‘Mona Lavender’ is a hybrid form of Plectranthus that resulted from a cross in the 1990s between two South African evergreen species, P. saccatus and P. hilliardiae ssp. autrale ‘Magwa’. It has the parental characteristics of both plants, with both bright leaves and lavender-colored flowers. The pretty purple, two-lipped flowers of ‘Mona Lavender’ open along a purple stem that protrudes above glossy, egg-shaped leaves that are green on the upper side and purple on the underside. Care requirements are very similar to other Plectranthus plants. This hardy little tropical plant is easy to grow and thrives with minimal care. The botanical name is derived from two Greek words: ‘plectron’, meaning spur, and ‘anthos’, meaning flower. (Plectranthus plants are often called spurflowers.) It is a member of the mint family and is closely related to coleus and the common lawn weed, ground ivy.
‘Mona Lavender’ is a cold-sensitive plant that is very often grown as a houseplant. However, in zones 10 and 11, it can be planted in the garden as a perennial in spring, where it will serve as a broad-leaf evergreen that blooms as summer days shorten and into winter.1
The best feature of this perennial is how easy it is to grow both indoors and outdoors. ‘Mona Lavender’ thrives indoors as a houseplant and is also an easy shrubby perennial when planted outside in warm climates. It brings year-round beauty to your garden with pretty foliage and flowers that appear in late summer and bloom into the winter months.
Plectranthus is considered a short-day plant and goes into blooming mode as the days get shorter, and its growth slows down as temperatures warm and days get longer. If you grow it as a garden plant in a region with mild winter temperatures, you can expect your plants to bloom evenly and steadily from late summer into spring. Just remember that light determines both leaf and flower color—the brighter the light, the richer the color will be. When grown as a houseplant, ‘Mona Lavender’ needs as much bright, indirect light as possible to achieve its maximum effect.
A location with bright, indirect light is ideal for this perennial, preferably with some direct morning sun. It appreciates afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. The plant will tolerate full shade, but the foliage colors and flowers will not be as intense.
When choosing soil, choose a well-drained, slightly acidic (pH 5.6–6.5) variety with organic matter. Choose rich, loamy soil that drains well.
‘Mona Lavender’ grows best when it is regularly and evenly hydrated. It is considered a thirsty plant and should be watered every few days when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, but make sure the soil is well-draining to avoid root rot.
Although this plant prefers year-round temperatures of 15 to 26 degrees Celsius, as a garden plant ‘Mona Lavender’ will tolerate short periods of light frost and temperatures as low as -4 or -1 degrees Celsius.
‘Mona Lavender’ can be fertilized every six to ten weeks with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer. Follow the product label directions for the amount to use. In alkaline soils, fertilizing with an acidifying fertilizer can improve both leaf color and blooms. During the short days when ‘Mona Lavender’ is in bloom, it is best to avoid fertilizing and only start again when blooms subside.2
‘Mona Lavender’ is a first-generation hybrid cross between P. saccatus and P. hilliardiae ssp. autrale ‘Magwa’, and there are no other varieties of this cross. However, there are other Plectranthus species that are similar plants:
Plectranthus ciliatus is sometimes called Blue Spurwort. The cultivar ‘Troy’s Gold’ has green leaves with cream-colored edges that resemble those of coleus. The cultivar ‘Zulu Wonder’ looks very similar to ‘Mona Lavender’, with purple leaf undersides.
Plectranthus oertendahlii is sometimes sold as Swedish ivy (it is very popular in this country) or Brazilian coleus (it was previously classified in the genus Coleus). The leaf surfaces are green with silver markings, the undersides are deep red. But there are also many varieties with differenthen leaf variations.
The genera Plectranthus and Coleus are very closely related, and many species have swapped places in recent years, moving from Coleus to Plectranthus and vice versa.
Although this plant does not require much pruning, you can trim young plants regularly to encourage branching and fuller, bushier growth. Long growing stems can also be cut off (if you wish, these can be rooted to propagate new plants).
Regularly cut off new stem tips to help the plant maintain its compact shape and form, aand remove the flower heads after flowering.
The easiest method to propagate new plants is to take stem cuttings and root them. The process is similar to coleus, which can be easily rooted either in a porous rooting mix or simply by hanging the cutting in water until roots form. Propagation can be done almost anytime, but is often done in the fall to further propagate plants grown outdoors. If you take cuttings in the fall, root them indoors, and pot them up in the winter, you will have healthy, adult plants that can return to the patio or garden in the spring. Here’s a simple method for doing this:
Take 4-6 inch cuttings from the tips of healthy plants. Pluck off any flowers or flower buds and remove leaves from the bottom third of the stem.
