Leonotis nepetifolia: 20 seeds of klip dagga
Of all the mint family plants you might put in a garden, this is the one that catches the eye fastest. Leonotis nepetifolia builds an upright, square stem with paired leaves that look a lot like catnip, which is where the species name nepetifolia comes from. Every so often along that stem a globe-shaped whorl of spiny calyces forms and wraps around it completely, with orange tubular flowers pushing out, covered in a soft felt. Fresh whorls appear above the older ones, so a mature plant reads as a series of stacked balls. In warm regions the species clears two metres; in northern Europe it depends entirely on how the summer turns out.
The plant comes from tropical Africa and also grows natively in southern India. It has since settled across nearly every tropical and subtropical region, usually on open, disturbed ground. There the nectar-rich flowers draw butterflies, bees and, in the Americas, hummingbirds. One thing to watch: do not confuse this species with Leonotis leonurus, wild dagga, which is perennial and carries narrow, leathery leaves.
Sowing and growing
- Start indoors from February or March, since the plant needs a long, warm growing season.
- Scatter the seeds on moist seed compost and cover them thinly at most.
- Keep the pot warm and the compost lightly damp until the seedlings show.
- Move them outside after the last frost, into a sunny spot with free-draining soil and room to spread.
Once established the plant handles dry spells well. In a climate that suits it, it self-seeds readily, so cut spent whorls away if you would rather it did not. These seeds are sold for cultivation and study, not for consumption, and belong out of reach of children.
More exotic seeds at Avalon
The same category holds Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Lactuca virosa (wild lettuce), Leonurus cardiaca (motherwort) and Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort). If dried leaf is what you are after, Avalon Magic Plants also stocks Klip Dagga in a 50 gram bag. Every order leaves our warehouse discreetly packed.
