Klip Dagga (Leonotis nepetifolia)
When visitors come to our nursery, they are amazed when the see Klip Dagga for the first time! Ranging in height from 4-9 feet along our garden pathway to the nursery, it is full of round calyxes sprouting bright orange tubular flowers and resembles something from a Dr. Seuss illustration. It almost always stops visitors mid sentence as they admire the plant and it's unique visual characteristics.
Klip Dagga, when in the wild, really enjoys 'disturbed' areas such as roadsides. It is an early pioneering species in it's natural habitats, and helps promote the succession of disturbed land into Savannah. These traits make it a great plant for sunny tropical climates elsewhere.
Klip Dagga is a member of the Lamiaceae, the mint family of plants. It is originally native to the tropical regions of Africa and Southern India. It has been introduced to other regions of the world including south America and the Caribbean where it also thrives and is cultivated.
Plant Type:
Perennial Herb
Harvest Season:
Year-round
Mature Size:
Siberian Motherwort: 5-8 ft.
Wild Dagga and Klip Dagga: 4-9 ft.
Soil & Moisture:
Dry, sandy, well-draining soil. Drought tolerant but also thrives in humid conditions. Water once or twice weekly if growing in a pot.
Light Requirements:
Part Shade, Shade
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Fast
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection ; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Propagation:
Grown from seed and division, capable of harvest within growing season.
