Erect evergreen perennial shrub < 2 m tall. Stems are covered in dense red/purple hairs. Leaves are large, hairy and ovate. Flowers are pink/purple and are borne in terminal corymbs November – January. Seeds are small and bear pappus.
To help protect our environment:
Shady and damp sites, disturbed and regenerating forest, gullies, drains, ditches, riparian areas, forest margins, roadsides.
Seeds dispersed by wind, possibly water and animals. Vegetative spread from stem layering. Human-mediated dispersal through dumped garden waste and movement of contaminated soil.
Forms dense stands, potentially excluding native plants.
Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
Both Plectranthus species lack red veins on leaves. Plectranthus flowers have erect spikes and a blue coloured.
Velvet groundsel has alternate leaves and their margins have coarser teeth. It has yellow daisy like flowers.
