Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.
New arrival

Cuban oregano - Plectranthus amboinicus

Plectranthus amboinicus
Cuban oregano, Indian borage, Mexican mint, Spanish thyme

Be the first to leave a review

Shipping country:

Schedule delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Perennial aromatic plant native to Africa, India, and the West Indies. Tender, it is grown as an annual in our climates. This shrub is characterized by fleshy stems and succulent leaves, releasing a fresh and pungent fragrance reminiscent of oregano or thyme, with a taste between oregano and mint. This plant is easily grown in a pot or in the ground. Its leaves are harvested from spring to autumn, between April and November, to be used in cooking or as herbal tea, both fresh and dried, for their flavours or medicinal properties.
Flower size
1 cm
Height at maturity
40 cm
Spread at maturity
50 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -6°C
Soil moisture
all types
plantfit-full

Would this plant suit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Best planting time March to May
Recommended planting time April to June
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time August
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

The Plectranthus amboinicus, renamed Coleus amboinicus, is known as Cuban Oregano or Big Thyme in the Caribbean. It is a perennial and tender aromatic plant, commonly found in the wild in Africa, India, or the Caribbean, cultivated as an annual in our climates. It forms a shrub with fleshy stems bearing succulent, thick, and fuzzy leaves, ranging from light green to greyish-green. They release a fresh and pungent aroma, reminiscent of oregano or thyme. It is grown in pots or in the ground as an annual, and its leaves are harvested from April to November. The leaves are used fresh or dried, in cooking or as a herbal tea, for their aromatic or medicinal properties.

The Plectranthus amboinicus belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is a herbaceous perennial plant native to southern and eastern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and India, where it grows in woodlands or coastal shrubs, on rocky slopes and sandy or loamy plains at low altitudes. The plant was later introduced to Europe, then from Spain to the Americas. The Coleus amboinicus forms a shrub that can reach 1 m in height in the wild. When grown here, it will not exceed 40 cm in height. Its fleshy stems are hairy and highly branched. They bear numerous opposite leaves, oval to rounded in shape, with finely crenate margins. They are thick and pubescent, with the underside having the most glandular hairs, giving them a frosted appearance. The aroma of the leaves can be described as a pungent combination of oregano, thyme, and turpentine scents. The taste of the leaves is described as similar to oregano but with a pungent flavour reminiscent of mint. The flowers bloom in late summer, on a short, pale purple stem, in dense whorls of flowers on a long, thin spike-shaped raceme. The plant is frost-sensitive.

The Plectranthus amboinicus is also known as Indian Mint or Ear. It is sometimes confused with Lippia micromera or Antillean Thyme. It thrives in poor, dry, well-drained soil, in sunny or partially shaded positions during hot weather. Cut leafy stem sections as needed. When not used for its aromatic properties in cooking, for marinades, soups, and fish for example, it is attributed medicinal properties for digestive issues, respiratory conditions, flu-like symptoms, or disturbed sleep.

Cuban oregano - Plectranthus amboinicus in pictures

Cuban oregano - Plectranthus amboinicus (Foliage) Foliage

Flowering

Flower colour mauve
Flowering time August
Inflorescence Cluster
Flower size 1 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Annual
Foliage colour variegated
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased
Foliage description Spicy fragrance reminiscent of thyme and oregano spikes.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 40 cm
Spread at maturity 50 cm
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Plectranthus

Species

amboinicus

Family

Lamiaceae

Other common names

Cuban oregano, Indian borage, Mexican mint, Spanish thyme

Botanical synonyms

Coleus amboinicus, Plectranthus aromaticus

Origin

South Africa

Product reference23107

Planting and care

Plectranthus amboinicus prefers sunny exposures, but appreciates partial shade during hot periods. It grows in dry and well-drained soil, even poor soil. You can plant it in April, after the last frosts, in a pot or even in the ground. It is a very sensitive plant that does not tolerate temperatures below 4°. You can take it out to the garden from May onwards and bring it back into a bright veranda or room before the first frosts. If the plant spends the winter indoors, watering should be reduced. It propagates easily at any time by propagation by cuttings (cuttings 15 to 20 centimeters long). It requires little maintenance: regularly pinch the stems so that the plant maintains a compact habit.

16
14,50 € Each

Planting period

Best planting time March to May
Recommended planting time April to June

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow
Type of use Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -6°C (USDA zone 9a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 4 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture all types, Draining, light.

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Needs to be stored

This item has not been reviewed yet - be the first to leave a review about it.

Leave a review →

Haven't found what you were looking for?

We only deliver seed and bulb products to your country. If you add other products to your basket, they cannot be shipped.