Leonotis nepetifolia aka Klipp Dagga

Leonotis nepetifolia is in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its native range spans Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It grows in tropical lands with a dry season. Useful Tropical Plants records it on Madagascar and Mauritius too. People grow it for its looks, food and folk medicine. It also grows wild across the tropics, often as a weed.

This plant lives for one year or a few years. Kew also lists it as a subshrub, a small shrub. Its listed height is about 6.6 feet [2 metres]. The wider reported range is 3.3–9.8 feet [1–3 metres]. Its stem branches only at the upper nodes, or joints. A short taproot holds it in place but pulls out with ease. This root is about 0.33 feet [0.1 metre] long. The sources give no leaf shape or bark details for this species.

Sunbirds and bees visit the blooms and spread their pollen. People cook the flowers with leafy green vegetables. They also take small amounts of sweet nectar from flower bases. The ripe seed heads have sharp points. These can block access where the plants grow thick. The seeds hold a fatty oil compared with olive oil. Growers raise new plants from seed.

The plant grows by roads and on land once farmed. It also grows on overgrazed pasture and by rivers. Records place it up to 6,562 feet [2,000 metres] above sea level. Gardens use it for its looks, but its spread needs close watch. It can form dense groups and crowd out native plants. Riverbanks and flood plains face this risk. Water takes seeds to new sites. Mud on animals and vehicles moves them too. Planting it for its looks helps it spread beyond wild stands. The evidence gives no firm guide to garden light or watering. Nor does it give firm guidance on hardiness.

Folk medicine uses it for fever, swelling and gut complaints. Records also note its use in wound dressings and for mouth thrush. Other uses address urinary complaints and menstrual cramps. These are folk uses, not proof that treatment is safe. One recorded use aims to induce abortion. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards. That does not prove it is safe. The evidence does not show that it is safe for pets either. The food records cover flowers and nectar, not the whole plant. The sources name no specific pests or diseases.