I have been drooling over plectranthus ecklonii online (Annie's Annuals, Plant Delights). It is listed as a fall bloomer and I'm wondering if it would get the chance to bloom here. Anyone have any experience with it?

Never grown it. Guess it would be an annual here.
I have had lime light salvia and the frost gets it every time before it blooms. Last year for me growing this.

It's real pretty and looks like it would be hardy to your zone, according to what's in the database.

Oh Wow, now I want one too!
Well, I think it depends on your microclimate, and it could croak in a big freeze, but looks totally worth it. I would try it in full sun here. And Annies is having a sale now...
I had a Cestrum 'Orange Peel' in a big pot that lived for several years out in the weather, my sister Ali has one in the ground that I started from a cutting, I think I will try them together.

After seeing your post, I too will be ordering P ecklonii from Annie's. A good Web site for growing and care is www.louistheplant geek.com--scroll down home page to plant list, on next page hit display, then scroll through the pictures to Louis's guidance.

Just rcvd Annie,s P. ecklonii. Will post LATE in year on my impression of plant, probably Sep/Oct. Thanks for info on this plant. Steve.

In2art said:I have been drooling over plectranthus ecklonii online (Annie's Annuals, Plant Delights). It is listed as a fall bloomer and I'm wondering if it would get the chance to bloom here. Anyone have any experience with it?

Call me Pavlov's dog.
Did you get it? Is it grow well?

Sallymander, I got one earlier this year. Doing well. Now about 1 ft + high & 1.4 ft wide. Looks good, should bloom in Sept. Plan on posting pic. Since it is an annual, plan on taking cuttings in Sept also. Thank you for spotting it Linda.

Correction. It is a perrinial, often grow nasal annual.

I did not get one, but I might after I hear about how it does for BrooklyStart!...

Received early March 2019, it was in a 4" pot; planted near only sprinkler in area Mar 15--new home, just finished grass area, still working on shrub area; currently 25" tall--photo taken Aug 2. Have only provided manure in hole, water & 1 small handful of 16x16x16 fertilizer.
www.louistheplantgeek.com states flower buds should form late Sep, and flowers late Oct, flowers to end about late Nov; it also states that early freeze will probably be detrimental to flowering--will not use frost blankets this year, unless below 25f.
Next to it are delphinium--second bloom stalk (also Annie's), wild foxglove, and a rhododendrum--all watered by same sprinkler.
Will provide new photo when flower buds form & when they open. Will also provide after winter post Mar 2020.

Update--On Sep 24th, 1/4 inch square flower buds were noted, they were about 1/4 inch above branch--I was not sure if they were actual buds. After returning home on Sep 29th, plant was about 32inches high and pictures of flower buds were taken (sorry for poor quality, taken with IPad):

Linda, this will be my last report for 2019.

Growth rate: Fast; originally planted as a 4" pot, about Mar 15; grew to about 34" by end of Oct.

Deer resistance: Great; had zero deer damage--other near plants did have damage. Neighbor across street had 300 pounds of deer food in shed this spring ; neighbor 2 doors down feeds birds, deer feed from his bird feeders.

Cold resistance: Fair; low temperature was 37f, during the early Oct. cold spell-- had 3 nights of less than 40f in Oct. Last night had low of 39f--remote outside thermometer. Leaves started to show winter damage and loss of color few days after earlier Oct cold spell. I lived about 1,125' from, and 750' above the Sinclair Inlet with view of Bremerton side, Inlet moderates my temps.

Flowering: Very late--first flower bud was Sep 24--did not notice it was a flower till 29 Sep. actual flowers started opening about Nov 18-- still not fully opened ( neighbor just told me we may have snow the Fri after Thksgiving).

Current pictures taken Nov 22. Note then change it leaf color since earlier pics.





Recommendation: Blooms too late for Port Orchard--have been told that cold came earlier than average this year.

P.S. Again, thanks for introducing me to Annie's. Also purchased a Colbalt Blue Delphinium, Lobelia Tupa, and Salvia Mystic Spires. Love the color on the Delph--deer also love the flowers; the Salvia is great, will grow more in front yard; Lobelia is OK, but nothing to write about. Be buying more this March.

Linda, today noticed that all leaves and flowers were dark brown. Since last post, remote thermometer showed they dropped to 29 f on one night.

@BrooklynStart (Steve) thanks so much for the awesome documentation of your experiment/experience with plectranthus. I really enjoyed the vicarious adventure.

There are a LOT of plants that I covet in this world...I wished they were more like Pokemon and I could collect them all.

Linda, experience w/plectranthus was not what we hoped for. Hopefully, where I transplanted it will block deer.
Getting introduced to PERENNIAL salvia's was worth my the cost. First time, only had annuals before. Also, picked up a Salvia- Mystic Spires at same time as the plec's. Th salvia was best of the purchase. In 2020, rcvd from Annie's 3 more, Frosty Kiss, Mole Poblano, & Chiapas Sage. Looking forward to this summer--- some may flower in fall-- hopefully not.
P.S. Do no know anything about Pokemon.

Thanks for sharing photos. How did it fare over the winter? And how is it now?

In2art, after transplanting, it only rcvd rain for watering. It died from my not providing additional watering. About a month ago, I finally got my sprinkler system into the ares I placed the Plectrantus, long after it died.

It sounds like you are on a Salvia adventure. A classic one around here is 'Hot Lips'...it is white/red. In hot heat the flowers will be solid white. Red will come back as it cools. It is more of a shrub form and can grow to 6' in a season. It can be hard pruned and has better shape with some pruning. Is widely available or I could root some cuttings for you and trade for bits of your other salvias...

In2art, not really on a salvia adventure, just have a large area (10'x154' back & 3' extending to 15' X 80' side) that I desire to plant with FLOWERING PLANTS that are DEER RESISTANT. With the exception of the front lawn, rest of lot was weeds, I was first owner. Many of the plants I have are those that I could not/did not grow in San Diego were I did much gardening. Included are rhododendrums, perrinial salvias, daphne, Japanese maples, gardenias, lilacs, Viburnums, & gaillardias. In addition, I have installed a large lawn area in the back and on one side, often take 2 hours to mow with a 20" gas push mower. The county also requires me to maintain a 25' deep natural area in the back that has big leaf maples, red cedars, coastal firs, and other trees I don't know the names of.
Also grow short single petal dahlias, Zinnia's, lilies, Dutch Iris, Tritonias, gladiolus,& snap dragon that I grew in San Diego.