Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Zulu Spurflower bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Zulu Spurflower, Zulu Spur Flower (Plectranthus zuluensis).
More about zulu spurflower
About Zulu Spurflower
Plectranthus zuluensis · also called Zulu Spurflower, Zulu Spur Flower · flowering
Plectranthus zuluensis is an upright to sprawling, soft-wooded shrub native to the coastal forests and forest margins of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, grown for its striking display of bright lime-green, velvety leaves and graceful racemes of blue to pale mauve tubular flowers from late spring through summer. It thrives in shady garden spots that are difficult to plant and flowers prolifically even in deep shade, making it a valuable landscape plant. The single most critical care fact is that it is frost-tender — any freeze will kill it outright, so it must be grown under glass or as a conservatory plant in the UK and all but the mildest US climates. Not individually listed by ASPCA; treat as mildly toxic due to aromatic essential oil content.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Leggy growth in low light: Despite tolerating shade, severely low light levels cause etiolated, weak stems that cannot support the flower racemes; trim back by one-third in late winter and move to a brighter sheltered position.
The reasons zulu spurflower isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming zulu 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 zulu 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 zulu spurflower to flower
- Maximise sun. Give zulu 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 zulu spurflower and get the feeding right with the zulu 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
Zulu 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 zulu spurflower care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Zulu Spurflower blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my zulu spurflower flower?
Zulu 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 zulu spurflower bloom?
Give zulu 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 zulu spurflower normally bloom?
Zulu Spurflower flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with zulu spurflower after it flowers?
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.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping zulu spurflower flowering?
Feeding zulu spurflower a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Zulu Spurflower care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Zulu Spurflower light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Zulu Spurflower fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library