How to Grow Lion's Ear
Leonotis leonurus
Lion's Ear is a tall South African shrub grown for its stacked whorls of fuzzy orange flowers from late summer into autumn, much loved by bees and other pollinators. Give it full sun and free-draining soil, water during dry spells and in pots, and stake tall stems in windy spots. It is half-hardy, so in cool climates move it under cover before the first frost or treat it as an annual; seed sown under glass in late winter usually flowers the same autumn. Cut back in spring, as it flowers on new growth.
In your Leaftide garden 
- Height
- 150 cm
- Spread
- 100 cm
- Flowers
- August - November
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Feed
- Balanced feed in spring
- Prune
- Cut back in spring
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring as new shoots appear, then give a high-potash liquid feed every few weeks from midsummer until flowering ends. Plants in pots need regular feeding; plants in the ground on average soil need little.
Watch For
- Frost damage to stems and leaves from the first autumn frosts
- Root rot in cold, waterlogged soil over winter
- Whitefly and red spider mite on plants overwintered under glass
- Late flowering in cool summers, so buds may still be forming at first frost
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Needs full sun, ideally six hours or more a day, to flower well. In cool climates the warmest, most sheltered spot you have gives the earliest and longest flowering.
Watering
Moderate; water in dry spells and in pots
Water regularly while young and during dry spells; established plants in the ground are fairly drought tolerant. Pots dry out quickly in summer. Keep plants on the dry side over winter, as cold wet roots rot.
Fertilizing
Balanced feed in spring; potash feed in summer
Give a balanced fertiliser in spring as growth starts. From midsummer, a high-potash liquid feed every two to three weeks supports flowering, especially in pots. Too much nitrogen gives soft, leafy growth.
Pruning
Cut back in spring
Cut stems back to 15–30 cm in March–April once hard frosts are over. Flowers form on new growth, so this does not reduce flowering. Remove frost-damaged tips at the same time.
Spacing
80–100 cm apart
Space plants 80–100 cm apart in the ground. Seed-raised plants grown as annuals stay smaller and can go 60–80 cm apart. In pots, use a container of at least 30–40 cm.
Support
Stake in exposed spots
Tall flowering stems can snap or lean in strong wind. In open sites, give each plant a sturdy cane or a ring support in early summer. Plants against a sheltered wall usually stand on their own.
Growing Tips
Start seed early
Sow under glass at 18–21 °C in February or March. Plants started early have time to reach flowering size before autumn frosts.
Give it the warmest spot
A south-facing wall or sunny patio speeds up flowering in cool summers. In shade or cold sites it may not flower before frost.
Keep a backup
Take softwood cuttings in late summer and overwinter them on a cool windowsill. They are easier to keep than a large plant.