Browse plants / Lamiaceae
Silver plectranthus Plectranthus argentatus
When it flowers
- January, flowering
- February, flowering
- March, flowering
- April, flowering
- May, not flowering
- June, not flowering
- July, not flowering
- August, not flowering
- September, not flowering
- October, not flowering
- November, not flowering
- December, flowering
Soft, silvery-leaved plant for shade, with spikes of pale lilac flowers in summer.
A fast, soft-stemmed shrub with large, velvety silver leaves that brighten shady spots. Pale lilac and white flower spikes appear in summer and autumn. Rare in the wild but easy in gardens.
In the garden
- Leaves
- Large, soft, velvety silver-grey leaves.
- Attracts
- Pollinating insects and butterflies
- Flowers
- Spikes of small pale lilac and white flowers.
Growing conditions
- Climate
- Subtropical and temperate
- Light
- Part shade to full shade
- Soil
- Sandy, loam and clay
- Drainage
- Needs good drainage
- Frost
- Light frost
- Water
- Some dry spells
Planting and care
- Grown from
- Cuttings
Planting
Part shade to shade. Space 1 m apart. Grows well in pots.
Pruning
Cut back by half in late winter to keep it compact.
Care
Water in dry spells. Easy to replace from cuttings when it gets woody.
Where it comes from
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Order
- Lamiales
- Native to
- New South Wales and Queensland
- Natural range
- Rocky rainforest margins on the Queensland and NSW border.
Where to buy
Widely available.
We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.
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Further reading
- Plectranthus argentatus on the Atlas of Living Australia (Atlas of Living Australia)
Native nurseries near you
An independent list of nurseries that specialise in Australian native plants. Nobody pays to be on it. Distances are approximate and in a straight line. Opening hours and stock vary, so check before you go.