Image
May 30, 2012 9:11 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee Anne Stark
Brockville, Ontario, Canada (Zone 5a)
Perpetually happy!
Keeps Goats Forum moderator Frogs and Toads Tip Photographer Keeper of Poultry I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Charter ATP Member Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Region: Canadian
I bought a "menthol plant"
http://www.richters.com/Web_st...

I don't know where to put it's pic in the database...it isn't a "vick's plant", I also have one of those and the leaves and smell are totally different....
Image
May 30, 2012 10:10 AM CST
Name: Monica
Texas Gulf Coast (Zone 9b)
Sweat Weather, Not Sweater Weather
Foliage Fan Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: Gulf Coast Multi-Region Gardener Seed Starter Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Could it be Plectranthus amboinicus? Cuban Oregano (Coleus amboinicus)

It's pretty closely related to Coleus, and in my area people actually use it in cooking, but way too strong for my sensitive taste buds. There's also an attractive white-edged variety.
Image
May 30, 2012 10:19 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee Anne Stark
Brockville, Ontario, Canada (Zone 5a)
Perpetually happy!
Keeps Goats Forum moderator Frogs and Toads Tip Photographer Keeper of Poultry I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Charter ATP Member Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Region: Canadian
It sure looks like it!
Image
May 30, 2012 12:20 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Or could it be this one? I just got it recently and love it.
http://www.rosydawngardens.com...
Image
May 30, 2012 12:48 PM CST
Name: Monica
Texas Gulf Coast (Zone 9b)
Sweat Weather, Not Sweater Weather
Foliage Fan Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: Gulf Coast Multi-Region Gardener Seed Starter Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Lynn and Lee Anne, from the same website as Lynn's citation: "Yes, we sell the plant commonly sold as “Coleus canina.” While being touted as a hybrid Coleus out of Germany, it is actually a Plectranthus, and it grows wild in Africa and India. It has gotten a lot of publicity lately for its ability to repel cats, dogs, rabbits, fox, and other critters looking to urinate on or otherwise desecrate your garden..."

Name is listed in The Plant List.org as Plectranthus caninus. ITIS has no listing for it; only P. amboinicus.

Both look quite similar. Viewing mature plant and flower photos I can't tell the difference; maybe P. caninus has a slightly brighter flower. Perhaps the vital difference is that P. caninus has an very objectionable odor to many posters on various forums, while P. amboinicus has a very strong oregano scent and can be used in cooking.

Have you crushed a leaf and taken a good whiff? The real test....would you put these leaves in your spahgetti?
Image
May 30, 2012 2:18 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing I would not put mine in my spaghetti. Crying
I just went out and took this photo of mine. Time to put it into the big pot along with the
Image
May 30, 2012 3:08 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lee Anne Stark
Brockville, Ontario, Canada (Zone 5a)
Perpetually happy!
Keeps Goats Forum moderator Frogs and Toads Tip Photographer Keeper of Poultry I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Charter ATP Member Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Region: Canadian
Mine has very soft fuzzy, almost velvety leaves, thick like a succulent's leaves...no oregano smell but a very strong menthol smell. I wouldn't put it in spaghetti, but I would use it if I had a stuffy nose...
You must first create a username and login before you can reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by RootedInDirt and is called "Botanical Gardens"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.