Outside the plant's hardiness zones, taking cuttings in the fall is a good way to save plants for next year's garden, or entire plants can be brought indoors. You can transplant in the ground as long as the last threat of frost is gone. You see, the plant really doesnt want to repel insects: it needs pollinating ones to ensure its flowers are fecundated. Too much fertilizer can actually damage plants so its important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions. Many species of plectranthus have fragrant foliage. form a strategic partnership called N.C. Remove the leaves that are below the waterline. Before a Plectranthus experiences dieback outdoors, snip off a few succulent, young stems with several leaves. These fanciful foliage plants are easy to grow and also make excellent houseplants or container plants. Fawn Creek Township is located in Kansas with a population of 1,618. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:Spider mites and mealybugs can damage this plant. You can try organic treatments or environmentally less invasive remedies like insecticidal soap or neem oil to remove the infestations. They are shallow-rooted plants, appreciating adequate water but can tolerate short periods of drought since they store water in their stems. Plectranthus species prefer average to above average humidity from 50 percent up to 80 percent relative humidity. 1, Wayside Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' is an excellent alternative to common lavender if you have pets. Leaf spot is often caused by leaves getting wet and staying that way. Best in fertile, well-drained soil. They contain pungent oils that are used for cooking Great when used as a flavoring for your favorite dishes. Leocus A.Chev. Mealybugs are a common pest of plectranthus, along with spider mites and aphids. for pricing and availability. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career. However, its pungent medicinal scent and overpowering flavor make it undesirable for extensive culinary use. These plants are versatile; most grow well in-ground, in containers, and as houseplants. Depending on the species, the flowers can be purple, pink, white, or blue. The plant cascades nicely from container gardens or hanging baskets. Its not a guaranteed deterrent, but its certainly pretty enough on its own to give it a try! Common or English lavender is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses; meanwhile, 'Mona Lavender' is a non-toxic plant with equally beautiful, similar-looking flowers that bloom over a long period. It's sometimes called prostrate coleus, silver Swedish ivy, or candle plant. (My wife has developed a serious cat allergy, so Geisha was not replaced.). Tubular lilac and white flowers bloom during the summer. One site recommends using taller repellent plants as being more effective, as cats simply jump right over short ones. WebPlectranthus caninus Scaredy Cat Plant LIVE PLANT in 2.5 inch pot 5 out of 5 stars (3.4k) $ 12.00. Plectranthus plants appreciate monthly fertilization during their active growing period, from the spring to the fall. Plectranthus parviflorus (cockspur flower) is a shrub native to Hawaii, Polynesia, and Australia where it grows in moist, shady forested areas and beside streams in rocky areas. Thats not usually a good sign! When grown outdoors, plectranthus plants attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It is native to South Africa and Australia, not Sweden, where it was first popularized. Plectranthus are not frost-tolerant, but the perennial species will come back in the spring in warm winter locations. When growing Plectranthus outdoors, choose a spot that receives sun for only part of the day or a shady spot beneath a tree. Ferwood Press, Simon's Town, South Africa. What plant can Plectranthus replace in the landscape? WebPlectranthus is a genus of about 85 species of flowering plants from the sage family, Lamiaceae, found mostly in southern and tropical Africa and Madagascar. In reality there is not much information or very precise about this plant. 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. Plectranthus are in the same family as mint (Lamiaceae). Its a concept as old as the world and yet, positive evidence on the subject rare; Id even say nonexistent. Find My Store. It's best to water plants in the morning and at the soil line and not directly on the foliage. Plants tolerate full sun in cool summer climates. Hand watering using a watering wand with a sprinkler head attached is also a good way to control watering. Very few can tolerate direct sun and may suffer from leaf burn if exposed to direct sun for too long. Pruning snips can come in handy, helping you cut through straggling roots, if necessary. Plectranthus neochilus 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' forms a ground-hugging mat of gray-green foliage with white leaf margins. WebColeus 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. Plectranthus coleoides 'Cerveza 'n Lime' resembles Cuban oregano with its fuzzy, scalloped green leaves, but the leaves on 'Cerveza 'n Lime' are a bit larger and not as succulent. These plants are popular houseplants, but they also add foliage and color to outside beds and borders in Zones 8-11, where they grow as perennials. Plants are tolerant of heat, humidity and