PLECTRANTHUS ERNSTII

This plant was discovered by Ernst van Jaarsveld in 1982, and then described by Leslie Edward Wastell Codd. Found in the Natal Province in Southern Africa. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family. It prefer a well-drained soil, some water and some sun. The swollen stem grows to five centimetres in diameter and 30 centimetres high. The flowers are white with a shine of blue or purple.

The genera name from the Greek plektron; 'spur' and anthos; 'flower', referring to the spurred flowers. The species name after Ernst van Jaarsveld, a South African botanist and horticulturist. The first one outside Africa was brought to Copenhagen Botanical Garden by gardener Jørgen Damgaard. Latest experiments shows a significant improvement in growth in plastic pots compared to clay. Somehow, the spelling Plectranthus ern e stii seems to be popular! They may have changed the name, when they found out Ernst didn't spell his name "Ernest". They are actually a bit more blue than this photo shows. Close-up of a leaf edge.