Plant in full sun to brightly lit shade in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally. We have not tested this plant for hardiness below 32F but most Plectranthus, even ones that come from colder climates than this, are a bit sensitive to a frost and one might want to protect this little jewel. This plant is a bit brittle so keep it away from areas where it might get bumped into, but the broken leaves will initiate roots to make tiny new plants. The scent has been likened to a combination of camphor, eucalyptus and menthol and persists on one's fingers once touched.

We first got this plant from our friend John Bleck who received it from Gary James. Mr James collected the plant in February 1999 at 1640 feet in elevation at at Qaysuh, near the village of Khalansiya, Socotra, Yemen. It was originally grown at the Huntington Botanic Garden (HBG 87322) and was an International Succulent Introduction in 2002 (ISI 2002-37). The name for the genus comes from the Greek words 'plektron' meaning a "spur" and 'anthos' meaning "flower" in reference to the spur that is found at the base of the corolla tube of the type species Plectranthus fruticosus. This species was originally described by Alan Radcliffe-Smith in 1971 in Hooker's Icones Plantarum. The species epithlet refers to its origins on the island of Socotra off the Arabian Peninsula. It is on the Red List of Threatened Species in the category of least concern. 

The information about Plectranthus socotranus displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.