| Author | Content |
sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
August 22, 2005 1:41 AM Post #1709940
| Hi guys, I already read 2 pages of forum history on the subject, and now am resorting to just posting. I went to the garden center today to find a purple passion for my brother (never even ended up with that one!)... along the way, I found this ENORMOUS plant that looks very similar to my Plectranthus ernstii (which is a tiny little guy with a thick trunk growing under lights indoors). My what a difference a gene or two makes! I was so impressed, I had to have it! It's roughly 9 square feet emerging from a six inch pot in the middle. You prolly can't see that in the pics, heck, I can't see it in person! Anyway, I got it for $10.98!!!!! I can make 60 of the little cuties with this monster! I'd better get my daughter eating more applesauce so I have places to pot them! :)
Anyway, I've determined that it's a Plectranthus, but I can't seem to put my finger on a variety... I'm gonna post a bunch of different pictures to explain why I can't decide. It's not a high pressure ID, just mostly fun because it's puzzling. ;) I assume the care will be similar to the rest of my Plectranthus... at least I hope, since I have six new light fixtures to fill up! :)
BTW- my Plectranthus ernstii is currently blooming for the first time!!! WEEE!!! :) I'm a proud mama because it's the first thing I have EVER propagated by my self!
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
August 22, 2005 1:43 AM Post #1709943
| Alright, I'm a little baffled by all the different presentation of the veriegation...It ranges from white-white to medium-dark green. Sometimes all on the same leaf! Usually dispersed in pockets... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
August 22, 2005 1:44 AM Post #1709946
| Here's another one... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
August 22, 2005 1:46 AM Post #1709953
| And the greens are so varied... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
August 22, 2005 1:49 AM Post #1709963
| Maybe it's just me...maybe veriegated plants are always this diverse in form, and I just don't know enough about them to know that. Anyway, at the least I got to share pictures of my cool find! :)
Sarah
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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crystalspin
Santa Ana, CA (Zone 9b)
August 22, 2005 4:24 AM Post #1710383
| Sarah:
It looks like the variegated plectranthus are considerably variABLE within the same plant... yours might be this one:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/56154/index.html
It's called Gold-Edged Plectranthus 'Aureus Variegatus' (Plectranthus forsteri), but Happenstance's pic seems to have a little ivory-white, and
jonivy's is mostly shades of green. If (when!) Frogs or another plekie expert confirms this ID, you should submit one or more of your great pics (the first and last I like especially).
~'spin!~ |
crystalspin
Santa Ana, CA (Zone 9b)
August 22, 2005 4:29 AM Post #1710392
| PS click on the [colored/italic] word Plectranthus after "Genus:" near top of the gold-edged P.forsteri page to peruse the other species... seems like at least a third of them are variegated!
~'spin!~ |
critterologist
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
August 23, 2005 4:45 AM Post #1713314
| Your photos look just like a cutting a friend sent me, see http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/81755/
The thick, fleshy leaves have a distinct herbal scent & flavor.
I would love a cutting sometime, as mine didn't make it. |
sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
August 23, 2005 5:08 AM Post #1713354
| Well, you guys have nailed to two possibilities I had narrowed it down to. I guess we may never know! But maybe Critter can do a more "scientific" assessment when she roots hers!
Anyone else feel free to chime in on this... Let me know if you want some, too. There's obviously plenty to go around!
Sarah |
sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
September 1, 2005 3:30 PM Post #1733634
| Alright, I finally set my ID on Plectranthus Forsteri... thanks so much for everyone's help! :)
Sarah |
frogsrus
San Diego, CA (Zone 10a)
September 1, 2005 4:07 PM Post #1733695
| Yep! looks like aureus to me too. I have a monster in the ground in the front yard. I had no idea that it would get that big. It gets trimmed every couple of months. That one is very gold and green with small amounts of white. Another that I have in a pot, also in full sun, is quite white edged but much better behaved. Yours is gorgeous. It is easily propagated. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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sarahjo80
Loveland, CO (Zone 5b)
September 1, 2005 4:21 PM Post #1733713
| Thank you! :) I'm very excited to play with it more! I also have a small indoor Plectranthus that is very similar in leaf shape, color (though not variegated) and smell. It is blooming for the first time. I am thrilled! :)
Sarah |
frogsrus
San Diego, CA (Zone 10a)
September 1, 2005 4:56 PM Post #1733804
| I have loved these since I got my first creeping charlie over 30 years ago. I have learned my lesson about putting some of them in the ground though. Not all of them smell good either. Lol |
