Plectranthus

Mona Lavender prefers partial shade in humusy moist soil with good drainage. Grow indoors or place outside in spring where it can receive morning sun to full shade and where you can enjoy the blooms and ornamental foliage.

Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’

Mona Lavender is a herbaceous perennial in the mint family and is a hybrid of 2 southern African parents. This is a small shrub reaching 1-2 feet tall and wide. In NC it is grown as a houseplant. The lavender 2-lipped flowers have specks of purple and appear on spikes of purple stems. This plant starts blooming when the days get shorter in fall and will often bloom into spring. The shiny dark green leaves are ornamental with purple undersides. Pinch the stems to maintain a bushy rounded form.

Mona Lavender prefers partial shade in humusy moist soil with good drainage. Grow indoors or place outside in spring where it can receive morning sun to full shade and where you can enjoy the blooms and ornamental foliage.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for “Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers” a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

• Attributes: Genus: Plectranthus Family: Lamiaceae Life Cycle: Perennial Recommended Propagation Strategy: Stem Cutting Country Or Region Of Origin: South Africa Dimensions: Height: 1 ft. 0 in. – 2 ft. 0 in. Width: 1 ft. 0 in. – 2 ft. 0 in.

• Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial Shrub Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Habit/Form: Dense Erect Rounded Growth Rate: Medium Maintenance: Medium Texture: Medium

• Cultural Conditions: Light: Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours) Soil Texture: High Organic Matter Soil Drainage: Good Drainage Moist USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

• Flowers: Flower Color: Purple/Lavender Flower Inflorescence: Spike Flower Value To Gardener: Showy Flower Bloom Time: Fall Spring Winter Flower Shape: Lipped Tubular Flower Petals: 2-3 rays/petals Flower Size: < 1 inch Flower Description: Showy 2-lipped lavender flowers with specks of purple occur on spikes of purple stems.

• Leaves: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Broadleaf Evergreen Leaf Feel: Glossy Leaf Value To Gardener: Showy Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Ovate Leaf Margin: Serrate Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 1-3 inches Leaf Width: < 1 inch Leaf Description: Glossy dark green leaves have purple undersides. Margins toothed.

• Stem: Stem Color: Purple/Lavender Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Cross Section: Square Stem Surface: Smooth (glabrous) Stem Description: Purple stems

• Landscape: Landscape Location: Container Houseplants Patio

Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’

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Plectranthus

Grown for foliage and flowers, Plectranthus is a genus of about 350 species of annuals, evergreen perennials, semi-succulents, and shrubs from Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands. They are useful in a cool greenhouse or conservatory or outdoors in hanging baskets, containers, or sunny borders. The foliage is often ornamental, with decorative margins and a fuzzy appearance. The flowers are small but are often borne in good-size racemes of tubular, 2-lipped flowers in shades of purple, pink, white, or blue. Plectranthus are part of the mint family and closely related to Solenostemon (coleus).

Noteworthy CharacteristicsMany species are fast-growing. Attractive, aromatic, soft foliage which often has scalloped, toothed or wavy edges.

CarePlectranthus needs well-drained soil of moderate fertility in dappled shade. If grown indoors, provide full light but with protection from hot sun. Water freely and fertilize monthly during active growth, but keep just moist in winter.

PropagationDivide in spring, or take stem-tip cuttings any time. Rooted branches of trailing species can be removed. To grow from seed, sow ripe seed at 66° to 75°F.

ProblemsMealybugs, spider mites, leaf spots, and root rot can sometimes be problems.