Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Fringed Spurflower bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Fringed Spurflower, Speckled Spur Flower, Kirstenbosch Spurflower (Plectranthus ciliatus).

More about fringed spurflower

About Fringed Spurflower

Plectranthus ciliatus · also called Fringed Spurflower, Speckled Spur Flower · flowering

Plectranthus ciliatus is a sprawling to decumbent, aromatic perennial groundcover native to the subtropical forests and forest margins of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape of South Africa, where it thrives in the dappled shade of the forest floor. It produces a low mound of dark green, softly hairy leaves with distinctive purple-fringed margins and pale pink to white flower spikes in late summer and autumn. The most important care fact is that it requires consistently moist, humus-rich soil and shade — it will not tolerate direct sun or drought for prolonged periods. Not individually listed by ASPCA; treat as mildly toxic due to its aromatic essential oil content.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons fringed spurflower isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming fringed spurflower traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding fringed spurflower a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get fringed spurflower to flower

Maximise sun. Give fringed spurflower the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for fringed spurflower and get the feeding right with the fringed spurflower fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Fringed Spurflower flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full fringed spurflower care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Fringed Spurflower blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my fringed spurflower flower?

Fringed Spurflower blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make fringed spurflower bloom?

Give fringed spurflower the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does fringed spurflower normally bloom?