Plectranthus ‘White’

Plectranthus 'White' is the white flowered form of the spreading Plectranthus groundcovers, and it is one of the quickest ways to fill a shaded bed properly. It runs to about 1m across and only 50cm high, with soft, slightly furry leaves and spikes of small white flowers over the warmer months. Planted 60cm apart it knits into continuous cover within a season, faster than most plants that take this much shade.

Why you'll love it

• It covers ground quickly. Stems root as they spread, so a bare, shaded patch closes over in one growing season rather than three.
• Shade is where it wants to be. Part shade suits it best, including the dry, difficult ground under established trees and along a south facing fence.
• White flowers lift a dark corner. Slim spikes of small white blooms carry through the warm months and read clearly against the foliage in low light.
• Low maintenance by nature. Once established it needs a trim and little else, and it takes dry spells better than most soft leaved groundcovers.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 60cm apart on a staggered grid for quick, even cover. That spacing lets the stems meet in one season while leaving room to mulch between the plants at planting time.

Borders and edging. Along a shaded path it makes a soft, low edge that spills slightly over the hard line without swamping it.

Pots and containers. It trails over the rim of a pot and suits a shaded courtyard or a covered balcony, where it is easier to contain than in open ground.

Growing Plectranthus 'White' in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade, or morning sun with afternoon shelter, since hot afternoon sun scorches the leaves. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens and handles humidity well. It is frost tender, so in cool inland and cold southern gardens treat it as a pot plant under cover.

Soil. Free draining soil with compost worked through. It is not fussy about fertility, but it rots in ground that stays wet through winter.

Water and feed. Water twice a week through the first summer while it is running. After that it is drought tolerant, though a deep soak in a long dry spell keeps it looking better. A light spring feed is enough.

Pruning. Shear it back by a third in early spring to stop the centre going bare and woody. Cut leading stems whenever they cross a path or a lawn edge, because this plant keeps moving if you let it.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock only: a small young plant, usually a single rooted cutting with a few pairs of leaves, so it will look slight in the box. For groundcover that is what you want: you are buying enough plants to cover an area.

Expect it to start running within four to six weeks in warm weather and to close the gaps by the end of the first season. Soft foliage can arrive a little limp and recovers within days of being watered in. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider groundcover range.
• The best groundcovers for shaded gardens.
• Compare plants for partial shade.
• Choosing groundcover for a bare bed.

Common questions

How many plants do I need?

At 60cm spacing you need roughly three plants per square metre. Order to that figure rather than planting more tightly, because it spreads quickly and crowded plants simply climb over each other.

Will it grow in full shade?

It prefers part shade and will cope with fairly deep shade, though growth slows and flowering thins out. Under a dense evergreen canopy expect cover to take two seasons instead of one.

Does it spread too far?

It keeps running while conditions suit it, which is the point in a large bed and a nuisance in a small one. A hard edge, or a twice yearly trim, contains it.