Origin and Habitat: South Africa (Eastern Cape and Limpopo) Zimbabwe, Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen)
Habitat: Grows among rocks in savanna woodland regions.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Plectranthus hadiensis
Common Names include:
ZULU (isiZulu): Inkunkwini, Imbozisa, Ilozane, Iboza Lehlati
Description: Plectranthus hadiensisSN|19641]]SN|19641]] is a perennial, semi-succulent herb or branched subshrubs with aromatic leaves.
Habit: Decumbent to semi-erect sparingly branched to 1,5 m in diameter;
Roots: Fibrous.
Stems: Variably hairy, squarish, succulent, without a tuberous base
Leaves: 10-80 mm long, 8-55 mm wide
cm Bright green to grey-green, ovate-triangular, ovate to rounded, succulent, opposite, surface densely glandular with velvety hairy and coarse from indentations on the upper surface of the complex network of veins. The margins are crenate-dentate with 5 - 10 pairs of teeth. lower face with reddish Gland-dots, tip acute to rounded.
base cuneate to subcordate;
Inflorescences: 50 cm tall, terminal, spaced subspicate clusters 8-28-flowered on single racemes or sometimes branched into simple panicles.
Flowers; Individual flowers l-3 cm apart, sessile or with a 2-4 mm long pedicel, 8 - l3 mm wide, deep violet, purple, light blue or occasionally white and variably hairy. Bracts broadly ovate to orbicular, early deciduous, to 4 mm; tube about 5 mm long, deflexed in the middle and expanding to the throat; four stamens lie in the lower elaborately curved lip of the corolla.
Fruits: 5-6 mm.
Seeds: Shiny, brown nutlets about 0,8 mm in diameter.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Plectranthus hadiensis group
Cultivation and Propagation: Plectranthus are of easy culture - need little attention - and are quite hardy in a cool, well-lit conservatory or glasshouse, but grow well in a bright spot in the house too, need full sun to partial shade or high interior lighting with a well-drained soil mix.. They do well outside in partial shade with good drainage. The plants are regularly watered and allowed to dry before watering again, pay attention don't overwater as stems may rot at the soil line. Some suggest to water just enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling this keep the plants more compact and enhances the leaves scent. Fertilizer is applied only once during the growing season and it is diluted to ½ strength. If too much water is used, the leaves will turn yellow and get mushy. During the winter months, keep them quite dry or only water enough to keep the leaves from shriveling. Avoid freezing temperatures. The plants will vine but can be pinched to keep compact.
Propagation. From soft-wood cuttings at any time during the growing season.