Is Plectranthus Madagascariensis Edible?

Is Plectranthus Madagascariensis edible?

Plectranthus Madagascariensis is a tropical plant that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine in Madagascar, Africa and Asia.

It is used in some Asian cuisines including Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. The flowers are good served with salad or as a salad ingredient in their own right.

You can eat the leaves raw even when they are just starting to grow so it is a good plant to grow in your herb garden. The leaves and stems are good in salads – they can be finely chopped or grated.

The flowers are very decorative and are best served as a garnish to a main dish – for example chicken salad.

How do you grow Madagascariensis?

Plants develop quickly, and if planted in the spring, they should be of a fair size by the time they flower in the autumn. They may not flower in their first autumn if planted late in the summer.

They love situations that are lightly shaded. Pruning is not strictly necessary with this species, although it is recommended on a regular basis to revitalize the plant and restore the desired shape.

Plants don’t need much more nutrition, but they can be supplemented with a healthy covering of compost and/or organic fertilizer.

They will reseed vigorously in the early spring. Apart from the odd watering every few weeks, they require very little more care. Caterpillars and snails appear to be its only true adversaries.

What is Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

Coleus Madagascariensis is one of the most well-known Plectranthus and Coleus species. Its herbaceous, well-branched, procumbent growth habit produces a compact and dense rambling perennial shrub that grows to be approximately 1m tall, roots where the branches meet the ground.

The immature branches are square in cross-section, as are all members of the Lamiaceae family, and the leaves are opposite.

The dark green leaves are roughly oval in shape with 3-7 pairs of rounded teeth, slightly hairy to the touch above and below, and 35-40 mm in length. ‘Lynne,’ a well-known cultivar, features variegated green leaves with a stunning creamy-white to pure white border.

What is Plectranthus Madagascariensis good for?

Plectranthus madagascariensis is a succulent, herbaceous perennial plant that can reach a height of 45cm. The procumbent to decumbent stems can grow to be 30 – 100cm long, generating new roots where the leaf nodes meet the ground.

The herb is collected in the wild for use as a medicine by the locals. It is planted for medicinal purposes, but it is also grown as a decorative, where it can be used as a ground cover.

In traditional medicine, this species is used to cure coughs, colds, and scabies. Many Coleus species have aromatic leaves and branches that are sometimes placed around the house or rubbed on window sills to keep off flies.

How to take care of Plectranthus madagascariensis?

Plectranthus Madagascariensis prefers a sunny or partly shady location in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It is ideal in containers, but can also be grown in the garden as a low-maintenance groundcover.

Its foliage is finely serrated, and the flowers are white. Plectranthus Madagascariensis prefers to grow in a sunny position and is mainly suitable for hot and dry locations.

It can handle some shade but it does not like to be too shaded. It’s a great plant for use in the garden and can resist frost as long as there isn’t a hard freeze.

Watering should take place once the top 1 cm of the soil has dried out. It can tolerate drought, but it is advised to water it during long periods of droughts.

Plants don’t need much more nutrition, but they can be supplemented with a healthy covering of compost and/or organic fertilizer.

How do you propagate Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

Coleus and Plectranthus species are among the simplest and most rewarding of all plants to cultivate, and this species is possibly one of the simplest. Cuttings can be taken at any time of year, but are best taken in the summer, and consist of short segments of stem with 3-4 nodes.

Remove the cutting’s largest and softest leaves. There is no need for rooting hormone. Cuttings can be planted directly into the ground where the plant will eventually grow if they are protected. This strategy is effective as long as the cuttings are watered every other day for the first two months.

Alternatively, cuttings can be struck in any rooting media in pots or cutting trays while protected by a nursery structure or propagation table and watered or misted on a regular basis. To keep the variegation, propagate the cultivar ‘Lynne’ from cuttings.

Seed should be planted in a well-drained seedling mix. Cover seeds with a very thin layer of pure sand. This can be done at any time of year, but the optimal time is during the warm summer months.

Germinated seedlings usually outgrow cuttings of the same age and have a more vigorous growth habit. When the seedlings are a few months old, they should be pricked out and either planted in the ground or potted up.

How much light does Plectranthus Madagascariensis need?

Plectranthus Madagascariensis prefers bright light, but it can tolerate part shade. This is one of the Coleus species that prefer full sun, but it will survive in light shade. In full sun they do best in a well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter and beneficial insects to keep pests away.

