Spur Flower

Spur Flower Overview

Plectranthus is a large genus, with approximately 72 annuals or subshrub species native to Southern Africa and Madagascar and one in Sri Lanka. These are characterised by toothed, herbaceous, semi-succulent or succulent foliage that is often fragrant and hirsute. Plants produce spike-like inflorescences, with flowers arranged in whorls or cymes. (In cymes, a central stem produces a flower at its growing tip first, followed by flowers from the ends of subsequent lateral shoots.) Flowers are two-lipped and showy with attractive patterning, coloured a shade of white or purple to blue. After a recent study of the evolutionary development of these plants (phylogenetic), NATAG (RHS Nomenclature and Taxonomy Advisory Group) announced in the March 2021 edition of The Plant Review that some species from Plectranthus have been transferred to Coleus.