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Leonotis nepetifolia

Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,501
in Plants

Hi all, I ordered some leonotis nepetifolia some while back and am expecting them to be delivered shortly.

I was wondering if anyone had grown them before as I'd like to know how robust they are.

The border I've planned for them is a bit of a slug/snail fest and I'm wondering if I should put them in a 'pansy' border where I can look after them instead...

Also do cats trash them like other nepetas?

Because they are annuals or HHP, any tips on propagating?

Thank youimage

Vic

Wearside, England.
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Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,761

    Leonitis is not related to Nepeta, it is actually from the mint family.

    It is a very tall, half hardy annual, that originates from S. Africa. They need warmth and lots of water. When I tried them from seed they never got taller than 1 foot.

    Good luck.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,501

    Hi punkdoc,

    Thanks for the replyimage

    Hmm. I wonder if they're going to be dodgy... I bought 3 so I think I might put them all in different places and see how they get on. All depends what they look like when delivered too. 

    I've got a pot of olde hollyhock faithful on standby ready for next yearimage

    Wearside, England.
  • FleurisaFleurisa Posts: 779

    Nepeta is also from the mint family, as in they are both from the mint family

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,761

    I take your point Feurisa, but in the L. nepetiola, nepetiola is the species, whereas catmint is as you know Nepeta the genus. So Leonitis is not directly related to Nepeta, and, does not as far as I am aware have any effect on cats.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,173

    the nepetifolia part of the name means it has leaves like a nepeta.

    As in Thalictrum aquilegifolium, the thalictrum that has leaves like and aquilegia



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,501

    That's a bonus then- between my own and all the trampy neighbourhood cats they wrecked a six hills giant, another blue one and all the white ones I grew from seed...

    Wearside, England.
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,501
    nutcutlet wrote (see)

    the nepetifolia part of the name means it has leaves like a nepeta.

    As in Thalictrum aquilegifolium, the thalictrum that has leaves like and aquilegia

    I wanted to ask that and daren't! I looked up aquilegifolium previously and it meant something like oddly defined leaves (or something) but when I googled nepetifolia I couldn't find any definition of it, just the plant. It doesn't help that it was sold as red annual catmint.

    Wearside, England.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 13,761

    Thanks Nut, your explanation made better sense than mine, although I knew what I meant.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,173

    Never rely on a common name

    There's a little book on on plant names which is old, first published in 1931. 

    Plant Names Simplified, their pronunciation, derivation and meaning, by AT Johnson and HA Smith. been reprinted many times, might still be available.

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plant-Names-Simplified-Pronunciation-Derivation/dp/1905523823

    Yes it is. This has been very useful in the past.

    AT Johnson as in Geranium 'AT Johnson'



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • PotsandpansiesPotsandpansies Posts: 124

    I love that book, Nutcutlet, it brings the plants to life when you know what their names actually mean!

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