leonotis leonurus medicinal large orange flowers

Lion’s Ear (Leonotis Leonurus) – A Complete Guide to This Striking South African Herb

Lion’s Ear is one of those plants that earns its place in the herb garden twice over. As an ornamental, it is genuinely hard to beat: a towering, architectural shrub covered in stacked whorls of vivid orange, velvety tubular flowers that draw hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies from late summer through autumn. As an herb, it carries centuries of documented use in traditional African medicine, with a phytochemical profile that has attracted growing interest from researchers.

The plant’s common names create some confusion worth clearing up at the start. Leonotis leonurus, the species most commonly called Lion’s Ear in Southern Africa, is also known as Lion’s Tail and Wild Dagga. The closely related Leonotis nepetifolia, which is an annual rather than a perennial, shares the Lion’s Ear name in some parts of the world, particularly in South and Central America. This guide focuses primarily on Leonotis leonurus, the perennial shrub native to South Africa, while noting relevant differences where they matter.

The genus name Leonotis comes from the Greek words for lion (leon) and ear (otis), a direct reference to the flower petals, which are shaped like a lion’s ear. It is an apt name for a plant that has a genuinely wild, dramatic presence in the garden and an equally interesting story in the world of herbal medicine.

Botanical Profile and Identification

Leonotis leonurus is a member of the Lamiaceae family, the same large and medicinally productive family that includes mint, lavender, rosemary, basil, and motherwort. Like other family members, it has square stems, aromatic foliage, and two-lipped tubular flowers. Native to the grasslands and scrublands of Southern Africa, it grows wild along roadsides and disturbed ground throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, and neighboring countries.

Plant Structure

In favorable conditions, Lion’s Ear grows as a semi-evergreen shrub reaching 4 to 8 feet tall, occasionally taller, with multiple upright woody stems. The stems are square in cross-section as is characteristic of the mint family, covered with fine hairs particularly on younger growth. The overall habit is open and slightly sprawling, with stems bearing leaves at regular intervals and flowering spikes at the tips.

Leaves

The leaves are lanceolate to narrowly ovate, typically 4 to 6 inches long, with serrated margins and an opposite arrangement along the stem. The surface is slightly rough-textured, and the foliage releases a mild, pleasant herbal fragrance when brushed or crushed. The color is a rich dark green.

Flowers

The flowers are the plant’s defining feature. They emerge in dense, spherical whorls stacked in tiers along the upper portions of each stem, typically with four to six whorls per flowering stem. Each individual flower is a curved, tubular two-lipped corolla covered in fine velvety hairs, ranging from deep orange to red-orange in the standard species. White-flowered forms also exist. The flowers appear in late summer and continue through autumn, with the lowest whorls blooming first and the display progressing upward over several weeks. The dried, spiky seedheads persist through winter and have ornamental value of their own.

Lion’s Ear vs. Lion’s Tail: Clarifying the Name Confusion

The names Lion’s Ear and Lion’s Tail are used interchangeably for Leonotis leonurus in different parts of the world and different sources. Lion’s Tail is more commonly used in American horticulture while Lion’s Ear is more commonly used in Southern African contexts. Leonotis nepetifolia, the annual species, is sometimes called Klip Dagga or Lion’s Ear in South American and Caribbean traditions. The two plants share similar traditional uses and overlapping chemistry, but Leonotis nepetifolia has been found to contain higher concentrations of leonurine, the key alkaloid, than Leonotis leonurus.

Historical and Traditional Use

Lion’s Ear has a documented history of medicinal use in Southern Africa stretching back centuries, primarily among the Khoi and San peoples and later integrated into Zulu, Sotho, and Xhosa traditional healing systems. A comprehensive review published in ScienceDirect covering over a century of literature on the plant documents its use in traditional medicine as a decoction applied both topically and orally for a wide range of conditions.

Traditional Applications in Southern Africa

Traditional healers used different parts of the plant for different purposes. Leaf and stem decoctions were used internally for respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis, and tuberculosis, as well as for fever, headaches, dysentery, jaundice, and high blood pressure. The leaves and stems were applied topically to skin infections, sores, wounds, and conditions including eczema and itching. Twigs were added to bathwater to relieve muscle cramps and skin conditions. The roots were used as an emetic in cases of snakebite and scorpion sting.

One of the plant’s best-known traditional uses, reflected in its Afrikaans name wilde dagga (wild cannabis), is as a mild psychoactive substance. The dried leaves and flowers were smoked or prepared as a tea for their calming, mildly euphoric effects. This use was documented among indigenous Khoikhoi people and later among Dutch settlers in the Cape. The psychoactive properties are genuine but substantially less potent than cannabis, and the compounds responsible are chemically unrelated to cannabinoids.

