Creeping charlie is an erect, pubescent perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that grows 2-3' tall, occurring in Hawaii, Polynesia and Australia. This plant prefers average warmth and a temperature minimum of 50 degrees. It prefers semi-shade to bright light, but avoid direct sunlight. It prefers moist compost, but reduce watering in winter and mist leaves occasionally. Quick ID Hints: Herb with square twigs, broadly ovate opposite leaves Leaves rugose, pubescent, crenate Verticillate racemes with crowded zygomorphic purple flowers More information on Plectranthus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Obtuse; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, fleshy, broadly ovate, obtusely crenate, rugose, and green.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Raceme
Flower detail
Flowers are small, zygomorphic, and pale purple. Calyx is campanulare and 5-toothed. Corolla is 3 times longer than the calyx, and 2-lipped (upper lip is 3-4 lobed while the lower lip is concave). Inflorescence is a verticillate raceme to 8' long with short internodes. Flowers are crowded.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit detail
Fruits are groups of 4 nutlets within persistent calyx.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Lesser Sunda Islands to Pacific
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Nut
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets
Garden tags
#nuts #purple #purple flowers #fantz #small flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #perennial #herb garden