Tickled by Cat Whiskers

I was tickled to discover a new plant this year: Orthosiphon aristatus, commonly called Cat Whiskers.It is an unusual plant that comes from the tropics, native to Southeast Asia and Australia. It has beautiful ethereal blooms with long white stamens that look very much like kitty whiskers, thus inspiring its common name. 

This is a fast growing perennial herb in USDA zones 9-11. In my zone 7b/8a climate it will be an annual. It is not always an easy plant to find. It will grow from seed, but it is much easier to propagate by cuttings. It roots easily in water or soil, so I plan to try to keep some cuttings over winter to replant next spring. 

The striking flower spikes come in white or shades of blue. Mine has white blooms with a faint hint of blue. The flowers fairly glow and would look fantastic in an evening garden. The plant forms a bushy, medium to deep green clump up to 4' high by 3' wide. Mine has been in the ground a couple of months and is about half that large. It will bloom summer into fall and attracts both butterflies and hummingbirds. With its upright growth and spiky flowers, Cat Whiskers will look good with many other garden plants. Use in the mixed border or as an accent plant in the herb or flower garden. 

Cat Whiskers will grow in full sun to partial shade, though it will bloom best with more sun. This plant likes rich soil and plenty of water. It loves summer heat, but it appreciates a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch to conserve moisture during hot, dry weather. Removing spent blooms will encourage development of new blooms and will promote density of the plant's architecture. Cat Whiskers is not picky about fertilization, but for maximum blooms fertilize once or twice in spring or summer, more often if it is grown in a pot. 

A member of the mint family, in some cultures Orthosiphon aristatus also has a long history as a medicinal plant known as Java Tea and is used to treat kidney symptoms.

Add Some Spice With Plectranthus

Call it whatever you want, but chances are you will love Plectranthus amboinicus. It is an herb with many names, including Mexican mint, Indian borage, Spanish thyme, and big thyme. I know it as Cuban oregano, though it did not originate in Cuba. In fact, in Cuba it is commonly called French oregano! Nor is it oregano. A member of the mint family, the leaves emit a powerful aroma when crushed or rubbed against. The scent is a cross between sage and oregano, but the plant is more closely related to coleus than to either sage or oregano. It is not a surprise that one can find the plant also listed as Coleus amboinicus. 

Native to southern and eastern Africa, plectranthus is used as a culinary herb in many parts of the world. It can be substituted for sage or oregano and is used in salsas, salad dressings, herb breads, and stuffing for meats. The peppery taste of the raw leaves becomes sweet when cooked, and in India they are often battered and fried. Traditionally, this herb has many medicinal uses as well. A tea can be made from the leaves that is useful for sore throats, headache, cough, and various viral infections.

Well! All that, and I grow it because it is beautiful. It is available in plain and variegated forms. I love this variegated form of Cuban oregano. The leaves and stems are somewhat hairy.This specimen is planted in partial sun in my woodland garden.

Cuban oregano also grows on my patio in an herb pot along with dill and mint.
Last year I grew Cuban oregano as a companion to other plants in a large container.While primarily a foliage plant, plectranthus does produce delicate pink or blue flowers in late summer to early fall. It can grow up to 20 inches tall and may have a sprawling habit, making it perfect to spill over the edge of a hanging basket or pot. Allowed to spread, it makes a good ground cover. It does best in sun to shade in moist soil with lots of organic matter. Unpalatable to deer, Plectranthus is usually pest free. Cuban oregano is hardy in zones 9-11. It is quite cold sensitive, but in cooler regions it can overwinter as an attractive houseplant. Cuttings root easily in damp soil or water.

Special note: Thanks is due to Elephant's Eye, a South African blogger whose suggestion prompted this post. This one is for you, Diana!