Klip Dagga
leonotis nepetifolia

days to maturity: 70 days
plant spacing: 1 plant per square foot
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: overcrowding or plants falling over
harvest notes: harvest leaves and flowers as needed
season: fall, winter, spring
annual

Klip Dagga is native to tropical Africa and Southern India but is found abundantly in Latin America and the West Indies. it grows to about 9 feet tall and has whorls of bright orange lipped flowers that pollinators love. 

The leaf tea has a mild hypnotic effect, is diuretic and relieves headache. The leaf and stem decoction or inhalations have been used internally for cough, common cold, influenza, bronchitis, wound healing and asthma. The leaves and stems decoction are applied topically as a treatment for eczema, skin infections and itchiness. Klip Dagga smoke has a pungent odor and the flowers are mixed with other dried herbs to make relaxing smoking blends. 

Wether you use this unique plant medicinally or not its definitely a fun specimen to have in the garden for aesthetics and pollinators to enjoy. Many of our customers see the plant growing in our demonstration garden and buy it just for ornamental use and are surprised to learn it has medicinal uses at all. Save yourself a few spiky seed balls when they’re brown and dry and you’ll have plenty of viable seed for next season.