Plectranthus fruticosus

Plectranthus fruticosus, the forest spurflower, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal, Northern, and Cape provinces.^[2] Growing up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, it is an erect evergreen shrub, with rounded, hairy leaves, and spikes of soft blue or mauve flowers in summer.

Plectranthus fruticosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Plectranthus
Species:	P. fruticosus
Binomial name
Plectranthus fruticosus L'Hér. (1788)[1]
Synonyms
Germinea urticifolia Lam. Plectranthus arthropodus Briq. Plectranthus behrii Compton Plectranthus charianthus Briq. Plectranthus galpinii Schltr. Plectranthus peglerae T.Cooke Plectranthus urticifolius (Lam.) Salisb.

The Latin specific epithet fruticosus means "shrubby".^[3]

This plant is found throughout the Western Cape and Limpopo regions, enjoying the moist conditions and dappled shade of forest margins.^[4]

It has a long history of cultivation in Europe, where it requires protection from freezing temperatures. Several cultivars are available, of which the pink-flowered 'James' has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[5][6]