this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
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My mom has this plant in her coastal Southern California yard. She cuts it back to just about nothing every year and it grows back super healthy looking.

Here's a picture of its leaves and flower.

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[–] MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

That's definitely a Plectranthus, specifically looks like Plectranthus scutellarioides (formerly called Coleus) - they're super resilent and can be cut back hard each year, which is why your mom's plant thrives with that treatment.

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 hours ago

After looking at photos, I don't think it's a Plectranthus scutellariodes, but a Plectranthus zuluensis. Thanks for the direction, my phone app was coming up with nothing.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 6 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Spurflower. I think it's a type of lavender. Grows like a weed in Southern California, like Borage in Northern California.

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 hours ago

I think you're right. A page I found that shows what I think it is (a Plectranthus zuluensis) also calls it a spurflower. Thanks for the response.

[–] pseudo@jlai.lu 6 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

A Lamiaceae. But I don't know which one. There is a lot of aromatic herb in this family, yet don't try to eat it if you are not 200% sure what it is.

[–] zd9@lemmy.world 5 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] lividweasel@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)
[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 hours ago

PlantNet wasn't giving me any real answer, but after responses on here I think you're right. It looks like a Plectranthus zuluensis.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

Looks like a kind of friendship sage, but the flowers are wrong. Some type of sage for sure.