Family: Lamiaceae
Common name: Mona Lavender, Spur flower, Lavender spur flower, Swedish Ivy
Mona Lavenders are beautiful sturdy flowering plants, that are grown as ornamentals for their dark green leaves and bright purple flowers.
They are formed by hybridizing two other plants, Plectranthus hilliardiae and Plectranthus saccatus, combining the favorable properties of both. They grow well in tropical and temperate weather. But they have to be moved indoors or grown in greenhouses during winter.
Plant Characteristics
Mona lavender is a short shrubby plant that only grows to a height of .4-.6 m with a well-branched stem. The stem has a distinct purple tinge and is square in cross-section, like those of the other Lamiaceae plants like mint or Tulsi.
The stems as well as young buds and leaves are covered with small white hairs that give the plant a fussy texture.
Leaves of the Mona lavender are dark green on the upper surface and purple on the lower surface. They are roughly oval in shape, with a serrated margin and pointy tip. Each leaf is 4-6 cm long and has a slightly rough texture because of the presence of oil glands.
Flowers of the Mona lavender are very pretty and distinctive – long tubular, purple, and two-lipped, growing on spikes that are about 15 cm long. These flowers bloom during fall and spring in temperate weather. In tropical weather, they seem to bloom during spring and summer.
Fruits or seeds are not commonly seen in house plant and hence they are propagated by vegetative methods.
Gardening Tips
Mona lavender plants need indirect sunlight and seem to thrive in partial shade. They need well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter to help the plant bloom well.
Regular watering is needed without which the tender stems of the plant might droop and die.
Fertilize once a month with a well-balanced fertilizer that has a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to enable growth and flowering.
Pruning can be done after the flowering season to remove the spent flowerheads and also to keep the plant bushy.
Mona lavender plants need regular care and attention since they are fast-growing plants that flower regularly.
Uses of Mona lavender
Mona lavender plants are grown as ornamentals in tropical and temperate weather because of their beautiful foliage and bright purple flowers. These flowers can attract pollinators to the garden and are thus beneficial to other plants as well.
These plants can be grown in pots or flower beds, in combination with other plants as a layered garden. Belonging to the Lamiaceae family, the Mona lavender leaves have a slight fragrance when crushed, but they are not used in cooking.
Propagation
Propagation is through stem cuttings.
Since normal house plants do not produce fruits or seeds, propagation is through stem cuttings. 15 to 20 cm long stem cuttings with nodes, taken from healthy plants can be planted in moist soil after dipping their ends in rooting hormone. These cuttings can generate roots in 6 to 8 days, and grow quickly, producing flowers every season.
Photographed at: Sulthan Bathery, Kerala
