Plant Profile
Plectranthus Ecklonii
Common names: Medley Wood
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Frost :
Sub Shrub
Up to 1.25 m
None
Indigenous
None
Lots of water
Enriched Soil
Sheltered, warm position
Some Frost
Plectranthus ecklonii has a wide distribution from Somerset east in the Eastern Cape to Barberton in Mpumalanga. It is confined to moist coastal subtropical and afrotemperate Forest and forest margins. It is common in the under-storey at forest margins or on wooded stream banks.
P. ecklonii is a fast growing pioneer shrub and very suited for shady gardens. Prune back hard after flowering during midwinter.
It will flower profusely the first season after planting. Plant about 60 cm apart.
Foliage
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The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs on the square stems, the latter with tufts of purplish hairs along the nodes. The ovate to elliptical leaves are fairly large 74-190 x 35-115 mm bearing a wedge shaped base and acute apex.
The leaves are unusual in that they leave a nicotine-like stain on the skin if they are crushed and rubbed.
Flower
Time : Colour :
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Autumn
Light Purple , Purple , Dark Purple , Lilac , Lavender , Purple Blue
Unspecified
Unspecified
- Flower morphology
The inflorescence is a terminal panicle to 370 mm long. The two-lipped corolla is 15-24 mm long, bluish-purple, rarely pink or white with a straight tube. Plants flower during autumn, from March to May with a peak in April.
NOTES
There are 3 cultivars of P. ecklonii:P. ecklonii Medley-Wood the common garden cultivar with blue flowers.P. ecklonii Tommy with white flowers.P. ecklonii Erma with pink flowers.
