Plectranthus Species, Blue Coleus, Fly Bush, Lobster Flower, Mosquito Bush, Smelly Spur Flower

For me zone 9a is the limit for this plant. Almost completely died after -7º C, but regrow quicky in summer time from the few stems that survive.

I am growing Plectranthus neochilus in L.A. with no troubles - vigorous but not invasive here. The smell for me and others in my neighbor...Read Morehood is oddly nice - mildly musky/skunky if you stick your nose right into it - but the smell does not carry on the air. It flowered profusely after one full year growth. Because it is such a vigorous grower, I have given successful cuttings (no roots necessary - propogates like a true succuent) to many people. Hummingbirds are attracted to it; but it didn't get its nicknames for nothing - "dog gone" and 'scaredy cat" - mammals hate it. With a drought on it gets a slow drip for a few minutes 2x per week and is just fine with only afternoon sun. I think in a tropical or wet climate it could become invasive but in Mediterranean climate like L.A. it's very useful and attractive; d a good filler for spaces that don't seem to want anything else.

Awful. The worst plant I've ever cultivated. I purchased it at a plant sale where it was misidentified as 'Ala'ala wai nui wahine, a nati...Read Moreve Hawaiian member of the same genus (P. parviflorus). It was said by the vendor that it would be perfect for a barren, dry clay embankment; With no supplemental water or fertilization it did cover the entire area, and it was doing so well that I became suspicious. It was easy to identify because of its absolutely hideous scent: some describe it as smelling like Cannabis, others like rotting fish; It's stomach-turning. This plant has been identified as an invasive species in Hawaii and we are thus asked to remove it, so I'm now in the position of removing huge swathes of this curse of a plant, which isn't easy because it easily roots from cuttings left behind in the soil. I can understand why some would like this plant: it's bug-free, low-maintenance, and is appropriate for xeriscapes. Nonetheless, I advise caution when planting Plectranthus neochilus. One final note: this plant attracts both slugs and curious neighbors; both seem to be strangely attracted to the bizarre smell.

I have found this plant to be VERY effective at keeping gophers away. Got this from a neighbor. What she told me to do - and which has ...Read Moreworked amazingly well - was to just put the plant still in its pot at the gopher hole and the gophers would go away and not return. It worked!!! Since it is a no-brainer to pinch off a short stem and stick it into the ground to grow, we have put a line of very small cuttings about 3-4' apart along one property line and have had no gophers in that area since then (about 8 months ago). I also put a tiny cutting at some of the existent gopher holes (they were very busy for a few days last fall) and none of those gophers came back. Honestly, if I hadn't used it myself I wouldn't have believed it. She said she planted them all around her property line and hasn't had a gopher since.