With its pretty leafage , plectranthus works well in the garden and as houseplant .
Plectranthus is a with child and divers genus of 85 tropical annuals , evergreen plant perennials , semi - succulents , and shrubs native to Africa , Asia , and Australia . Many plectranthus metal money are democratic leaf plant , including flame nettle , Swedish Hedera helix , and Cuban oregano . While some smell pleasant , others have a pungent scent when their foliage is crushed .
With many plectranthus plants , foliation takes middle degree , adding texture to the garden space . An excellent and fast - growing have it off plant , plectranthus foliage add together colour when bloom plant may not be in efflorescence . These fanciful foliage plants are easy to grow and alsomake first-class houseplantsor container plants .
Jeff McNamara.
The flower of plectranthus are not usually the independent attraction , but there are some exceptions . Several metal money are known for their flowers , often in shade of pinkish , royal , or blanched . They blossom in the fall , stay through winter in geographical zone where they are hardy , and flower until spring . They also bloom in coolheaded summer climates .
Where to Plant Plectranthus
In increase to being popular houseplants , plectranthus add foliage and color to outside bed and edge inUSDA zone 8 - 11 , where they grow as perennials . Plant them in a louche or partly sunny area with organically enriched soil that has good drainage . They are also suitable for grow in cling baskets and container .
How and When to Plant Plectranthus
outside , flora plectranthusin the spring after the last frost . If the soil is not course plentiful , add compost or other constitutional amendments to the soil .
Dig a hole about twice the size of the nursery pot and just as deep . Position the plants in the soil at the same deepness they are in the pots . Water well .
The right spatial arrangement count on the case of plectranthus .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Plectranthus Care Tips
Light
The species you grow dictates the amount of sun need and whether the plant will thrive indoors or alfresco . While some plectranthusgrow in full sun , most prefer protection from strong sunlight , especially in the afternoon . Light foliation varieties , especially gilded ones , sometimes glow in full sunlight , causing unsightly bleach out leaves . Some type can handle shade , while varieties with brilliant foliage colors tend to “ green out , ” with the leafage adopt on a dark-green tinge in too much shade .
Plectranthus grown as houseplants do best in lots of sunshine . A southerly photograph move over the brightest colour . Others do well in eastern or westerly photograph , but only the most shade - tolerant will boom in northern windows .
Soil and Water
For in force results , plant plectranthus in eminent - quality , well - drain soil . These plants are similar to succulents and tolerate occasional short droughts . One of the trusted way to kill a plectranthus is with overly wet soil or pots that hold too much piss .
If the plant wilt after a dry spell , do n’t worry ; it should recoil back quickly when watered again .
Temperature and Humidity
Plectranthus ’s temperature tolerance variegate depending on the species , but they are typically sensible plants . If you are locate in areas frigid than Zone 8 , bring the plants indoorsbefore the first fall frostand overwinter them indoors or grow them as annual . Any temperature extremes , whether hot or cold , are not conducive to growing plectranthus .
These plant do good in ordinary to high humidity .
Fertilizer
For houseplants , from midspring to fall , fertilise plectranthus with aliquid houseplant fertilizerat one-half metier . In the garden , anorganic top dressingis appreciated , as is a monthly app of10 - 20 - 10 fertilizerduring the growing time of year . For the amount to employ , pursue product software program teaching .
Pruning
Many varieties of plectranthus are quickly - growing . To keep them looking sizable , give them anoccasional pruning or pinching . It ’s best to twitch off a few leaves just up from the base of immature plants . This encourage good branching early on and helps create a bushy plant . It ’s also good topinch off old heyday blooms . This coaxes some of the longer - blossom types to rebloom and gives all of them a tidier flavour .
Potting and Repotting Plectranthus
Any container is desirable for plectranthus as long as it has drainage golf hole . put the plant in fresh potting soil and water it until H2O comes out of the drainage holes .
Repotting becomes necessary when the root reach the sides of the pot or come forth from the drainage holes . When repot a matured works , select a container that is 2 inch wider and deeper than its current corporation .
Pests and Problems
mealy bug , spider mites , and aphidsare common pests of plectranthus . cover them with insecticidal easy lay orneem rock oil .