In sunny locations, they need little more than good drainage and regular watering. The quantity of light required to grow Plectranthus varies depending on the species. Few plants can survive direct sunlight and may suffer from leaf burn if exposed to it for an extended period of time.

However, as a general rule, most Plectranthus like bright, indirect light. When planting Plectranthus outside, use a location that receives just partial sun or a shady position behind a tree. When cultivated indoors, the plant can be placed in a spot that receives direct light for the majority of the day.

How do you dry Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

Plectranthus Madagascariensis can be dried at any time of the year, but the optimal time is during the warm summer months.

To dry diverse varieties, hang them up to dry between sheets. The ideal method is to hang the leaves by their stem on a clothesline and let them dry under the sun. Once they are completely dry, cut off their stems and store in an airtight container out of direct light until ready to use.

Once the plant is cut, the stems quickly become soft. The plant can also be put in the oven (cool or medium heat) or dehydrated on a tray in a low temperature oven. When dehydrated, remove the leaves and cut off stem ends, then wash. Store in an airtight container or plastic bags until required.

How do you identify Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

Coleus madagascariensis is one of the most well-known Plectranthus and Coleus species.

Its herbaceous, well-branched, procumbent growth habit produces a compact and dense rambling perennial shrub that grows to be approximately 1m tall, roots where the branches meet the ground.

The immature branches are square in cross-section, as are all members of the Lamiaceae family, and the leaves are opposite.

The dark green leaves are roughly oval in shape with 3-7 pairs of rounded teeth, slightly hairy to the touch above and below, and 35-40 mm in length.

The inflorescence is a terminal erect raceme that can grow to be up to 125 mm long and has 4-6 blooms at each node. Each flower measures 7-18 mm in length, is white, and tubular. Despite their common name, the flowers do not have spurs.

The calyx is 3 mm long and grows to 5 mm after the flower drops, holding the brown seeds or nutlets that are 1mm in diameter. The flowering season begins in early fall and ends in late autumn (February until May with a peak in late March and early April in the southern hemisphere).

How often should you water Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

Plectranthus species, such as Plectranthus madagascariensis, are hardy and drought-tolerant members of the Coleus family. They do not require much more than good drainage and regular watering.

This plant can be grown in, a large terracotta pot filled with sandy soil, or in a large planter with well-drained soil. You can water at least every four days in summer, as long as the water penetrates the root system. This plant is susceptible to rotting if the soil is kept consistently moist.

One of the most important aspects of cultivating Plectranthus is to use a well-draining potting medium. Drainage should be adequate with standard potting soil mixed with perlite or sand. Plectranthus roots do not tolerate “wet feet,” which means they cannot sit in wet or soggy soil for long periods of time.

How do you repot Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

Plectranthus species are very forgiving of repotting, but it is a good idea to check the progress of the plant after repotting to ensure that it receives plenty of light and airflow.

The pot should be large enough that all the roots can be filled with soil, as well as be able to provide enough space for the plant’s spread. Too small of a pot will inhibit growth in proportion to the amount of root material rinsed out during repotting.

Plectranthus requires proper drainage after watering. Choose any container as long as it has plenty of drainage holes. Plant the seedling in a 4 to 6-inch pot if transplanting as a seedling.

If you’re repotting from a smaller container, make sure the new pot is at least 2 inches larger in diameter and has at least 2 inches of fresh soil at the bottom. Fill the pot with fresh soil and place the transplant in the center. Water thoroughly until all of the water has drained out of the base.

Is Plectranthus Madagascariensis toxic to cats and dogs?

Plectranthus is not lethal to cats or dogs, but it may cause some health problems if consumed in large quantities.

Keep your furry pets away from the plant. They are not likely to eat the leaves because of the bitter and spicy scent, but keep an eye on small children who may pick and taste the leaves.

The best way to keep from nibbling on Plectranthus madagascariensis is to use it as a houseplant and enjoy its tropical foliage indoors.

What is the best soil of Plectranthus Madagascariensis?

The ideal soil for Plectranthus madagascariensis is a well-draining one mixed with perlite or sand, and preferably with a pH of between 6 to 4.5. A good quality potting media can be mixed with the soil during repotting.

The soil should drain quickly, but still retain some moisture. The best soil for growing Coleus is a potting mix that includes perlite, peat moss, and vermiculite. When planting, use a container that has holes in the bottom of it so excess standing water can drain out.

The soil should be porous enough to allow the water to flow freely, yet hold enough moisture to sustain growth.