Plectranthus montanus (Camphor Spur Flower, Mentholatum Plant, Vick's Plant)
Botanical Information
| Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Plectranthus |
| Species | montanus |
| Synonyms | Burnatastrum cylindraceum, Coleus subbaraoi, Geniosporum fissum, Geniosporum lasiostachyum, Germanea cylindracea, Plectranthus cylindraceus |
| Category | Perennials, Tropicals |
| Origin | Congo and Democratic Republic of the Congo to Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, south to south Africa In the Arabian Peninsula including Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. India. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | The plant is used in the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints, pain, infections and fevers. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 5 – 10 |
| Height | 30 - 200 cm |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A fleshy, perennial plant. |
| Propagation | By seed or stem cuttings. |
| Cultivation | Grow in in full sun or shade in a fertile well-drained soil. |
| Notable Specimens | Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. |
| Habitat | Rock outcrops, dry Acacia-Commiphora bushland and dry evergreen bushland; at elevations from 500 - 2,400 metres, occasionally descending to 250 metres. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Erect or ascending stems that can become more or less woody, especially near the base; it can grow 30 - 200 cm tall. The stems are scandent or prostrate, sometimes forming clumps. |
| Leaf Description | Petiolate with blades fleshy, broadly ovate to sub-orbicular, rhombic, or reniform, 4-10 cm long, 3-9 cm wide, rounded to truncate and then often long-attenuate at base, obtuse to rounded at apex, coarsely crenate to dentate at margins or entire toward base, densely appressed-pubescent above and beneath; petiole 1-4.5 cm long. |
Photographs
Plectranthus montanus, form, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
Plectranthus montanus, leaf, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.