Plant Guide

Other Names:  Candleplant, Spur Flower

Description:

Attractive spikes of white flowers are impressive when massed above green foliage with silver veins and purple undersides; mounded form should be occasionally trimmed to maintain shape; a lovely addition to the garden or containers; heat tolerant

Ornamental Features

Emerald Lace Plectranthus features showy spikes of white flowers rising above the foliage from mid spring to late fall. Its attractive serrated heart-shaped leaves remain green in color with distinctive silver veins and tinges of purple throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Emerald Lace Plectranthus is an herbaceous annual with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Emerald Lace Plectranthus is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Emerald Lace Plectranthus will grow to be only 5 inches tall at maturity extending to 8 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 10 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

Emerald Lace Plectranthus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.