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Spacing: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) 36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Late Winter/Early Spring Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage: Aromatic Velvet/Fuzzy-Textured Succulent
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Suitable for growing in containers
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From herbaceous stem cuttings
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
On Sep 25, 2008, kdaustin from Austin, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:
Agree with below, though I grow them in a lightweight potting soil with no extra sand. Used to produce trays of these in the spring for a nursery, really popular novelty plant with general public. Makes an attractive specimen, but frankly, there are far prettier plectranthus. I water mine thoroughly, allow to get very dry, where the soil begins to crack away from the pot, in between. I fertilize mine pretty regulary with no discernable side effects.
On Sep 28, 2007, macybee from Deer Park, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
From Plant of the Week.org
Plectranthus tomentosa, or Vicks Plant, is a perennial plant with leaves that smell like Vick's Vap-O-Rub or mentholatum when crushed. The light green, succulent, opposite leaves are broadly ovate, up to 3 1/2" long, and are densely covered with short hairs. The plants will reach up to 30" tall and the lower stems can become very woody. They are of easy culture and are hardy in USDA zones 9-12.
Blooming in early spring and again in the fall, the purple flowers occur in teriminal racemes. Individual flowers may reach 1/2" in length.
Culture: Plectranthus tomentosa need full sun to partial shade or high interior lighting with a well-drained soil mix. In the greenhouse, we use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts sand to 1 part loam to 1 part peat moss. The plants are will watered and allowed to dry before watering again. Fertilizer is applied only once during the growing season and it is diluted to 1/2 strength. If too much water is used, the leaves will turn yellow and get mushy. With overwatering, we have also had some plants where the stems rotted at the soil line. During the winter months, only water enough to keep the leaves from shriveling.
Propagation: From stem cuttings at any time during the growing season.
Featured Plant of the Week November 19-25, 2004.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
One vendor has this plant for sale.
