Another important genus is Plectranthus, a large genus containing about 300 species found in Tropical Africa, Asia and Australia. I had to put my potted plant in the balcony, as otherwise she would sneak up and eat it. At the base of the cutting, trim the stem directly below where the bottom leaf attaches. Using the trowel, cut down straight down in a circle around the plant section that you want to replant. Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. It is a traditional drink made with ground maize (corn) mixed with cocoa, agave or honey and cinnamon, vanilla and a variety of spices. Recent phylogenetic analysis found Plectranthus to be paraphyletic with respect to Coleus, Solenostemon, Pycnostachys and Anisochilus. In cold climates or snowy winters, Plectranthus will die back but may come back in the warmer spring months, depending on the species. The GRIN Website lists 24 species of Plectranthus. Its a most interesting concept, because sometimes our furry little friends do cause a lot of damage in the garden but do animal-repellent plants actually deliver the goods? (2019) listed 72 species. WebKew Bulletin 59: 379-414. It can be propagated in the springtime by division. Reaching 4 feet long, it's excellent as a groundcover or when cascading from window boxes and pots. The plants tolerate full sun, low water, and appalling neglect, but temperatures below 32F will level them. Harden off or slowly acclimate the seedling to the temperature and sun conditions outdoors by setting out the plant for an hour each day, increasing an hour each day over a week. Stamens 4, fertile; anthers circular, medifixed. It bears pale blue to white flowers in summer. Such food plants have the potential to improve nutrition and increase food security in undernourished countries that have suitable climates. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake the roots apart. Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic. Ferwood Press, Simon's Town, South Africa. Remove the bottom leaves. Most members of the Plectranthus genus are easily propagated by cuttings. [2]. Remove flower spikes after bloom. Exceptions to this might be regions with a short growing season, shade plantings which tend to grow slower and fill in less quickly, or a need to fill an area with color quickly such as for a special event or if planning to entertain guests outdoors. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Lobster flower is hardy in Zones 9-11, but it is often grown as an annual in other areas. From there it went to Solenostemon scutellarioides, but recently the name has been changed to Plectranthus scutellarioides. Commonly called Swedish ivy, the plant has glossy, green, quilted leaves with scalloped edges and is particularly effective in hanging baskets. WebPlectranthus caninus: Perennial herb; inflorescence lax basally with at least 1 or 2 spaced fruiting whorls below the flowers; corolla at least 12 mm long Back to 1: 12: 12: Inflorescence 715 cm long, with 512 spaced fruiting whorls below the flowers; corolla 1220 mm long: Plectranthus neochilus Coleus caninus, synonym Plectranthus caninus, is a herb from the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Africa from Angola to Sudan and to India and Myanmar. Groundcover varieties grow quickly and may be pruned regularly to prevent overgrowing. Plectranthus are mainly annual and perennial shrubs and groundcover plants. What plant can Plectranthus replace in the landscape? Several species are known for their flowers, often in pinks, purples, and whites. Many are called spur flowers, referring to the spur that is often at the base of the petals. This trailing plant has scalloped leaves with white margins. As for Maggie (the dog), she was harder to test, being naturally more excitable, but seemed to show no special reaction when I held a branch in front of her. Move the plant to a shadier spot to prevent leaves from getting scorched. It can be grown as a houseplant in a sunny window. Plectranthus leaves can turn brown if the plant gets too much water or direct sun, lacks nutrients, or is attacked by pests. Fawn Creek Township is in Montgomery County. If you completely should cross a drug test, then I would counsel making an attempt out Rescue Cleanse. Read our. Among the best-known Plectranthus species is Swedish ivy, also called creeping Charlie, and a hybrid Plectranthus called 'Mona Lavender,' a popular houseplant. Be careful not to overwater. It grows 18 inches tall and wide. The glossy green leaves with scalloped edges are borne on stems that reach 12-18 inches tall and trail up to 3 feet long. Please read our, Is not known to attract Beneficial insects, Is not known to attract Butterflies/Moths, Is not known to attract Other pollinators, Other names that this plant may be sold under are. Those grown in sun are more compact and the purple color on the undersides of the leaves is much more intense. The majority of the plants growth takes place in the spring and summer Itprefers a hot and dry location for the best performance. With rue, the question you really have to ask is whether you want to risk causing grievous bodily harm to your family in a probably futile effort to keep cats away? Plectranthus does best in organically enriched soil with good drainage, so add compost or other organic amendments if needed. Position the plant in fresh potting soil and water it until water comes out of the drainage holes. The cultivar Mona Lavender = 'Plepalila' [3] has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Plectranthus plants can be set out in the garden in spring after the last frost. As Plectranthus is a fast-growing, low-maintenance species, some species are invasive, like P. amboinicus (Indian borage). They like full sun. read more, Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com, Hausa potato, frafra potato, Sudan potato, coleus potato, Zulu potato). How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Cuban Oregano, 22 Indoor Flowering Plants That Will Make Your Home Feel Happier, 24 Best Foliage Houseplants to Brighten Up Any Room in Your Home, 23 of the Best Houseplants for Low-Light Spaces, 23 Easy-Care Houseplants That Don't Need Much More Than Water, Blue/Green, Chartreuse/Gold, Purple/Burgundy, Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance. Most plectranthus can't handle cold temperatures for long periods but can take rare days that drop