Plectranthus or Spur Flower

Decisions, decisions. The trials of the winter gardener. This time of year I feel so torn by conflicting loyalties. My scented geraniums and plectranthus add their voices to the chorus of tender perennials demanding winter shelter. Their fragrance is enough to influence my decision.

The geraniums are more hardy, so I put them in unheated rooms. Cozy, well-lit space is at a premium, so I reserve that for the plectranthus.

Plectranthus means spur flower in reference to the swollen base of the flower tube. Spurflower is sometimes used as a common name for these plants.

Among the plectranthus are numerous species and cultivars. Just when I think I've made sense of the mess, I find some reference using different nomenclature. So, I'll devote my attention to giving the plants the care they deserve, leaving the experts to squabble amongst themselves over names.

Though Swedish ivy is a species of plectranthus, my favorites are the ones grown as culinary herbs and tender perennials.

The square stem of plectranthus tells you it is a member of the mint family. At the base of each pair of thick, fleshy, scallop-edged leaves are two tiny new ones. The foliage is rather brittle, and easily broken. They range from solid green to silver, purple, and variegated green and white ones.

Towards the base of the plant, the stems can become woody and bare with age. To avoid that, most gardeners replace the plants every couple years.

As with most members of the mint family, plectranthus tends to be fast growing. They can get pot-bound very quickly during the summer months. To keep the plants compact, pinch the stems back often when they're actively growing. If temperatures go below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, growth usually ceases.

Plants rarely bloom indoors. This usually occurs in late summer when they're grown outdoors in full sun. Blooms appear on terminal spikes in crowded whorls containing ten or so blooms. Depending on the species, they may be white, blue, or mauve. The flower stalks are fountain-like. Plants seldom set seed.

The fragrance of plectranthus is especially noticeable. Most kinds have a warmly sweet fragrance. Cuban oregano is reminiscent of oregano or thyme. The strongest scent is from the Vicks plant. Some herbalists actually use its leaves as aromatherapy for colds and congestion.

Plectranthus vary in their growth habit. Cuban oregano is upright, growing to about to three feet or so. Others may be quite dwarf, only about six inches tall. The arching forms are used as accent plants, while low growing ones are treated as ground covers.

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