Klip Dagga- 100 Seeds

Klip Dagga (Leonotis nepetifolia) is also known as Christmas candlestick, lion’s ear, Tilley’s Curse, Shandilay, and Grantiparani. It is a species of plant in the genus Leonotis and the family Lamiaceae (mint). It is cultivated as a medicinal plant in India, Malaysia, Brazil and Africa. It is also commonly grown as an ornamental.

It is native to tropical Africa and southern India. It is an annual plant that grows to a height of 3 m and has whorls of striking lipped flowers, that are most commonly orange, but can vary to red, white, and purple. It has drooping dark green, very soft serrated leaves that can grow up to 10 cm wide. Sunbirds, butterflies and ants are attracted to the flowers.

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Klip Dagga Medicinal Uses

• Klip Dagga has long been used in African traditional medicine as a treatment for fevers, headaches, malaria, dysentery and snakebite.
• It is used to clean out the uterus, treat diarrhoea and heavy cramps, as a diuretic and as a tonic to strengthen the back.
• In Trinidad it is a common cold, fever and asthma remedy.
• The leaf juice is used in the treatment of thrush and in a plaster for wounds.
• An ethanolic extract of the plant showed anti-tumor and possibly antimicrobial activity.
• In Rwanda, the leaves of this plant are used to treat pneumonia, anthrax and syphilis.
• It has anti-nociceptive properties (inhibits pain sensations), is anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic. Many people use this herb to manage arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
• It is also used for heart conditions associated with anxiety and hypertension. It helps with symptoms of irregular heartbeats and will calm heart palpitations.
• It has been shown to posses antispasmodic effects and appears to inhibit acetylcholine and histaminem making it a natural antihistamine. It is also used as a sedative in natural medicine.
• Klip Dagga has a long history of being used as a smoking herb and an alternative to smoking cannabis.

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Growing Klip Dagga

Indoor Sowing: Spring and Early Summer.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Early Summer.

• Sow the seeds in spring or early summer.
• Fill seed trays with a finely sifted seedling mix comprised of equal parts potting soil and fine sand.
• Press the soil mixture down evenly and firmly. Water the soil mixture and let it drain.
• Sow the seed directly onto the damp surface of the medium and very lightly cover with the same mixture or with fine sand.
• Trays should be kept warm but not in direct sun and watered daily until the seedlings begin to emerge, at which point watering can be reduced to three or four times per week.
• Seedlings can be planted out into individual containers once they are large enough to handle.