down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. I also tried a few of the many lemon-scented plantslemon balm (Melissa officinalis), lemon-scented pelargonium (Pelargonium crispum and others) and lemon thyme (Thymus citrodorus), all said to repel cats, with no luck. Plectranthus tomentosa is also called mentholatum plant because of the aroma it gives off when brushed. Cherisse Harris is a fact-checker with a focus on lifestyle, beauty, and parenting. Watch for mealybugs, scale and mites. The idea usually promoted is that you simply have to plant repellent plants here and there throughout a flower bed or vegetable garden and then mammals (it seems to be mostly cats that people want to expel*) will then avoid the sector. Reports suggest that this plant deters around two-thirds of all cats, so its not a fail-safe solution, but worth trying where neighbouring cats are visiting your garden and using flower or vegetable borders for their toilet. I rubbed a leaf with my fingers and held them in front of her muzzle, she did pull her head back, but then, Geisha never did appreciate anyone invading her personal space. Be sure to wear gloves read more, Thought I saw a grasshopper on one of my milkweeds, read more, I have several pair of Dark-Eyed Juncos this winter. Leave the topmost two sets intact. Pinol. Place your cutting, cut-end down, in damp soil. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot. My conclusion based in this very limited test what that Plectranthus caninushas no repellent powers whatsoever on my pets! WebPlectranthus shrubby, or molar tree (P. fruticosus), is grown in cool rooms, it is a shrub up to 2 m high. Usually, 6 to 8 inches (15 to 30cm) is the distance given. Plectranthus can also be grown in the garden from seed sown shallowly (1/4 inch) in well-draining soil after the weather warms to 70F or indoors in pots 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the season. Only a few grow to 36 inches. It's sometimes called prostrate coleus, silver Swedish ivy, or candle plant. Many have aromatic, colorful foliage with leaf edges that tend to be wavy, toothed, or scalloped. Geisha and Maggie both found marigolds (I tried T. patula,T. erectato and T. minuta)be of no interest whatsoever and were neither rebuffed nor attracted by them. Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) is a widely grown plant. Best in fertile, well-drained soil. If you're pinching back older plants, you can use the cuttings to grow new plants. Moist foliage encourages disease and mold that can weaken or damage plants.To check for soil moisture use your finger or a small trowel to dig in and examine the soil. Delightful harbinger of Spring! In the garden, an organic top dressing is appreciated, as is a monthly application of 10-20-10 fertilizer during the growing season. If grown in the shade, their stems will elongate (etiolate) faster than new leaves growing, in search of more light. Coleus is a plant from the mint family. Leaf spot is often caused by leaves getting wet and staying that way. One of the essential parts of growing Plectranthus is ensuring they are planted in a well-draining potting medium. If you notice lower leaves of a plant turning yellow, falling off, and wilting, this may be a sign of root rot. Primarily grown for its attractive foliage. Refer to the plant label to check a plants specific requirements. This was hardly a scientific study. [2] As of October2022[update], Plants of the World Online accepted 84: Species transferred to Coleus in 2019 include:[2]. Since they're not particularly showy, pinch the flowers back or deadhead them to show off the foliage, which is the main attraction of this plant. In the garden, most plectranthus plants grow from 12 to 28 inches tall. Remove several sets of leaves above the new cut, leaving one to two sets of leaves above that and place the stem in moist soil. It makes an easy-care houseplant or a low-maintenance herb. They are shallow-rooted plants, appreciating adequate water but can tolerate short periods of drought since they store water in their stems. Prune plants freely to maintain the desired size and shape. Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' shows off rich purple leaves topped by spikes of lavender-purple flowers. In St. Louis, grow as an annual for part shade summer gardens or in containers. [Cited as Plectranthus caninus.] Plectranthus amboinicus 'Ochre Flame' is a highly ornamental form of Cuban oregano. WebThis attractive member of the Mint family is native to South Africa. Plectranthus grown as houseplants do best in lots of sunlight; a southern exposure yields the brightest color. Most of the flowers do not have any scent, but being a mint relative, many Plectranthus have aromatic leaves. Plectranthus amboinicus. All Plectranthuses are members of the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Some types can handle quite a bit of shade. In St. Louis, this plant may be grown as a houseplant in bright mostly sunny exposures. The plant cascades nicely from container gardens or hanging baskets. Each avocado-green leaf is splashed with an irregular central patch of pale lime. Winter hardy to USDA Zone 10-11 where it is best grown in rich, humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade. Here's how: You can start seeds 6 to 8 weeks indoors before the last frost in the spring. Plectranthus do not tolerate "wet feet," which means their roots cannot sit in wet or soggy soil for prolonged periods. Capitanya Grke If I did, given the results of my experiments, you can be sure Id try something other than repellent plants! Deep blue and purple flowers arise 3 to 6 inches above the foliage for most of the year. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The plants need at least 8 hours of dark to grow. The rounded to scallop-edged green or grey-green leaves have a pungent unpleasant smell to humans, though mostly only when touched or bruised. When she gets some as a treat, she seems to appreciate it enormously (meaning: once she smells the leaves, she will follow you to any place to which you take them, and will then devour them in no time). The best time to propagate is during the spring or early summer. On the few sites when there did seem to be some sort of proof, either positive or negative, it always seems to be purely anecdotal, like: Well, I grow plant X in my garden and I dont have a cat problem. 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