Plant indigenous trees – Plectranthus genus
Lindsay Gray on behalf of Hillcrest Conservancy will produce weekly articles regarding the various indigenous small trees that you can plant in your garden.
By Lindsay Gray on behalf of Hillcrest Conservancy
THE Plectranthus genus has to be the ultimate ‘one stop’ family of plants for a garden with lots of shade.
Mostly shade or semi-shade loving, there are tall shrubs, medium shrubs, short, fluffy shrubs, bouncy groundcovers and then ground-hugging groundcovers.
Some of these plants have just finished flowering, others are still in flower, while species such as Plectranthus saccatus (stoep Jacaranda) and Plectranthus ecklonii, are coming into flower now.
And they won’t be the last to flower this summer. There will be others following hot on their heels.
This large family is part of the mint family. Most species, except the groundcovers, are a soft to medium-wood, with deeply-veined leaves that are aromatic. They all propagate easily from cuttings.
This wonderful family of plants provides the perfect understorey beneath trees and tall shrubs. The tallest of the species is the Plectranthus ecklonii, known for its tall purple spires.
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Two hybrids of the P. ecklonii but which are not quite as tall, are the white and pink varieties. Plectranthus fruticosus, has either a purple or mauve flower and then we have my favourites, P. zuluensis (mine have been flowering for the past two months) and P. saccatus that grow to between 800mm and 1 metre in height.
A recent hybrid that has made its mark on gardens, and especially for container gardening, is P. Mona Lavender.
Ideal for covering large areas in the shade are the low-growing P. ciliatus with its characteristic foliage that is stained a beautiful grape-purple on the underside and P. neochilus which is a very strong aromatic plant (not enjoyed by all) with a blue flower – both grow to around 400mm – and then the versatile creeping groundcover, P. verticillatus, with its dainty white spires, that loves the shade but adapts to the sun quite well.
The variegated P. madagascarensis lightens any dark area with its green and white foliage.
I have only mentioned the commonly grown plants. There are many more readily available in garden centres. Most of the flowers of this genus are either purple, lilac, pink or white. Some hybrids, for instance, P. fruticosus, has thrown a gorgeous mauve flower.
All these rewarding plants require is well-composted soil, rain and protection from the hot sun. Nothing beats a show of these plants when used en masse in a garden.
My loose hedge of the white P. ecklonii ‘Tommy’ is starting to flower now and I am always sad when it comes to an end.
Contact the Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, George Victor, on 073 901 3902, e-mail georgevic@telkomsa.net or the website www.hillcrestconservancy.co.za or contact Lindsay Gray at info@schoolofgardendesign.com
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