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Lions Tail

Lions Tail
Photo: Sheldon Navie
Invasive Plant
Lions Tail
Leonotis leonurus
 

A striking shrubby perennial growing to 2m. Tall straight stems bear lance shaped leaves that are aromatic. In Summer, clusters of bright orange tubular flowers are borne in knobby whirls along the stems and at the tips.

 

HOW IT SPREADS

  • Seed is moved by gravity, road materials and water enabling dense colonisation of natural areas.
  • These seeds can also move in mud and soil attached to vehicles, road machinery and slashers.
 
 
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Other superior selections include;

  • Spiraea cantonensis - White May Bush
  • Hakea purpurea - Purple Hakea

Ask your local retailer for more superior selections

 

Alternative Plants

Dwarf Bottlebrush
Photo: © immij pty ltd
Alternative Plant Dwarf Bottlebrush
Melaleuca 'Little John' Syn. Callistemon 'Little John'
Trees and Shrubs
 

Low growing bottlebrush easily kept to 1m although when not pruned, in ideal conditions it might reach 3m in height. Interesting grey green foliage and short upright red brushes in spring and autumn make this an excellent garden plant.

Emu Bush
Photo: Gary Dinham
Alternative Plant Emu Bush
Eremophila glabra
Trees and Shrubs
 

A pretty, compact and low growing shrub to 1m by 1m wide. It has grey foliage and attractive red flowers. Its foliage colour forms an excellent contrast, especially when it is mass planted as a border along pathways with taller, green plants behind. It does best in full-sun to light shade positions and will tolerate frost and drought conditions.

Spotted Emu Bush
Photo: © immij pty ltd
Alternative Plant Spotted Emu Bush
Eremophila maculata
Trees and Shrubs
 

This compact, dense shrub grows 0.9–2.4 m high by 0.9– 3.0 m wide. Tubular flowers appear in the leaf axis from winter through to spring. Flower colour is variable and may be pink, mauve, red, orange or yellow, often with a pale, spotted throat. It grows well in full-sun or part-shade and is mildly frost tolerant. It makes a great screening or hedge plant and responds well to hard pruning. Bird attracting.

 
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