Suspend the cutting in a jar of clean water and place it in a location with bright, indirect light (the cutting can also be planted immediately in a porous potting mix if you prefer).
Watch the cutting carefully, adding water as it evaporates from the jar and replacing it if it turns yellow or brownish.
When a good root network has developed, plant the cutting in a container of commercial potting mix and continue to grow the plant in bright, indirect light.
If the new plant becomes too leggy, pinch off the stems to force bushier growth. In spring, when there is no longer any danger of frost, the new plant can be moved outside or planted in the garden. Be sure to harden it off first by allowing the plant to spend increasingly longer periods outdoors over the course of a week or two.
Because ‘Mona Lavender’ is so easy to propagate from stem cuttings and ‘Mona Lavender’ is a hybrid variety, seed propagation is not done very often. Seeds taken from the plant will not grow like the parent plant because it is a hybrid variety. However, you can buy ‘Mona Lavender’ seeds from a reputable company if you cannot find live plants at local nurseries.
Sow the seeds indoors in seedling trays or small pots filled with a seed-starting mix about six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. Sow the seeds shallowly and just barely cover them with the mix. Place the trays or pots in a bright location (but not in direct sunlight) at a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The seedlings usually emerge after seven to 14 days.
When the seedlings hatch, place them in direct sunlight or under a fluorescent grow light so they have eight hours of darkness each night. When the seedlings are three to four weeks old and have at least two sets of true leaves, fertilize them with a half-strength solution of houseplant fertilizer.
Harden off the seedlings for a week before planting them outdoors. Be sure to bring the seedlings indoors if freezing temperatures are expected. This hardening off process hardens the plant cells and minimizes transplant shock.3
If you are growing Plectranthrus in containers, be sure to choose a soilless medium that is suitable for use in pots. Any potting material will work, but make sure the pot is well-drained. When grown indoors, ‘Mona Lavender’ does best in a spot near a bright east or south-facing window. When temperatures rise above freezing in late spring, you can move your plant outside for the summer. Protect ‘Mona Lavender’ from afternoon sun as much as possible, as this plant will not thrive in extreme heat.
Repot your ‘Mona Lavender’ plant every one to two years into a larger container (1 to 2 times wider than the current one) and use a well-draining potting mix. Or you can propagate a stem cutting and discard the mother plant.
‘Mona Lavender’ plants grown in the garden in warm climates typically begin blooming in fall and winter and require supplemental water during this time. Fertilizer should be avoided, as this stimulates leaf growth at the expense of flowering. The same goes for plants grown indoors if you want them to flower profusely.
‘Mona Lavender’ is very frost sensitive, so if you live in an area with sub-zero temperatures, it’s important to bring potted plants that are outdoors indoors — or take cuttings to propagate them indoors — if you want your ‘Mona Lavender’ plants to survive the winter.
Like other Plectranthus species, ‘Mona Lavender’ is largely pest and disease free when planted outdoors, provided it’s grown in good, well-draining soil. Occasional pests may include whiteflies, aphids and spider mites during the summer months. Horticultural oils can control these pests if they become serious, but natural predators often take care of them without any intervention. Pests are sometimes more problematic when ‘Mona Lavender’ is grown indoors as a houseplant.
Diseases include leaf spot, stem rot and root rot, all of which are more likely in wet conditions or when the plants are grown in dense, poorly draining soil.4
Because it typically blooms in fall and winter, it surprises many people who expect a typical blooming season in spring and summer. Therefore, with the exception of gardeners in the Deep South, Plectranthus is more commonly grown indoors as a houseplant. To enjoy lush blooms indoors, you must provide the plant with plenty of bright light. If the plant doesn’t bloom, it’s usually due to too little light or too much nitrogen fertilizer. Over-fertilizing will cause these plants to develop leaves, but can affect flowering. It’s best to skip fertilizing when these plants enter the blooming season and then start again in the spring.
Aside from the usual pests that affect many houseplants, ‘Mona Lavender’ is largely problem-free. However, it can tend to become leggy and sparse, especially indoors where it is notgets enough bright, indirect light. This is a common problem in northern climates where daylight hours are short in winter. This can be remedied by severely pruning leggy stems and giving the plants the brightest indoor locations you can find – usually a south or east facing window.
If you notice the leaves curling, this is always a sign that the plants need water. These plants love moisture but also need good drainage to prevent root rot.
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