Use Across Africa and Beyond

As Lion’s Ear spread beyond its native range through colonial trade routes, its use expanded. In East Africa, related species of Leonotis were used for similar conditions. The plant reached Europe as an ornamental as early as the 1600s. In parts of South and Central America, Leonotis nepetifolia became established and integrated into local folk medicine traditions for fevers, headaches, respiratory conditions, and digestive complaints. In each new cultural context the plant encountered, it tended to be used for broadly similar indications, suggesting a consistency in its effects that supported adoption across traditions.

Active Compounds and Phytochemistry

Lion’s Ear has been the subject of substantial phytochemical research. A peer-reviewed review published in academic literature and summarized on

Leonurine

Leonurine is a pseudoalkaloid and arguably the plant’s most studied active compound. It is also found in motherwort and other Lamiaceae family plants. Leonurine is water-soluble and easily extracted into tea or decoctions. Research interest in leonurine has grown significantly in recent years, with studies examining its potential cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. In the related plant Leonurus japonicus (Chinese motherwort), leonurine is now used as an official quality marker in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, reflecting its established pharmaceutical significance in Asian medicine.

Marrubiin

Marrubiin is a labdane diterpene identified as the major diterpene in Lion’s Ear. It is also found in white horehound, another Lamiaceae plant with a long history of use for respiratory conditions. Marrubiin has demonstrated antispasmodic properties in pharmacological studies, which may help explain the plant’s traditional use for asthma and bronchial conditions.

Flavonoids

A phytochemical study published in Tandfonline isolated ten flavonoid compounds from the flowering aerial parts of Leonotis leonurus, including six flavone glycosides, two methylated flavones, and two flavone aglycons. These were the first flavonoids isolated from the genus Leonotis. The study found that extracts rich in these flavonoids showed strong anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity in rat models, while showing no cytotoxic activity at the tested concentrations.

Essential Oils and Terpenes

The essential oil fraction of Lion’s Ear contains a high proportion of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. These contribute to the plant’s characteristic aromatic scent and have demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies against various bacterial and fungal strains.

Other Compounds

Additional compounds identified in Lion’s Ear include phenolics, tannins, steroids, and saponins. The totality of the plant’s chemistry reflects the broad pharmacological activity observed in traditional use, where multiple classes of compounds likely work together rather than any single active ingredient being solely responsible for the observed effects.

What the Research Shows: Traditional Uses and the Evidence

It is important to approach Lion’s Ear’s research profile honestly. The plant has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and laboratory and animal studies have produced genuinely interesting results across several areas of activity. At the same time, human clinical trial data is limited, and translating in vitro or animal study results to confirmed human health applications requires significant additional research. The following overview presents what is documented while being clear about the level of evidence involved.

Anti-inflammatory Activity

Anti-inflammatory activity is among the most consistently demonstrated properties in laboratory studies of Lion’s Ear. An animal study referenced in the Wikipedia entry on Leonotis leonurus found that the aqueous leaf extract possessed antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties in experimental models. The flavonoid-rich extracts studied in the Tandfonline review showed strong anti-inflammatory activity in a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. These findings are consistent with the plant’s traditional use for pain and inflammatory conditions, though human clinical confirmation is lacking.

Antimicrobial Properties

Essential oil and solvent extracts of Lion’s Ear have demonstrated antibacterial activity in multiple laboratory studies, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 mg/mL against various bacterial strains. Related species including Leonotis ocymifolia have shown activity against Candida and other fungi, which is consistent with traditional topical use for skin infections. These are in vitro findings and should not be extrapolated to assumed clinical efficacy without further research.

Respiratory and Antispasmodic Effects

The presence of marrubiin, a compound well-established as antispasmodic in the related herb white horehound, provides a plausible mechanism for the plant’s traditional use in respiratory conditions. Traditional use for asthma, bronchitis, coughs, and related conditions is consistent across multiple African healing traditions and represented in independent accounts from practitioners with no shared cultural connection. This convergence of traditional use supported by known chemistry is considered a meaningful indicator in ethnopharmacological research, though clinical trials remain needed.

Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Effects

High blood pressure is consistently listed among Lion’s Ear’s traditional uses across multiple African healing traditions. Leonurine, the plant’s key alkaloid, has shown cardiovascular-relevant activities in research on related Leonurus species, including effects on smooth muscle and nitric oxide pathways that could affect blood pressure. Current evidence does not support using Lion’s Ear as a substitute for prescribed antihypertensive treatment, and anyone taking blood pressure medications should discuss any herbal use with their healthcare provider given the potential for interaction.

