Plectranthus are indigenous perennials that brighten shady corners, flowering right through summer into autumn. Hybrids in the Magic series may look lavender-like, but they’re forest plants at heart. Give them dappled to half shade and they’ll reward you beautifully.

There are different types Plectranthus. The cascading or ground cover varieties such as the popular Money Plants are well known and but it is the upright perennials and shrub varieties which have become part of the magic that makes a shady garden special.

Indigenous Plectranthus

As a summer perennial they don’t always survive a very cold and frosty winter but are so well worth replanting every year if they don’t make it. Look out for varieties that flower in purple tones as well as white and pink varieties. Individually the flowers look like angel wings from which they get the name Angel Flowers

Pink Angel Wings

Plectranthus Chemenii is a versatile shade plant that flowers from November right through to May in shade or semi-shade. We love them. They grow with little fuss and do well as a middle of the bed perennial or planted below a standard or lollipop where they will create a carpet of colour with their glossy green leaves and pink flowers.

Magic Mona

As we mentioned there are many different varieties but the most popular Plectranthus, is the modern Mona and Magic series.  This upright variety flowers through late summer covering the whole plant in masses of flowers.  Developed at Kirstenbosch over a number of years Mona Lavender is now sold all over the world and royalties are paid back to RSA truly a win for us.

Mona Lavender was the first variety but soon the rest have followed in her footsteps with Magic Pearl, Magic Purple and Magic Mona all with much larger flowers and grow neater and more compact.

Shrub Plectranthus

Growing into large shrubby perennials easily over a meter or two high and as wide the shrub Plectranthus ecklonii are fast fillers in beds under trees where they get half sun. they do tend to swamp out and grow over everything but they are perfect instant fillers in new beds too. Available in Pink White and the extremely tall purple variety often seen in Bedfordview gardens.

Easy and rewarding to grow

Although they are frost tender they are usually grown in shady protected places and as such are afforded some protection from frost. Due to the fact that they all flower at the end of the growing season frost does not affect flowering. If the plants are affected by frost they can be cut back at the end of winter and will grow out rapidly. Once the plants have been established for a year or more, they become woodier at the base and are more resistant to frost damage.

Once a Plectranthus is established, very few pests and disease attack them, grow in most soil conditions and they don't need much feeding. That said a feeding in spring and midsummer with BioOcean will ensure strong growth and good flowering.

Plectranthus also have a fragrant leaf and are closely related to mint. Animals generally do not like the smell of Plectranthus and they can therefore also be planted as a deterrent for cats and dogs.

FAQ

Q: Are Plectranthus good plants for shade?
A: Yes. Most Plectranthus are forest-floor plants, naturally adapted to dappled or half shade. They perform best in bright but indirect light.

Q: Do Plectranthus survive frost?
A: They are frost-tender. Light frost may damage foliage, but plants usually regrow if cut back at the end of winter. Severe frost may kill them, so treat them as summer perennials in very cold areas.

Q: How long do Plectranthus flower?
A: Many varieties flower from late summer into autumn. Some, like Plectranthus Chemenii, bloom continuously from November to May.

Q: What is the difference between Mona Lavender and the Magic series?
A: Mona Lavender was the original hybrid developed at Kirstenbosch. The Magic series (Magic Mona, Magic Pearl, Magic Purple) are newer varieties with larger flowers and a more compact, tidy growth habit.

Q: Are Plectranthus easy to grow?
A: Extremely. They tolerate a wide range of soils, need minimal feeding, resist pests, and grow quickly once established.

Q: Do Plectranthus keep animals away?
A: Their mint-related fragrance can deter cats and dogs from digging or lying in planted areas, making them useful as a gentle natural deterrent.

Q: Can Plectranthus be used as ground cover?
A: Yes. While not all varieties spread, many trailing and cascading types make excellent ground covers for shady beds, containers, and hanging baskets.