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Australian Native Plants

Help with plant identification

10 years ago

Hi all. This plant was grown from an easily rooted cutting and is living happily in terrible soil with very little water in my Brisbane back yard. It is reminiscent of Coleus canina, but does not have varigated leaves. It does have a slightly unpleasant smell though. I would love to know what it is, any help greatly appreciated!

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Comments (5)

alisonlhart
Original Author
10 years ago
By the way, I originally posted this request for ID on the succulent page as I am sure it is a succulent, but someone suggested I list it here as they thought it was an Australian native, though I do not believe that it is. Thanks Alison
alisonoz_gw
10 years ago
I think it's a Plectranthus. Though Australia does have native ones, this looks a little more like P. neochilus... or similar.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=plectranthus+neochilus&rlz=1C1CHMO_en-GBAU666AU666&espv=2&biw=1200&bih=898&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiusbK8lITPAhVFVZQKHTHiDtUQ_AUIBigB
alisonlhart thanked alisonoz_gw
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the pic closeup... fails to provide a scale ... how long are those leaves??? it reminds me of https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Cerastium+tomentosum+&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images aka snow in the summer... but i have no idea what or how it is doing in AZ ... lol .. as i said.. you just triggered a childhood memory ... i cant fathom thats what it is ... ken
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Compare with descriptions of balsam fir. Unfortunately this is about the worst time of year to look at foliage characters because the winter buds are not present - all you will have to go by is the leaves. (And of course if the plant was old enough to be coning you could use those to identify it).
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alisonlhart
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you. Yes, I think I am going to go with the plentcanthus neochilus. Much appreciated. Shame about the odour as it is such a spectacular flowerer. Any suggestions on similar plants without the smell would be welcome!
alisonoz_gw
10 years ago
Since it's so pretty... and I'll bet the bees love it... and you probably aren't going to roll in it... I'd just enjoy the splendour. Anything that will survive SEQ's unreliable rains and thrives on neglect, has my vote :-)
alisonlhart thanked alisonoz_gw
alisonlhart
Original Author
10 years ago
I agree Alison (though I haven't noticed any bees, I think the conditions lately have done terrible things to their numbers). I have just moved it (by propagating some more) away from my back door, where it has been a little too fragrant when I sit for my morning coffee. When it has finished flowering I will pull it out and I will need to find something else hardy, low, drought tolerant and attractive to take its place. The sunny parts of my garden are full of various succulents, geraniums, chilli, salvia, angelonia, shasta, osteopernum, chrysanthemums a few natives - all the tough old plants that can do the distance in this tricky climate with unpredicatable rainfall. I now just need to find something else this low, this dense, and with this many flowers that can cope in a harsh position. Always on the lookout... an addict!

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