In this post we present another of the new shade plants in the Sala Graupera catalog, the Plectranthus. It is a shrub native to South Africa and its name is formed by two roots plektron and anthos, which in Greek means "straight flowers" and zuluensis which refers to its original distribution in the Zululand area. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which is generally characterized by aromatic species, due to the presence of essential oils.
In its natural habitat it is usually found along riverbanks, in deep crevices of soils rich in organic matter, and in shaded areas on the margins of subtropical second-line coastal forests.
_[Plectranthus zuluensis](http://www.salagraupera.com/es/cataleg/general/item/plectranthus-zuluensis-2)_ is an evergreen plant, compact in habit and highly branched, which can reach up to 2m in height and occupy an area of 1m2.
Its leaves are bright light green, oval with serrated margins, and have a characteristic citrus smell when crushed. The stems are velvety to the touch when the plant is young.
Its flowering period, in our hemisphere, occurs between August and November. The mauve-blue flowers are arranged in whorls and later give rise to small dark brown fruits.
It is a fast-growing plant that prefers to grow in shady environments on acidic, humus-rich soils with good drainage. And it tolerates temperatures down to -5°C.
Once the plant is established, it needs little watering, but it is advisable to apply fertilizer regularly to keep specimens vigorous and healthy.
Regarding pests and diseases, it is pest resistant although nematodes can cause occasional problems. And mildew and rust can attack plants under certain environmental conditions.
It is advisable to prune the plant every year after flowering to remove dry stems. And plants used as hedges or formal shrubs should be kept trimmed so that the clumps maintain a compact shape.
In short, Plectranthus zuluensis is a very suitable and recommended plant for the shady areas of the garden. It is ideal as ground cover under trees or to form shrub masses in shaded areas. It can also be used in pots as an annual plant for terraces and balconies.
Imágenes: flickr.com (anniesannual) / guiadejardineria.com