King of the Flower Bed

Among the workhorses of the summer-to-fall garden, lion’s tail is a star--tall and tough, with fuzzy stems and skinny, toothed leaves and a pleasing willingness to grow. It’s not just an easy plant, it’s also an entertaining character. With full sun, little water and even less tending, it soars to six feet and more, producing ball-shaped blooms that climb like beads up a central stem before squirting out in all directions. Once they do, each splayed flower resembles the tuft on the end of a lion’s tail, which is where Leonotis leonurus gets its name.

Native to South Africa, this perennial shrub partners well with drought-tolerant, Mediterranean-world plants such as lavender and salvia and succulents such as aloes and agaves. It also thrives in pots--wide ones, since it can spread as much as three feet. With its orange, red or yellow flowers, lion’s tail is a spicy addition to today’s hot-toned gardens, but it also comes, more quietly, in white.

Plant it now in a bright spot, in reasonably fertile, fast-draining soil, and give it elbow room. Next year, it will bloom its heart out through summer and into fall, and, after a cutback, take a short rest through the winter. Once spring comes, stand clear: Your trusty lion’s tail will be ready to take the stage again.