Home»Flowering»Perennial
Orthosiphon aristatus [ Ortho - sy - fon , Ari - status ] is a herbaceous perennial and member of the family line Lamiaceae ( Labiatae ) , more commonly know as the mint syndicate .
It is a medicative herb found in many places across the earth include China , South East Asia , the Native American subcontinent and the tropical regions of Australia .
Photo Credit: Instagram @hollisbutterflies
Others establish from the family Lamiaceae :
This herb is key out by many usual names including :
Scientific names used for the plant include :
Cat’s Whiskers Plant Care
Size & Growth
The works is quite marvelous and can reach a stature of around 40″ inches .
This herb grows in the grade of shrubs and the whisker are only visible up close .
It may go around out to cover an field of around 12″ – 36″ in .
The plant life flower fully during late summertime and autumn .
Flowering and Fragrance
Some variations of the plant also yield blue - reddish blue or lily-white heyday .
The edition with the blank efflorescence has red theme and visible leaf veins and is have sex to have higher K message ( skillful diuretic prop ) .
The ovate leaves are characterise by longsighted stamens ( whiskers ) hence the name cat ’s beard .
The flowers are pipe - form with the petal mystify out like ears .
Cat Flower Plant Light & Temperature Requirements
Cat ’s whiskers prosper under the full sun in mild climate but will also to grow with filtered light .
It does , however , need some amount of time day by day under the sun for survive .
The plant prefers mild clime so if you ’re living in a part too live , it is better to grow it in a shaded distance .
The plant is semi - deciduous and becomes sparse in the winter , but not whole marginal .
During this clip , the leaves also turn chicken .
According to the USDA ( United States Department of Agriculture ) , the favourite hardiness zona for cat ’s whisker is 9 - 11 .
Watering and Feeding
Before planting , enrich the dirt with constitutive fertilizer secure it gets through at least 6″ – 8″ inches cryptical in the soil .
Water the plant regularly , ensuring the grunge remains moist but does n’t control too much piss .
O. Aristatus ask to be fed with fertilizer once a calendar month to secure salubrious increase .
Many gardener opt for 12 - 6 - 6 plant food which has high nitrogen content .
Fertilizer should be applied once in summer and once in outpouring .
Although the plant can survive without water for some time , it may die originally than a well - water plantation .
Soil & Transplanting
The ground should ideally be in a ratio of 50 % organic matter ( apply mulch before planting ) and 50 % soil .
to boot , the soil needs to be moist , but well - enfeeble .
Cat ’s whisker may be rise in containers or directly planted into the stain .
It is jolly well-heeled to uprise and may be ground growing along roadsides .
Grooming and Maintenance
As the flora grows , some leaves and flowers may begin to droop .
To further healthy plant ontogenesis , snip off the wilt portion of the plant and remove any fallen leaves , etc . around the shrub .
Cat Whiskers Plant Propagation
Propagating cat whiskers is a relatively straight operation :
Orthosiphon Aristatus Pest or Disease Problems
The plant life does n’t really have any serious disease or pest problems but may be prostrate to attracting weeds which will have to be removed oftentimes to preclude them from damaging your plant .
Is The Orthosiphon Cat Whiskers Toxic Or Poisonous?
Any part of the plant which is above the grime is not considered toxic , but those below are .
Research also suggest consuming a very intense dose of java teatime may have some toxic side personal effects .
Overall , however , the plant life is not considered to be toxic to people or animals .
Is This Plant Invasive?
The plant life grow differently in different regions so depending on where you subsist , it may or may not be incursive .
Uses and Reasons For Cat Whiskers Plant Growing
This medicinal herb is very diverse and has a number of different uses :
Landscaping
Orthosiphon aristatus is often plant to attract bees , hummingbird , and butterflies to its nectar .
Medicinal Use
This plant is known to have a diuretic upshot ( owing to its high potassium mental object ) and anti - rabble-rousing properties and is a popular innate remedy in South Asia and some role of Europe .
It may also help forestall kidney endocarp formation , rheumatism and has anti - microbial properties .
The dry out leaves may also be infused in teatime ( hence the name Java Camellia sinensis ) to improve your metabolic process or steeped in all important petroleum .
This is particularly vulgar in places such as Thailand , Myanmar , Vietnam , and the Philippines .
The herbaceous plant contains flavonoids used in medication to treat illnesses such as venous diseases .
