Indian borage is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. It has a very strong fragrance of oregano when crushed, hence its other common name Cuban oregano. It can grow 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. The majority of the plants growth takes place in the spring and summer It prefers a hot and dry location for the best performance. Differing from true oregano, Cuban oregano does best when situated in a location that provides some protection from the hot summer sun. Full sun can burn the leaves. It can be propagated in the springtime by division. Very easy to propagate by stem cuttings. The fragrant leaves are used for flavoring and have a fuzzy texture and high oil content. The clusters of purplish flowers are in dense whorls on a spike-like raceme in summer. Use in an herbal or edible garden, in a rock garden as a ground cover or in a container. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites and mealybugs can damage this plant. 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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Mounding; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Dentate
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Velvety
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The fragrant leaves have a fuzzy texture. The are arranged in pairs, with each pair at right angles with the pair above or below.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Raceme
Flower shape
Trumpet; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Trumpet-shaped flowers are pale purplish, in dense whorls (cymes) of 10 to 20 flowers, on a long, slender spike-like raceme.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit detail
Nutlets form within the calyx and are smooth, pale brown, roundish and flattened. flattened
Stem detail
Its stems are thick and square. Young plants will have succulent stems that become semi-woody as the plant ages. The stems grow outward from the center of the plant, making a great groundcover.