Wild Dagga

Afrikaans name: Wildedagga

Wild Dagga

Photo © Steven Herbert

Leonotis leonurus

Another name for Wild Dagga is the Lion's Tail, presumably because of the orange colouration (even though lions aren't orange).

It is a scraggly looking shrub that bears lots of orange flowers.

The flowers attract a variety of sunbirds and butterflies which feed on the nectar. It is also popular with gardeners (for their looks and not the nectar).

The plant is interesting in that it has toxic qualities yet it is used in both traditional medicines as well as being smoked by some people (you were wondering where the name Wild Dagga came from...)

Above - Wild Dagga

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

What Flower is That? Autumn and Winter - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1969 - Page: 44

Wild Flowers of Table Mountain - Author: WPU Jackson - Published: 1977 - Page: 73

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 117

The Gardener - 2018/03 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 66

The Gardener - 2019/03 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 68

The Gardener - 2020/07 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 37

The Gardener - 2021/03 - Author: - Published: 2021 - Page: 66

Sasol First Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Southern Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 1999 - Page: 52

The Gardener - 2008/12 - Author: - Published: 2008 - Page: 28

SA Wild Flower Guide No 7 - West Coast - Author: J. Manning & P. Goldblatt - Published: 1996 - Page: 176

SA Wild Flower Guide No 8 - Southern Overberg - Author: P Mustart, R Cowling & J Albertyn - Published: 2003 - Page: 214

The Flowering Plants of the Tsitsikama Forest and Coastal National Park - Author: M. Courtenay-Latimer & G. Smith - Published: 1967 - Page: 53

SA Wild Flower Guide No 3 - Cape Peninsula - Author: Mary Maytham Kidd - Published: 1982 - Page: 32

SA Wild Flower Guide No 12 - Table Mountain National Park - Author: T Trinder-Smith, M Maytham Kidd & F Anderson - Published: 2006 - Page: 234

SA Wild Flower Guide No 2 - Outeniqua, Tsitsikamma and Eastern Little Karoo - Author: Audrey Moriarty - Published: 1982 - Page: 158

Indigenous Beginnings - Author: Anneke Kearney - Published: 2008 - Page: 56

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 93

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 97

Plants of the Baviaanskloof - Author: D Euston-Brown & M Kruger - Published: 2023 - Page: 395

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 393

SA Wild Flower Guide No 10 - Cederberg, Clanwilliam and Biedouw Valley - Author: Gretel van Rooyen and Hester Steyn - Published: 1999 - Page: 188

Quick ID Guide: Wild Flowers of the Cape Peninsula - 3rd edition - Author: H Clarke & C Merry - Published: 2019 - Page: 82

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 173

Gardening with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1988 - Page: 40

Gardening with Indigenous Shrubs - Author: David and Sally Johnson, Geoff Nichols - Published: 2002 - Page: 67

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 44

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 324

Field Guide to Fynbos - 1st edition - Author: John Manning - Published: 2008 - Page: 464

Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of South Africa (updated edition) - Author: John Manning - Published: 2019 - Page: 422

Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 2009 - Page: 424

Discovering Wild Flowers in Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Sima Eliovson - Published: 1969 - Page: 76

Eastern Cape Veld Flowers - 2nd edition - Author: Eily Gledhill - Published: 1981 - Page: 201

Ecoguide - Fynbos - Author: Colin Paterson-Jones and John Manning - Published: 2007 - Page: 116

Adventure Trails in Kirstenbosch - Author: Daphne Mackie - Published: 2012 - Page: 72

Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain & Silvermine - Author: Hugh Clarke, Bruce Mackenzie & Corinne Merry - Published: 2013 - Page: 66

A Field Guide to Wild Flowers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 2005 - Page: 70

A Photographic Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Author: Braam van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 65

For more info: SANBI

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List of South African Plants