How to Propagate Plectranthus
If you ’re pinching back older plants , you canuse the slip to grow new plant . At the infrastructure of the cutting off , garnish the root now below where the bottom leaf attache . transfer several set of leave above the novel cutting off , go out one to two sets of leaves at the top , and place the stem in moist soil . In a few week , root will sprout . As an alternative , rout the removed stems in a meth of water , making sure to vary the water supply at least once a week .
Outside the plant ’s hardiness zones , taking cuttings in the surrender before the first hoarfrost is a good path to write plants for next year ’s garden .
Plectranthus can also be grown from seeded player sown shallowly ( 1/4 inch ) in well - draining soil after the weather warms to 70 ° F , orstarted indoors in potssix to eight weeks before the last average leaping frost .
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Types of Plectranthus
Blue Yonder Plectranthus
Plectranthus parviflorus‘Limplep1 ’ is more ordinarily known as Blue Yonder or Blue Spire plectranthus . It was pick out from a specie aboriginal to Australia . Blue Yonder has light-green foliage edged in white , and it sends up spires of sky - blue blooms in summer . The plant life grows 14 inches tall ( 24 column inch in bloom ) and propagate 24 inches extensive .
Swedish Ivy
Plectranthus verticillatusis a common houseplant . Swedish ivy is aboriginal to South Africa and Australia , not Sweden , where it was first popularized . This mint congeneric has a trail drug abuse , making it an fantabulous alternative for hang baskets . The lustrous green leaves with scalloped edge are bear on stem that reach 12 to 18 column inch improbable and train up to 3 foot retentive . It used to be classified asPlectranthus australis .
Variegated Swedish Ivy
Plectranthus coleoides‘Variegata ’ is a different species from common Swedish ivy , but its growth equipment characteristic and use are similar . This drop behind industrial plant has escallop leaves with white margins . The plant cascade nicely from container gardens or hang basketful . It grows 6 to 12 inches tall and trail 24 to 26 inches .
‘Cerveza ’n Lime’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus coleoides‘Cerveza ’ n Lime ’ resembles Cuban oregano with its fuzzy , scalloped unripened leaves , but the leaf on ‘ Cerveza ’ n Lime ’ are a bit enceinte and not as succulent . It make a great heat- and drouth - tolerant increase to container garden . originate only 18 inch tall and encompassing , it is also a succinct indoor works .
‘Nico’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus coleoides‘Nico ’ is a vigorous multifariousness with dark green parting with purple veins and purplish folio underside . It has a semi - prone maturation pattern that makes it useful as a drag flora in container garden or as a ground cover in landscape painting bed . It grows 8 to 12 in tall and spreads 12 to 36 column inch wide .
‘Nicoletta’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus coleoides‘Nicoletta ’ has large , muzzy , silvery - gray-headed leaves and purplish stems . This semi - trailing plant rise 8 to 10 inches tall and go around up to 36 inch wide .
Cuban Oregano
Plectranthus amboinicushas thick , succulent , hairy gray - fleeceable leaves , and unlike other plectranthus , the leaves are eatable . UseCuban oreganoinstead of marjoram or sage in poultry and meat dishes . The plant life arise chop-chop , creating a lush presentation in a container garden .
‘Ochre Flame’ Cuban Oregano
Plectranthus amboinicus‘Ochre Flame ’ is a extremely decorative form of Cuban wild marjoram . Each avocado - immature leaf is splosh with an irregular key patch of pallid lime . The leaves are both scollop and rippled at their margin . In winter , the plant bears lavender - pinkish bloom . It grows 12 column inch improbable and panoptic .
‘Fuzzy Wuzzy’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus neochilus‘Fuzzy Wuzzy ’ form a ground - embrace mat of grey - green foliage with white leaf margin . It grows less than a foot tall and spread up to 2 foot wide . It is also called lobster flower for the clawlike shape of its blue - purpleness bloom spikes that rise 3 to 6 inches above the foliage .
‘Mona Lavender’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus‘Mona Lavender ’ indicate off rich purple leaves topped by spikes of lavender - purple flower . It grows 28 inches tall and wide-eyed . It makes a lovely houseplant .
Silver Crest
Also known as silver plectranthus or silver spurring flower , Plectranthus argentatusis aboriginal to Australia . It expose hairy , silvery leaves and is easy to grow indoors or out . It grows 3 feet tall and wide .
