Zulu spurflower

Description

Plectranthus zuluensis, the Zulu spurflower, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Africa. A tender perennial, it produces spikes of pale blue or mauve flowers against lime green foliage in spring. In temperate climates it needs to be grown under glass, or protected from winter frosts if kept outside. It is suitable as a houseplant or conservatory plant. Plectranthus, with some 85 species, is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants, rarely annuals or soft-wooded shrubs, sometimes succulent; sometimes with a tuberous base. Common names include spur-flower. Plectranthus species are found in Southern and Tropical Africa and Madagascar, and one in Sri Lanka. Several species are grown as ornamental plants. The cultivar Mona Lavender = 'Plepalila' has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. They are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia). Recent phylogenetic analysis found Plectranthus to be paraphyletic with respect to Coleus, Solenostemon, Pycnostachys and Anisochilus. The most recent treatment of the genus resurrected the genus Coleus, and 212 names were changed from combinations in Plectranthus, Pycnostachys and Anisochilus. Equilabium was segregated from Plectranthus, after phylogenetic studies supported its recognition as a phylogenetically distinct genus.