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 acquired that vase (and a smaller version of it) last year I think but I've probably only used it a few times this year. I've managed to outfit it with a piece of plastic-coated hardware cloth (stuck in the top), which has proven very useful in propping up the flowers I use in it.
DeleteI 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 vaguely remembered hearing that Leonotis has psychoactive properties but I'd forgotten that until I checked Wikipedia on its background. It's a very popular plant in Southern California. I'm being careful to pick up the dropped petals on the off-chance the cat might decide to eat them (not that she's chomped on any other arrangements).
DeleteI 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
ReplyDeleteI do love plants with long vase lives, Cathy! That seems to be more prevalent among the summer bloomers, not that I've tracked the performance of my plants by season. The lilies varied a lot from cultivar to cultivar but zinnias all seem to be pretty tough.
DeleteThis arrangement is a beauty: the orange and chartreuse make such a fabulous summer combo!
ReplyDeleteI'm blown away at the range of colors of your zinnias. From the deep wine-red (last week's) to the lemony green in today's vase. Gorgeous!
Chavil
I sowed several other varieties of zinnias, albeit later and using somewhat outdated seeds in many cases. Nonetheless I'm hoping to see a wider collection of zinnias as the season progresses. I thought I could fill in with plugs from the local garden center but their supply has been disappointing of late.
DeleteAll the various oranges and greens work so well in that arrangement! Harmonious!
ReplyDeleteAgapanthus waning here to, except 'Storm Cloud', just beginning, and the monumental giant 'Queen Mum'.
I hate to jinx it by stating: what a lovely July, for a change. Most welcome, most grateful for it.
Hope your other projects don't keep you out of your garden too long. I'm headed out there now, hooray!
Can we even hope that August could offer some pleasant weather too? Although I'd occasionally like to see a bit more sun in the morning, I can't say I don't appreciate the persistence of the morning marine layer. I've heard that global warming is likely to bring an end to it one day but I hope that doesn't happen in my lifetime (and that the climate change hoax morons get choked out by smarter voters or swept away in the ever-more-frequent climate disasters).
DeleteYour overhead photos are always so lovely Kris, and I really love this one with the lion's tail! It is just begging to be stroked! LOL! The Zinnia adds a nice 'fizz' of lime among all the orange. I don't recall ever seeing it on sale here as a summer annual, so interesting to see yours.
ReplyDeleteI've tried to grow Zinnia 'Benary's Giant Lime' from seed before with a less than satisfactory results, Cathy. So far, this try is looking much better. I've never seen this variety for sale as either plugs or mature plants from garden centers here either.
DeleteGorgeous arrangement.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda.
DeleteA marvelous combination of flowers, Kris. Everything plays so well off one another and even the vase is a match! I love Leonotis, so I'm glad to see it made it into an arrangement.
ReplyDeleteOur last day of vicious heat before we get a break. I noted yesterday Boston was hotter than Houston, what? Eliza
The weather contrasts have bordered on the bizarre this month, Eliza. It's almost cold here this morning and the sun has yet to show - and, topping that, we're under a tsunami warning!
DeleteSome of my favorites are in that arrangement, I love the combination!
ReplyDeleteLeonotis is right up your alley from a floral perspective but, sadly, I suspect it isn't well suited to your climate, Loree.
DeleteThey are all beautiful including last week's revamped. I am always so pleased when I can reuse some of my longer lasting flowers! Your Zinnia colours are perfect.
ReplyDeletehttps://zonethreegardenlife.blog/2025/07/28/in-a-vase-monday-july-28-2025/
Thanks Jenny. I'm lucky to have numerous plant materials with long vase lives, most notably the Leucadendron foliage, which can fill in for flowers at times.
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