Calming and Mood Effects

The plant’s traditional reputation for calming, mild sedation, and mood elevation is documented across multiple cultures independently. Modern herbal practitioners have explored it as a mild anxiolytic and stress-support herb. The mechanism is not definitively established, though leonurine has been associated in some research with GABA-modulating activity in related plant species. This use remains in the realm of traditional knowledge and preliminary evidence rather than clinical confirmation.

How to Prepare and Use Lion’s Ear

Traditional preparations of Lion’s Ear use the leaves and flowers primarily, with roots used in some traditions for specific applications. The following preparation methods reflect both traditional practice and modern herbal use, focusing on the two species most relevant for practical application.

Tea or Infusion

The most common preparation for internal use is a simple infusion made from dried leaves and flowers. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried aerial parts per cup of just-boiled water. Steep covered for 10 to 15 minutes, then strain. The resulting tea is mildly bitter with an earthy, slightly herbaceous flavor. Traditional use in Southern Africa commonly involved boiling the plant material as a decoction rather than a cooler infusion, which extracts a broader range of compounds including the water-soluble leonurine. Do not use more than one to two cups daily and limit use to short periods without professional guidance.

Topical Preparations

For topical use on minor skin conditions, a strong decoction can be cooled and applied to the affected area with a clean cloth. Alternatively, the leaves can be lightly bruised and applied as a simple poultice. Traditional use for itching, rashes, and minor skin infections used both direct leaf application and decoction baths, where the prepared plant material was added to warm bathwater for soaking.

Tincture

A standard herbal tincture can be prepared from fresh or dried Lion’s Ear material using food-grade alcohol. Pack a clean jar with dried leaf and flower material, cover fully with menstruum of 60 to 70 percent ethanol, seal, and macerate in a cool dark place for four to six weeks, shaking regularly. Strain and press the marc. Dosing guidelines for tinctures vary and should be guided by a qualified herbalist, particularly as the concentrated form carries more potency than a simple tea.

Preparations to Use with Caution or Avoid

Smoking the dried leaves is a traditional use that has been documented extensively. While some herbal practitioners discuss this preparation, it is not one that can be recommended in a responsible herbal guide. Combustion of any plant material produces harmful byproducts, and smoking Lion’s Ear as a regular practice poses respiratory risks regardless of the plant’s other properties. Any perceived calming effects achievable through smoking can be obtained more safely through other preparation methods.

Safety, Contraindications, and Drug Interactions

Lion’s Ear is not a herb without risks, and honest safety assessment is an important part of any responsible guide to its use.

General Safety

The plant has been used as a traditional medicine and mild intoxicant for centuries with a general record of tolerability at typical doses. Laboratory studies have not found significant cytotoxic activity at reasonable concentrations. An animal study found acute toxicity at 3,200 mg/kg body weight in female rats, which is a high dose relative to any practical herbal use, suggesting a reasonable safety margin for typical preparations at traditional doses.

That said, the absence of adverse event data from traditional use does not constitute a clean clinical safety profile. Meaningful human clinical safety data is limited, and the assumption that traditional use equals safety can be misleading for sensitive populations or for people using the herb in combination with medications.

Who Should Not Use Lion’s Ear

Pregnant women: Lion’s Ear has been used traditionally to stimulate uterine contractions. This use is directly contraindicated in pregnancy, as it poses a risk of miscarriage or premature labor. No pregnant person should use Lion’s Ear internally in any form.
Breastfeeding women: Insufficient safety data exists for use during breastfeeding. Avoid.
People taking antihypertensive medications: The plant’s blood pressure-relevant traditional uses and leonurine’s cardiovascular activity suggest a potential for interaction with antihypertensive drugs. Use only under medical supervision.
People taking sedatives or CNS-depressant medications: The plant’s calming properties may compound the effects of sedative drugs, benzodiazepines, or other CNS depressants.
People with known Lamiaceae allergies: As a member of the mint family, Lion’s Ear may cause reactions in people sensitive to mint, lavender, or other family members.
Children: Not recommended for use in children without direct guidance from a qualified healthcare provider.

Possible Side Effects

Potential side effects at higher doses or in sensitive individuals include nausea, digestive upset, and sedation. The fine hairs on the leaves and flowers can cause mild skin irritation with prolonged handling in people with sensitive skin, so gloves are advisable during extended harvesting or preparation sessions. Allergic reactions are possible though not commonly reported.

Growing Lion’s Ear in Your Garden

Whatever your interest in Lion’s Ear, from purely ornamental to medicinal, growing it successfully is straightforward in the right climate. It is a genuinely rewarding garden plant that performs with minimal fuss once established.

