Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Time to tell us your Top Three Nectar Plants of the Season!, 1 by jmorth

jmorth wrote:
Note on Leonotis leonurus - My Lion' Ear has had only moderate appeal to butterflies, however, it's flying insect appeal at night has been good. In the accompanying photo there are at least 5 small moths pictured. Photo was 3 nights ago.
This year I've had 2 different varieties of Lion's Ear. Leonotis leonurus was purchased as a very small plant from Logee's. I think it's classified as a tender perennial. It's growth rate was nothing short of spectacular as it spread to appx 4.5 ft across and 3.5 ft tall. It was one of the last plants to flower in my garden. The other Leonotis is Leonotis nepetifolia var. nepetifolia 'Staircase' and is considered a half hardy annual that is a persistent self-seeder. It normally reaches to a height approaching 10 feet and lacks the bushiness associated with the former. The latter, tall leonotis has been a fairly good hummingbird attractant