I live in Williamsburg, VA and our garden club purchased a mixed bag of spring plants and this was among them. No one knows what it is and the garden center staff could not identify it either. It has grown to approximately 2-3 feet high has very small purple/blue trumpet shaped flowers and the stems are slender and black. The leaves are slightly fuzzy with green tops and deep purple undersides. Any information would be appreciated, but mostly looking to find out what it is, annual or perennial, climate/soil/zone requirements/conditions necessary and whether it's prone to insect or deer damage. Many thanks. Willowtree
The Plectranthus looks like the cultivar 'Mona Lavender'. According to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in South Africa, where the cultivar was developed, the plant can tolerate only a few degrees of frost. If it is 'Mona Lavender', it is a protected plant (propagation prohibited). Then again, it could be one of the parents, perhaps P. hilliardiae, or another species or cross. Plectranthus is a very frustrating group to identify because there are few resources available that have accurate descriptions/illustrations of the species and hybrids. Luckily, Fernwood Press has published a beautiful book (The Southern African Plectranthus by Ernst von Jaarsveld and Vicki Thomas). I recommend it, even if you don't grow these fantastic plants. Despite common names like Cuban oregano and Swedish ivy, Plectranthus species all come from tropical or near tropical areas in Africa, Asia and Australia. The Internet is rife with mis-identifications and confusion about the species (just Google "Cuban oregano"). Most nurseries and propagators have a hard time getting the right names on plants, and plant breeders (and especially their representatives) often don't want people to know about the particular species that they're using in their work. Contributing to the name mess is the ease by which these plants are propagated by cuttings. Everybody's great aunt and corner grocer has a few on a windowsill, and they've been spread around casually for years. Now that people have discovered the Southern African ones for bedding, baskets and containers, we'll be seeing a lot more of them.
Douglas: Many thanks for your very informative ID of this plant. Our garden club will try to propagate though cuttings during the winter, but it appears that the plant is perennial and should winter over in Virginia if protected and not too cold this year. I appreciate your time and information. Willowtree
Note that D. Justice posted he was not certain it was that particular one and went on to indicate a need for further checking on your part. It would contribute to the confusion he described if your club propagated and dispersed this plant under what was actually not the right name for it.
Ron: I appreciate your efforts to clarify this issue. My interest was purely personal and not for general consumption. I will make sure that our little garden club is aware of the potential for mis-identification. Thanks - Willowtree
