's Ear, Christmas Candlestick, Candlestick. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese Name(s) |
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Description | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Size & Growth Habit |
Klip Dagga is an annual plant that may reach 2-3 meters in height in good conditions. These plants grow straight up branching out as opposites from leaf nodes. Plants will start to die when temperatures and light levels drop in the fall and do not over winter well. It is possible to prune and regrow the same plant for a couple years; but it is much easier to sow new seed the folowing growing season with such a fast growing plant! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves |
Leaves are triangle in shape and margins deeply serrate. Leaves may reach up to 20cm long and 15cm wide. In extreme heat and no rain, leaves will become sticky add appear to have something (resembling dried sugar water) on the surface. These are resin glands. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers |
Inflorescences in hard spikes that may hurt the hand when brushed against (especially when dry). Flowers have 5 petals which are joined forming a 2 lipped tube flower. Flowers are orange in colour which remains when dried. Seeds develop in groups of 4 per flower. Seeds are ready to harvest when the "spike ball" is brown and dry. Klip Dagga is self-fertile, meaning they may produce viable seed with only one plant. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cultivars & Hybrids |
To our knowledge there are no known true cultivars, but there seems to be interest among people to breed plants that when consumed produce a stronger "intoxication". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cultivation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Seed |
Seeds are easily germinated. Place in any potting mix and keep moist. Germination % and speed seems to be much faster when planted in warm temperatures in a well lit area. We suggest sowing them in a bright spot that stays above 10 C at all times. Germination should take about 1-2 weeks. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Cutting |
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Soil |
Leonotis nepetifolia is not a very sensitive plant and does well in many types of soils. One thing they benefti from is root space, they become root bounds very easily and appreciate large pots. Try to avoid soils that are very heavy and clay like, if your soil is clay like try adding some sand or peat to loosen up the soil a bit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Water |
Water whenever the surface of the soil dries out. They are fairly tolerant of over watering (they survive the typhoons/floods here). If they are kept dry their leaves will start to wilt and eventually drop if not watered. They will recover quickly once watered, if you do not wait too long. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feeding |
This is a fast growing plant that reacts well to plenty of food. If planted in ground in a rich area they probably will not require much, if any, plant food. If using a pot or in poor soil feeding monthly is suggested. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light |
These plants are best planted in full direct sun to partial shade. Seedlings should be shaded and moved into bright light once a few inches tall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pruning |
These plants do not require pruning, but will grow bushier if pinched. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Climate |
Klip Dagga does well in most areas so long as the temps are above 5 Celsius. They do not tolerate frost, and do not like cool temperatures. Colder days force klip dagga into flowering, followed by death. Only in warm areas can Klip dagga grow as a perrenial, and even then, usually dies within a couple years. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
Leonotis nepetifolia is an annual plant that dies a little while after flowering. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Related Species |
Leonotis africana, Leonotis bachmannii, Leonotis bequaerti, Leonotis brevipes, Leonotis capensis, Leonotis caribea, Leonotis decadonta, Leonotis dinteri, Leonotis dubia, Leonotis dysophylla, Leonotis elliotii, Leonotis engleri, Leonotis galpini, Leonotis goetzei, Leonotis hereroensis, Leonotis hirtiflora, Leonotis intermedia, Leonotis kagerensis, Leonotis kwebensis, Leonotis latifolia, Leonotis laxifolia, Leonotis leonurus, Leonotis longidens, Leonotis melleri, Leonotis menthifolia, Leonotis microphylla, Leonotis mollis, Leonotis newtoni, Leonotis ocymifolia, Leonotis ovata, Leonotis pallida, Leonotis parvifolia, Leonotis pole, Leonotis raineriana, Leonotis randii, Leonotis rugosa, Leonotis spectabilis, Leonotis tuberosa, Leonotis urticifolia, Leonotis velutina, Leonotis westae, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Human Uses |
Klip Dagga is said to create an affect similar to that of Cannabis. This plant has been used in Africa for similar reasons as well, apperantly. In todays western culture there are people who smoke, extract and/or make teas from the leaves and/or flowers of this plant for its apperant relaxing mildly intoxicating qualities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemicals/Activities |
Please note: Some chemicals may not be listed and some may or may not be toxic. Do not consume plants based on this table, it only gives a general idea of *some* of the chemicals this plant contains.
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Links |
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Pictures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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