Re: Coleus lanuginosus
- To: d*@seti.org
- Subject: Re: Coleus lanuginosus
- From: J* M*
- Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2000 19:47:33 -0700
Kay,
This is why I am undertaking this book. The plant you bought as Coleus
(Plectranthus) lanuginosus (granted, I corrected the name and the spelling)
does not fit the description of P. lanuginosus in the book Joan cited. Yes,
I still want that cutting. I think I have the plant you are describing, but
the only way to be sure is to grow yours alongside mine. And what to call
it? Quien sabe? I haven't gotten ahold of the original description of P.
lanuginosus yet, and I haven't found a valid description of the plant I
have. There dozens--maybe hundreds--of spurflowers (that's what
"plectranthus" means in slightly Latinized Greek) on the market, some with
as many as half a dozen different names for the same plant :-(. I hope to
do for plectranthus what Betsy Clebsch and John Sutton have done for
salvias.
When you get a chance, please seal the cutting in a plastic bag (preferably
zip-lock) with a moist--NOT WET!--paper towel and put that in a small box
with some newspaper or plastic popcorn and mail it to me (priority mail
should be fine if you send it on a Monday). Please don't insure it or send
it UPS or FedEX. That will delay it an extra day or two if I'm not home
when the delivery man comes (and I never am). I happily will reimburse you
for any expense.
If you come across any more interesting kinds of plectranthus, please keep
me in mind. The International Plant Names Index includes 752 species (of
course, not all valid, I HOPE!) This promises to be a long and interesting
ride, but I am sure I will make some nice friendships along the way. Thanks
for posting your question.
John MacGregor
jonivy@earthlink.net
----------
>From: "John Dreher" <dreher@seti.org>
>To: davidfeix@yahoo.com
>Cc: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu, jonivy@earthlink.net
>Subject: Re: Coleus lanuginosus
>Date: Tue, Oct 17, 2000, 11:39 AM
>
> 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
>
