Lion's Tail

It has taken a while but my Lion's Tail (leonotis leonurus) shrub is finally coming into it's own this summer. As is often the case with native plants, it has taken a while to get established, but it seems to be settled in and ready to put on a show. It is one of those wonderful drought tolerant plants that need little care once it makes itself at home, requires full sun and excellent drainage. As you can see, there was a heavy "dew" on the morning I took this photo. The orange color has a softness to it and the blooms have an interesting texture, which makes it a wonderful background plant that mixes well with other specimens. Keeping it pinched back will help maintain the full appearance and avoid the leggy, scraggly look that it can sometimes have.