Leonotis is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family Lamiaceae. It comprises 9 species. One of these, Leonotis nepetifolia, is native to tropical Africa and southern India. It is naturalized throughout most of the tropics. The other 8 species are endemic to southern Africa. Leonotis was named by Robert Brown in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. The name means “lion’s ear”. It will attract birds, butterflies and bees to the garden.

Leonotis nepetifolia, synonymously known as Leonotis kwebensis or Phlomis nepetifolia and commonly known as Lion’s Ear, Klip Dagga, Christmas Candlestick or Lion’s Tail, is indigenous to South Africa. It is also found in tropical Africa and southern India as well as much of Latin America, the West Indies, and the Southeastern United States. It grows to a height of 3 meters and has whorls of striking lipped flowers, that are most commonly orange, but can vary to red, white, and purple. It has drooping dark green, very soft serrated leaves that can grow up to 10 centimeters wide. Sunbirds and ants are attracted to the flowers.