SUITABILITY OF A NATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN SHRUB AS POT PLANT

Leonotis leonurus (L.) Br. Pubesc., also known as “lion’s ear” is a perennial shrub belonging to the Labiatae family and native to South Africa. The name of the genus derives from the Greek words leon (lion) and otòs (ear). The esthetic ornamental value of its bright orange inflorescence and its adaptation to a wide range of conditions have led a research to evaluate the suitability of L. leonurus as pot plant. Pot plants from one year rooted cuttings were grown in the Northern coast of Sicily; at the end of December, plants were pruned to 30 cm length and then moved to an unheated plastic greenhouse. Flowering started in April under protected cultivation and continued throughout the summer months; whereas plants kept outside flowered during June-July to late October. The results showed a good adaptation of L. leonurus to pot cultivation, even though the use of plant growth regulators for height control would be opportune to maintain a compact growing habit throughout the flowering period.