This is a frost tender herb that trails along the ground, forming effective ground cover up to 40cm high. Racemes of speckled white to light purple-pink flowers on stems with purple hairs over ornamental foliage.
I first came across this one in the Nelson Botanic Garden, where it was doing a wonderful ground cover job, in a shady place near one of the ponds. Indeed there are other Plectranthus in the gardens there. The pale flower spikes really stand out against the darkish foliage in a darkish place. I think the foliage timing will work really well with some of the spring bulbs, like Erythronium and Trilium.
Click here to view the Plectranthus ciliatus page in Karin’s Garden.