Re: Coleus lanuginosus
Thanks to David, Joan and John for such rapid response. See, John,
this is why Nan and I don't do book research. We have you all at our
fingertips. Now, as far as my particular little plant, the largest
leaves are about 45mm across, edged with rounded teeth. The leaves are
light green on both upper and lower surfaces, thick and fuzzy, with a
nice quilted effect from the veins. The nursery tag said the plant is
a one-foot tall ground cover, but at the moment it is a leggy one-foot
tall upright. Perhaps it's a ground cover after it's flopped, or
spilled, a la Joan's description. I'm glad to hear it's
drought-resistant, and I'll try to give it as much sun as I can.
Thanks!
Kay Dreher
david feix wrote:
>
> Kay,
>
> By whatever name you call it; plectranthus or coleus,
> it is a very attractive winter blooming herbaceous
> perennial which is also fairly drought tolerant in the
> Bay Area. I've grown this plant for several years now,
> after first having seen it growing in the African hill
> section at the UC Berkeley Botanic Garden. It is my
> experience that it grows best with full sun, or else
> it is prone to get leggy and straggly, but bright
> shade or partial shade may be more suitable in hotter
> southern California. It is fairly drought tolerant in
> good soils, and can easily go 10 days between
> waterings here in Berkeley. The bright blue flowers
> last for several months if removed after flowers are
> spent, and it is easily propagated from cuttings,
> which can be stuck directly into fertile soil without
> pre-rooting, if done in the fall. The plant was
> written up in Pacific Horticulture Magazine a few
> years ago, in an article titled "Plants to Play With",
> which listed the plants awarded special merit from
> that year's presentation of California Horticultural
> Society member's plants. I always thought that if
> more people saw it in bloom in December, it would
> really catch on, but it hasn't struck the general
> public's fancy in northern California, anyway. I am
> glad to see that it is in the trade, however...
>
> - "DeFato, Joan" <joan.defato@arboretum.org> wrote:
> > According to Selected Plants for Southern California
> > Gardens, it is
> > Plectranthus lanuginosis from Ethiopia gowing to 4'
> > or higher with support,
> > will take cold down to 25 degrees, will grow in a
> > container and is a good
> > spiller.
> >
> > Joan DeFato
