Leonotis leonurus (aka lion's tail) finally gets time on the central stage this week. The plants in my garden are admittedly past their prime at this point yet there were still enough stems to make an impact. I'd been uncertain what to pair with the plant's bright orange flowers from the start but the first blooms of another zinnia variety offered a suitable companion - pure serendipity in this case.
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| Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Lime' arrived in time to provide just the right contrast to the furry flowers of the Leonotis, which arrange themselves in whorls along the plant's stems |
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| Back view: Lion's tail has been used for a wide variety of traditional medicinal purposes from treating tuberculosis and muscle cramps to diabetes. It also has some psychoactive properties and has been banned in Latvia and Poland. (More on the plant can be found here.) |
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| Overhead view |
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| Clockwise from the upper left: Agonis flexuosa 'Nana', Cuphea 'Vermillionaire', Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Lime', Z. e. 'Queeny Red Lime', and Leonotis leonurus |
I'd planned to put together a second arrangement using Agapanthus but, despite the cooler-than-usual July temperatures, the majority of my Agapanthus flowers have already taken a hike. Instead of the heat taking them out, I think the persistent winds we've had of late have hurried their demise. I've been cutting down the shaggy flowers en masse. There are a few named varieties popping up here and there so, perhaps, I'll get another arrangement featuring them sometime in August. A few Amaryllis belladonna made an appearance this week which could've provided a subsitute; however, after pulling weeds and deadheading flowers, I ran out of time. And, with leftovers from last week's vases, I didn't have a good spot for another arrangement anyway.
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| Last week's arrangements were winnowed down for another round, although I don't think the remaining 'Zeba' lilies (left) will last much longer. The zinnias in both vases should last awhile longer, though. |
While parts of the US continue to experience intense heat and other extreme weather events, our part of coastal Southern California has been very lucky this month and it looks as though that pattern will hold through at least this week. I've got a busy schedule so I may not have an opportunity to take advantage of our Goldilocks weather working in the garden but I'll try to squeeze some work in.
For more IAVOM creations, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden.
All material © 2012-2025 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
Beautiful, I didn't know Leonotis was psychoactive. Also, lovely vase - I don't think I've noticed it before? Then again, I'm usually looking at the flowers ;).
ReplyDeleteI haven't grown Leonitis leonurus for years but your lovely arrangement makes me want to try it again. It looks beautiful with your zinnias. Interesting to learn that it is psychoactive and banned in some countries.
ReplyDeleteI love the Leonotis, Kris, and pairing it with these zinnias is inspired - this is such a great vase! Isn't it lovely when vases (or part of them at least) last a week or more? My rudbeckia from last week still look striking although the petals are just beginning to curl now
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