Climate and Hardiness

Lion’s Ear is a warm-climate plant. As a perennial shrub, it is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11, where it can be left in the ground year-round. In zone 8, some winter die-back may occur, but the plant typically regenerates from the base in spring. In zones 6 and 7, it can be grown as a container plant and overwintered indoors in a bright, cool location above freezing, or grown as an annual from seed for autumn flowering. As Gardening Know How notes, in its native habitat, Lion’s Ear grows wild along roadsides and in scrublands, giving a clear picture of the tough, sun-exposed, well-drained conditions it prefers.

Sun and Soil

Full sun produces the most abundant flowering. The plant will tolerate light shade but blooms significantly less and grows more loosely in partial shade conditions. Soil requirements are minimal: almost any well-drained soil will work. Lion’s Ear does not tolerate waterlogged or poorly draining conditions, which cause root rot. It is drought tolerant once established, a quality that makes it well suited to low-water or water-wise garden designs.

Planting from Seed

Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected spring frost date, using a fine, light seed-starting mix. Sow seeds at approximately one-quarter inch depth and maintain consistent moisture and temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for germination, which typically takes two to three weeks. Transplant outdoors after all frost risk has passed, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart to allow for the mature spread. In warm climates, seeds can be sown directly outdoors in early spring.

Propagation by Cuttings

Lion’s Ear is also readily propagated from greenwood cuttings taken in late spring or summer. Take cuttings of approximately 5 inches from actively growing stem tips, remove the lower leaves, and plant in a mix of sand and peat moss or a well-draining propagation medium. Cuttings typically root within one to two months. Propagation by cutting is faster and more reliable than seed for producing plants that match a parent plant’s characteristics, which matters if you are growing a specific cultivar or a white-flowered form.

Ongoing Care

Once established, Lion’s Ear requires minimal care. Water during extended dry spells, particularly in the first growing season while roots are establishing. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, which promotes lush foliage at the expense of flowers. The most important maintenance task is pruning. Since flowers only form on new wood, cutting the plant back significantly in late winter or early spring to about 6 inches above the ground encourages vigorous new growth and a full flowering display. Without regular pruning, the plant tends to become woody and leggy with reduced flowering over time.

Pests and Problems

Lion’s Ear is remarkably pest-resistant in outdoor garden conditions. Deer avoid it. Common garden insects largely leave it alone. Spider mites and whiteflies can become a problem on plants grown indoors during overwintering. If you bring a container plant inside for winter, monitor for these pests and treat with insecticidal soap spray if needed. Outdoors, air circulation is usually sufficient to prevent these issues from establishing.

Harvesting for Herbal Use

Harvest leaves and flowers in the morning after dew has dried. The highest concentration of aromatic and active compounds is typically found during and just after flowering. Dry the harvested material in a single layer on drying screens in a warm, well-ventilated location out of direct sunlight. Properly dried material should be brittle and retain its green color and aroma. Store in airtight glass containers away from light and heat. Dried Lion’s Ear keeps well for approximately one year before potency begins to diminish.

Lion’s Ear as a Pollinator Garden Plant

Beyond its medicinal and traditional uses, Lion’s Ear is one of the most effective pollinator-attracting plants you can grow in a warm-climate garden. The long, tubular orange flowers are precisely shaped for hummingbirds and sunbirds, whose bills fit the tube exactly for nectar access. The flowers are also heavily visited by bumblebees, honeybees, and butterflies throughout the autumn flowering season.

In regions where hummingbird migration passes through in late summer and autumn, Lion’s Ear in full bloom serves as a reliable nectar station. Planting it alongside other late-season bloomers such as salvia, agastache, and bottlebrush creates a sustained nectar corridor that supports both resident and migrating pollinators. The plant’s extended autumn flowering, combined with its height and visual drama, makes it a high-value choice for wildlife-focused plantings. Florgeous notes that it attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators due to its sweet nectar while being highly deer resistant, an ideal combination for gardens where deer pressure is a factor.

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Summary

Lion’s Ear is a plant that rewards attention on multiple levels. In the garden, it is a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, visually dramatic shrub that delivers genuine ecological value as a pollinator resource and asks very little in return. In the herbal tradition, it is an herb with a centuries-long track record of use across multiple cultures, a rich phytochemical profile that has drawn serious scientific interest, and a genuinely distinctive set of properties that make it stand apart from more common medicinal plants.

The honest assessment of its medicinal profile is that traditional use is well-documented and the underlying chemistry is plausible, but human clinical trial data remains limited. This is true of a great many traditional herbs and does not diminish the historical and cultural significance of the plant’s use or the real interest of the laboratory findings. It does mean that anyone considering Lion’s Ear for a specific health purpose should approach that with appropriate guidance from a qualified herbalist or healthcare provider rather than self-directing based on general information.

As an ornamental, it asks no such caution. Grow it, let it tower and bloom, and watch the hummingbirds come.

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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using Lion’s Ear or any herb medicinally, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medications, or have an existing health condition.