Lion's ear is a very common South African wildflower. The leaves are used as a folk medicine to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, bronchitis, and asthma and laboratory studies on the plant compounds it contains show a proven effect. One of it's local language names - klipdagga, meaning rock cannabis, alludes to hallucinogenic properties although most people who have tried it have put it in the "don't bother" category.
It is a very tall plant, easily reaching 1.5 - 2m tall and flowers in winter and summer and it commonly attracts sunbirds that perch on the stems and sip nectar from the tubular flowers with their long, curved beaks