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Plectranthus amboinicus
The houseplant prefers a habitat with moderately diffused light.
Water regularly, like a typical houseplant.
It is said to tolerate short-term temperatures as low as -6.7 °C. However, the plant is not hardy.
It smells fresh and can be used as a medicinal plant. Due to its widespread use, it is used all over the world to combat colds, flus and other illnesses.
Plectranthus amboinicus, Cuban oregano or Coleus amboinicus, is a perennial herb with distinctively aromatic leaves. These leaves are quite often used as a substitute for oregano. Its origins probably date back to Ambon Island of the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, where it was most likely found. The epithet "amboinicus" is indicative of this location. It is also found in the area from Kenya to Angola, Mozambique, Eswatini (Swaziland) and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It grows in sparse forests and amongst scrub on rocky slopes and sandy sites at lower altitudes.
The hairy leaves are ovate to delta-shaped with finely serrated margins. They grow up to 4.5 cm long and 4 cm wide and are attached to the stem by a petiole up to 1 cm long. It has many semi-flexed stems bearing fleshy, green and highly aromatic leaves. The stems are also fleshy, cylindrical to almost quadrangular and grow up to 1,5 m long and 0,7 cm in diameter. They grow green when young and turn brown over time.
From late summer to autumn they decorate the surroundings with purple or whitish flowers.
We do not fertilize or chemically treat when growing to send you a plant that is healthy. It can help fight cold sores or other diseases. The ornamental Plectranthus amboinicuss with its aromatic leaves will freshen up any room and has practical uses too.