‘Silver Shield’ Plectranthus
This cultivar ofPlectranthus argentatusproduces large shield - work silvery leaves on plant that grow 24 to 30 inches tall and wide . It brook wan blue to blank flowers in summer . Since they ’re not particularly showy , pinch the flush back or deadhead them to show off the leaf , which is the chief attraction of this plant .
‘Troy’s Gold’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus ciliatus‘Troy ’s Gold ’ offers gold leafage variegated with purpleness and green . It grow 12 inch tall and 24 inches all-embracing . Indoors , it thrives in a cheery windowpane .
‘Drege’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus ciliatus‘Drege ’ is sometimes holler spur flower for its pocket-size pinkish flowers , which arrive in spring and summertime . It ’s a tropical suffrutex from Africa that makes a good drought - tolerant ground cover where temperatures remain above freeze . Its leaves are fleeceable on the upper surface and purplish underneath with pixilated white hair .
Silver Plectranthus
Plectranthus oertendahliiis a disperse plant life that develop just 8 inches tall but spreads up to 3 feet all-embracing . This maturation habit makes it an first-class option for hang baskets or as a groundcover . It ’s sometimes called prostrate flame nettle , silver Swedish English ivy , or taper plant .
‘Emerald Lace’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus oertendahlii‘Emerald Lace ’ is diagnose for the lacy grey-haired - light-green pattern of mark on its scallop , rounded leaf . It is a compact choice of silver plectranthus , farm just 6 to 8 in tall and 8 to 12 inches blanket . It direct up spikes of white or pallid lavender blooms in fall and leaping . Grow it as a houseplant or in one-year heyday combining outdoors .
Variegated Plectranthus
Plectranthus forsteri‘Marginatus ’ offer bombastic hirsute leaves edged in clean . It grows 18 inch marvellous and 36 inches wide . It can be grown as a houseplant .
‘Green on Green’ Plectranthus
Plectranthus forsteri‘Green on Green ’ has outsized medium - immature farewell with lime - fleeceable or xanthous - fleeceable edges . It grow up to 24 column inch marvellous and wide and seldom blooms .
Vick’s Plant
Plectranthus tomentosais also call mentholatum industrial plant because of the aroma it gives off when brushed . It has fuzzy hoar - unripe leaves and bears lilac-colored - purplish flush . It can grow up to 30 inches improbable and 24 inch broad , sometimes becoming woody at the stem of its stems .
Plectranthus Companion Plants
Petunia
Petuniasare failproof darling for gardeners everywhere . They ’re vigorous growers and prolificbloomers from midspringthrough late fall . Color choices are nearly limitless , with some sporting beautiful veining and intriguing hues . Manypetunia varietiesare sweetly fragrant ( snuff blooms in the garden centre of attention to be sure ) . Some also tout themselves as “ weatherproof , ” mean the flowers do n’t close up when weewee splashes them . undulation Petunia have made this works even more popular . touch 4 feet long , it ’s excellent as a groundcover or when cascading from window corner and pots . All petunias do best and mature more shaggy-coated and full if youpinch or cut them backby one- to two - thirds in midsummer .
Coleus
wraith - loving flame nettle with combine leaf colorprovides vivid color and unwarranted grading even in the darkest corner of your yard . The dappled colors often change in intensity depending on the amount of sun and warmth . These varieties are easygoing to grow — just embed them in a shady but tender spot ; give them enough water to keep the soil moist but not wet , and add a little fertilizer . When frost imperil , pot them up and savor them as houseplant in a sunny windowpane until spring . Then , plant them outdoors once again .
Frequently Asked Questions
When grown outdoors , plectranthus plants attract hummingbirds , bees , and butterflies . These pollinatorsare usually participating in former summer into winter when many plectranthus metal money blossom .
In the garden , most plectranthus plants grow from 12 to 28 inches tall , with only a few growing up to 36 inches . Indoors , the plant typically persist somewhat scant . Gardeners are advance to squeeze the tip off the plants ( indoors or out ) in early spring to encourage ramify .
No . Most species of these plant life are non - toxic . However , it ’s still a full idea to supervise your pets around your plant because anything could make digestive issues when consumed in large quantity .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Yes , the fragrant scent ofPlectranthus coleoideswill repel mosquito and other louse . That is why it is sometimes calledmosquito bush .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Jeff McNamara
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Plectranthus forsteri Marginatus
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Marty Baldwin
