The word "dagga" has been extended to include cannabis in Afrikaans and South African English, so the use of "wild" serves to distinguish Leonotis leonurus from this.

The plant has 1.75 inch (4.5 cm) tubular orange flowers in tiered whorls (verticillasters) typical to the mint family,[6] that encircle the square stems.

They rise up to three feet (0.9 meters) above the foliage mass during the summer season, with flowering continuing into winter in warmer climates.

Leonotis leonurus is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its copious orange blossom spikes, and is used as an accent or screen in gardens and parks.

[9] Lion's tail can be found in other subtropical and Mediterranean climate regions beyond South Africa, such as California, Hawaii,[7] and Australia where it has naturalized in some areas.

C-N[4] One experimental animal study suggests that the aqueous leaf extract of Leonotis leonurus possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties.

[14] Infusions made from flowers, seeds, leaves, or stems are widely used to treat tuberculosis, jaundice, muscle cramps, high blood pressure, diabetes, viral hepatitis, dysentery, and diarrhoea.