Plectranthus ciliatus

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Plectranthus ciliatus is a trailing, shade-loving spur flower that the grower marks as a good houseplant as well as a container plant. Low and spreading at 20-60 cm (8-24 in), it is ideal for a hanging pot, a shelf indoors, or a shaded balcony trough.

Quick Details

• Container Size: A small-to-medium pot or hanging basket, potting up as it fills
• Indoor Suitability: A good houseplant in bright, indirect light
• Best Spot: Half to full shade; bright indirect light indoors
• Soil & Drainage: Aerated, free-draining mix
• Watering in Pots: Modest and steady – it likes small to average water; let the surface dry slightly and never waterlog

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• A real houseplant: Grow it in bright, indirect light; its trailing habit suits a hanging pot or a high shelf where the stems can cascade.
• Windowsill: A bright sill out of harsh direct sun keeps the foliage colourful and compact.
• Overwintering: Tender, so keep it as a potted plant indoors over a cold winter; it roots very easily from cuttings if you want backups.

On a Balcony or Patio

• Light & shelter: A shaded or part-shaded balcony suits it best; keep it out of strong midday sun and drying wind, and check pot moisture in warm weather.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• Pot & drainage: A pot or basket with strong drainage holes; skip a standing-water saucer to avoid root rot.
• Potting mix: A well-aerated, organic-rich mix – peat or coir with perlite or vermiculite.
• Feeding: Feed lightly but regularly in growth, as pots leach nutrients faster; pinch tips to keep it full.
• Repotting: Refresh the mix or pot up every couple of years, or simply restart from cuttings.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Summer to autumn
• Flower Appearance: Small white-and-purple flowers carried on upright stalks above the foliage
• Edibility: Ornamental only — grown for foliage and flowers, not eaten

Detailed Blooming Overview

This spurflower is grown mainly as a handsome, shade-tolerant groundcover, but in late summer and autumn it lifts slender spikes of small two-lipped flowers in white washed with purple above the scalloped leaves. As a member of the mint family the blooms are lightly aromatic and draw in bees. The flowering is a gentle, airy accent rather than a bold display.

Flower Characteristics

• Small white-purple two-lipped flowers on upright stalks.
• Typical mint-family shape; lightly aromatic and attractive to bees.

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Tidy up: Cut back old flower stalks in spring along with any tired leaves to keep the planting fresh.