Mona Lavender Spur Flower

Mona Lavender Spur Flower (Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender') is a compact perennial that saves its best show for the quiet end of the year, carrying spikes of purple flowers from autumn into winter above glossy leaves backed in deep purple. It grows quickly to about 70cm tall and 60cm wide, which makes it one of the fastest ways to fill a shaded border or a run of pots with colour.

Why you'll love it

• Colour when the garden goes quiet. The purple spikes appear as the days shorten, flowering from autumn into winter when little else performs.
• Two tone foliage. Leaves are glossy green above and rich purple beneath, so the plant looks dressed even out of flower.
• Fast and forgiving. It reaches full size within a season or two, tolerates heat and humidity, and asks for very little.
• Feeds the pollinators. Bees and butterflies work the flowers at a time of year when forage is scarce.
• Sized for real gardens. At 70cm by 60cm it tucks under trees, along paths and into pots without taking over.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 40cm apart for a full massed display along a path or bed edge. The mounded habit stays neat without constant clipping.

Pots and balconies. A 250mm or larger pot in bright shade suits it well, and a group of three carries a shaded courtyard through winter.

Mass planting under trees. It thrives in bright dappled shade at the edge of a tree canopy where lawn gives up, planted at the same spacing.

Growing Mona Lavender in Australia

Position and climate. Morning sun or bright dappled shade is ideal; hot afternoon sun bleaches the foliage. It grows outdoors year round in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. It is frost tender, so in colder districts grow it in a pot and shift it under a veranda before the first frost.

Soil. Moist, well drained soil with compost worked through. In pots, use a premium potting mix.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the warm months, easing off in winter. A liquid feed every few weeks from spring to autumn keeps the foliage glossy and the spikes coming.

Pruning. Pinch the tips of young plants to build a dense mound, and cut spent flower spikes back to a leaf pair. A harder tidy in early spring refreshes the whole plant.

What to expect when it arrives

Mona Lavender is sold in 140mm pots in packs of 10, the practical format for a plant used in edging runs and massed drifts. Each plant arrives leafy and ready to grow, and at this size they establish almost immediately, usually flowering in their first autumn. They travel well, and any leaves lost in transit are replaced within weeks in warm weather. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse all flowering plants
• More plants for partial shade
• Plants suited to mass planting
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants

Common questions

When does it flower?

Flowering is triggered by shortening days, so the main display runs from autumn into winter. In warm frost free gardens the spikes keep coming for months.

How far apart should I plant it?

Space plants 40cm apart for a massed display that closes into a continuous drift within a season. As a single accent in a mixed bed, give each plant about 60cm of room.

Will it survive frost?

No, it is frost tender and a hard frost will cut it to the ground or kill it. In frost prone districts grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter.

Is it safe around pets?

Toxicity reports across this plant group are mixed, so we do not sell it as a pet friendly plant. Position it where a dog or cat that chews foliage cannot reach it.