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Plant care

Money Plant Spurflower (Money Plant) care

Plectranthus verticillatus

Also called Money Plant, Swedish Ivy, Creeping Charlie, Whorled Plectranthus.

RHS H2USDA 9-11Pet-safeIndoor Trailing stems reach 60–90 cm

Watering rhythm

5-8days

Water when the top 2 cm of compost feels dry, roughly every 5–8 days indoors

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Well-drained, moderately fertile compost

Humidity

40–60%

Temp

12–28°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Trailing stems reach 60–90 cm

Care at a glance

Light

In the wild money plant spurflower grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Thrives in bright, indirect light such as near an east- or west-facing window; a little gentle morning sun is beneficial but strong midday sun scorches the glossy leaves. Too little light causes leggy, pale growth and poor trailing habit. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for water when the top 2 cm of compost feels dry, roughly every 5–8 days indoors for money plant spurflower, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Keep evenly moist during the growing season but never waterlogged; the shallow root system is vulnerable to root rot in soggy conditions. In winter, allow the compost to dry slightly more between waterings and reduce frequency.

Soil and pot

Money Plant Spurflower grows best in well-drained, moderately fertile compost. A standard peat-free multi-purpose compost with 15% perlite added gives adequate drainage for the shallow roots. Avoid heavy, compacted mixes; good aeration around the roots promotes vigorous trailing growth. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Money Plant Spurflower sits happiest at around 40–60% humidity and 12–28°C (54–82°F). Average household humidity is sufficient; occasional misting with room-temperature water or a nearby pebble tray is beneficial in very dry, centrally heated rooms but this adaptable plant tolerates a wide humidity range. If you keep the room above 12–28°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed money plant spurflower sparingly. Feed every 2–4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser; reduce to monthly or stop in winter when growth slows. Excess feeding pushes leafy growth at the expense of the neat, compact habit. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on money plant spurflower in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Leggy, sparse trailing stems — Caused by insufficient light or infrequent pinching; move to a brighter spot and regularly pinch out stem tips to encourage denser, bushier growth and a fuller trailing habit.
  • Mealybugs in leaf joints — White woolly clusters appear in stem nodes and where petioles meet stems; treat by dabbing with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and following up with neem oil spray, repeated weekly until clear.

Propagation

Exceptionally easy from stem-tip cuttings: place 5–8 cm shoots in water or moist compost and roots form in under 2 weeks. Long trailing stems can also be pegged to the compost surface and will root at the nodes. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Money Plant Spurflower is pet-safe. ASPCA lists Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus australis, a synonym treated as equivalent to P. verticillatus) as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, with no identified toxic principle. This is consistent with its placement in the mint family (Lamiaceae). As always, nibbling large amounts of any plant material may cause mild stomach upset in some individuals. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Money Plant Spurflower care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Plectranthus verticillatus?

Plectranthus verticillatus is most commonly called Money Plant Spurflower, but it is also known as Money Plant, Swedish Ivy, Creeping Charlie, Whorled Plectranthus. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Money Plant Spurflower apply identically to anything sold as Money Plant.

How much light does money plant spurflower need?

Money Plant Spurflower grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Thrives in bright, indirect light such as near an east- or west-facing window; a little gentle morning sun is beneficial but strong midday sun scorches the glossy leaves. Too little light causes leggy, pale growth and poor trailing habit.

How often should I water money plant spurflower?

Water money plant spurflower water when the top 2 cm of compost feels dry, roughly every 5–8 days indoors. Keep evenly moist during the growing season but never waterlogged; the shallow root system is vulnerable to root rot in soggy conditions. In winter, allow the compost to dry slightly more between waterings and reduce frequency. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is money plant spurflower toxic to cats and dogs?

Money Plant Spurflower is pet-safe. ASPCA lists Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus australis, a synonym treated as equivalent to P. verticillatus) as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, with no identified toxic principle. This is consistent with its placement in the mint family (Lamiaceae). As always, nibbling large amounts of any plant material may cause mild stomach upset in some individuals.

What USDA hardiness zone does money plant spurflower grow in?

Money Plant Spurflower is rated for USDA zone 9-11 (houseplant in most climates) and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Money Plant Spurflower deep-dive guides

Every aspect of money plant spurflower care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Money Plant Spurflower qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Money Plant Spurflower is also known as Money Plant, Swedish Ivy, Creeping Charlie, and Whorled Plectranthus.