Lion's tail (Leonurus cardiaca)

Image - Wikimedia / Hajotthu

It is beautiful, easy to care for and also has very interesting medicinal properties. It is known as Lion tail, and as it does not grow much, it is ideal to have in a pot throughout its life, or in planters.

He does not dislike cold temperate weather; not surprisingly, we can find it in the Himalayas and in Siberia. But, What are your needs?

Origin and characteristics

Image - Wikimedia / Valérie75

It is a plant native to Asia, North America and the temperate-cold regions of Europe. In Spain we will see it in the Pyrenees. Its scientific name is Leonurus cardiaca, and is popularly known as lion's tail, motherwort, hard heart, border or cardiac nettle.

It is a vivacious that grows to heights between 60 and 120 centimeters, with green lobed leaves on the upper surface and whitish on the underside. It blooms in summer, from July to September in the Northern Hemisphere, and they are pinkish purple in color.

Uses

Apart from being used as an ornamental plant in pots or gardens, it has very interesting medicinal properties. In fact, it is calming, emmenagogue and sudorific.

What are their cares?

Image - Flickr / bioflash1

If you want to have a lion's tail specimen, we recommend taking care of it as follows:

• Location: it must be outside, in full sun.
• Earth:
  • Pot: universal growing substrate mixed with 30% perlite.
  • Garden: the soil must be fertile, with good drainage.
• Irrigation: about 3-4 times a week in summer, somewhat less the rest of the year.
• Subscriber: during the warm months, with organic / homemade fertilizers.
• Multiplication: by seeds in spring.
• Pruning: remove the withered flowers, as well as the stems that are drying out.
• Planting or transplanting time: in spring, when the frosts have passed.
• Rusticity: it resists well the cold and the frosts of until the -13ºC.

What did you think of this plant? Did you know her?