some soil dryness. I am author of four gardening books, all published by Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida. The name that defines the species refers to dogs in both cases (canina, caninus). (1992), Lamiaceae. (Indian coleus) can grow a whopping 10 feet tall. Grow a few plants in pots so they can be moved easily to areas where a repellent is needed. While waiting for the roots to form, replenish the filtered water every few days to keep the water line consistent. Better Homes & Gardens - 100 years of powering your passions at home. Different marigolds have different scents, some attractive to people (T. lucida and T. minuta), others distinctly unpleasant (T. patulaand T. erecta). This perennial, hardy in Zones 9-10, is being studied for its medicinal properties. Small pale purple flowers bloom throughout the year. At the base of the cutting, trim the stem directly below where the bottom leaf attaches. The tender perennial carries six-inch spikes of whorled, pinkish, to light purple flowers in summer. Recent phylogenetic analysis found Plectranthus to be paraphyletic with respect to Coleus, Solenostemon, Pycnostachys and Anisochilus. I stopped testing after Geisha died, as we no longer have a cat to use as a test subject. Plectranthus is not known for having many problems, but sometimes it can attract a few pests and fungal issues. The essential oil from the aerial parts of Plectranthus caninus roth (lamiaceae), obtained by hydro-distillation was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (gc/Ms) and evaluated for antimicrobial, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities. There are many about essential oils derived from plants and used to repel insects, but thats a different story entirely. Humans consider the scent of lavender (Lavandulaspp.) One seller even invented a detailed background for the plant, claiming its a hybrid developed by an Australian amateur gardener by crossing a plectranthus with acoleus, although, in fact,Plectranthuscaninushas beengrowing wild in Africa and India for hundreds of thousands of years. Plectranthus oertendahlii 'Emerald Lace' is named for the lacy gray-green pattern of markings on its scalloped, rounded foliage. You'll need seed starting soil, seed starting trays, or small cups. 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. It is easily propagated by cuttings. Set the plant in the hole.Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball. If you notice lower leaves of a plant turning yellow, falling off, and wilting, this may be a sign of root rot. Plectranthus barbatus (Indian coleus) can grow a whopping 10 feet tall. These pollinators are usually active in late summer into winter, the time that coincides with the blooming periods of many of the plectranthus species. Root rot and leaf spot may occur. Thulin, M. It grows up to 24 inches tall and wide and rarely blooms. Differing from true oregano, Cuban oregano does best when situated in a location that provides some protection from the hot summer sun. It has a semi-prostrate growth pattern that makes it useful as a trailing plant in container gardens or as a groundcover in landscape beds. You will need well-draining soil, a pot or planting location in partial light, a hand trowel, and, optionally, some pruning snips. Leave the topmost two sets intact. According to: Conn, B.J. Equilabium was segregated from Plectranthus, after phylogenetic studies supported its recognition as a phylogenetically distinct genus. Plectranthus is a large genus of about 85 species of plants native to the tropical areas of the southern hemisphere. While some plectranthus can grow in full sun, most prefer a bit of shade, especially in bright afternoon light. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated starter fertilizer or a balanced all-purpose feed (for example fertilizers labeled 12-12-12).Check the plant label for suggested spacing. Plectranthus argentatus. The plants need at least 8 hours of dark to grow. I tested rue (Ruta graveolens) at the same time. Plectranthus is a genus of about 350 species of annuals, evergreen perennials, semi-succulents and shrubs from Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australasia and Pacific Islands. 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. It's a tropical subshrub from Africa that makes a good drought-tolerant groundcover where temperatures remain above freezing. Some people believe that certain kinds scare away snakes and repel mosquitoes. P. caninus is a tender, mat-forming, stem-rooting, evergreen perennial, typically grown as an annual, with whorled, unpleasantly aromatic, narrowly ovate to spoon-shaped, sparsely-toothed, wrinkled, light green leaves and upright stems bearing racemes of whorled, tubular, violet-blue flowers in summer. Most positive posts were from people who tried planting repellent plants as a preventive measure (there were no cats visiting their garden, but they wanted to keep them away) and theyre the first to claim victory. at a later date, because I had not heard it was supposed to have repellent effects, at least not on mammals. Lobster flower is hardy in Zones 9-11, but it is often grown as an annual in other areas. illeg. Refer to the plant label to check a plants specific requirements. 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