Swedish Ivy Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender'
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Swedish Ivy:
- Phonetic Spelling
- plek-TRAN-thus
- Description
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Mona Lavender is a herbaceous perennial in the mint family and is a hybrid of 2 southern African parents. This is a small shrub reaching 1-2 feet tall and wide. In NC it is grown as a houseplant. The lavender 2-lipped flowers have specks of purple and appear on spikes of purple stems. This plant starts blooming when the days get shorter in fall and will often bloom into spring. The shiny dark green leaves are ornamental with purple undersides. Pinch the stems to maintain a bushy rounded form.
Mona Lavender prefers partial shade in humusy moist soil with good drainage. Grow indoors or place outside in spring where it can receive morning sun to full shade and where you can enjoy the blooms and ornamental foliage.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Plepalila'
- 'Plepalila'
- 'Plepalila'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Plepalila'
- 'Plepalila'
- 'Plepalila'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Plectranthus
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Showy 2-lipped lavender flowers with specks of purple occur on spikes of purple stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy dark green leaves have purple undersides. Margins toothed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Purple stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
