Plectranthus Verticillatus, Swedish Ivy - Plant

 Plectranthus Verticillatus, Swedish Ivy 

DESCRIPTION

The plant has aromatic glossy, green, round leaves, which show a deep purple color in the center sometimes and tend to trail, reaching a height of between 10 and 30 cm and extends around 60 cm. This deep purple can also be found on the plant stems and on the underside of leaves. The leaves, which are widely serrated, are fleshy and rounded between 64 and 90 mm, with purple and hairy undersides with reddish sessile glands.

The upright racemes appear white, pale violet or pale pink and can sprout sporadically throughout the year (but more typically in spring and late autumn), which form verticillasters of 2-4 flowers and 2–3 mm bracts. The fruits are 1 mm nuts, brown in colour and wrinkled.

The name "Swedish ivy" is deceptive: the plant is not thigmotropic (meaning it does not cling to walls with the roots when it grows), is not native to Sweden, and is not closely related to the genus of ivy (Hedera). Some variegated, silvery plants called Swedish Ivy grown in pots and hanging baskets are Plectrabthus oertendahlii from coastal river gorges of KwaZulu-Natal.

Common Name: Swedish ivy

Plant Colour: Green

 KEYWORD POINT

Planting and Care

It needs full to partial shade

It is monthly fertilized by a balanced fertilizer

It requires a well drained soil mix

Water the plant thoroughly

Allow to dry before watering 

Plectranthus Verticillatus, Swedish Ivy Care

 It needs full sun to partial shade with a rich, well-drained soil mix. In the greenhouse at KZN Botanical Garden we use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 2 parts sand. Plants are well watered and allowed to dry slightly before watering again. If the plants get too wet they develop root rot. During summer, plants are fertilized monthly with a balanced fertilizer.

SPECIAL FEATURES

It  has aromatic glossy, green, round leaves.

The fruits are 1 mm nuts, brown in colour and wrinkled.

USES OF PLANT

Plectranthus verticillatus is a nursery favourite in warmer areas of the world. A number of commercial cultivars, including several variegated forms, have been developed here and overseas: 'Barberton', 'Blyde', 'Eureka', 'Freckles', 'Gossip', 'Malelaan', 'Money Maker', 'Pink Surprise', and 'Ubombo'.