Plectranthus zuluensis

Plectranthus zuluensis, Zulu Spurflower, is a multi-branched erect or sprawling tender shrub from South Africa with soft velvety foliage and spectacular racemes of blue tubular flowers with a distinctive spur at the end. The colour combination of the bright lime-green leaves and the blue flowers is unusual and visually very striking.

In the UK, Plectranthus zuluensis is tender and needs to be brought under cover from early October to avoid the first frosts. It can be overwintered in an unheated but frost-free glasshouse but should be protected under fleece. It also makes a superb house plant where space permits and can either be kept year-round indoors or brought in for the winter. Plectranthus zuluensis makes an ideal plant for a cool conservatory and large plants that have been grown outdoors during the summer can be housed in a conservatory for the winter.

Cutting back older growth as it gets leggy is a sensible idea and will invigorate the plant and encourage new growth