Coleus neochilus aka Blue Lobster Flower

Coleus neochilus is a small shrub in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is partly succulent, with thick, fleshy parts. It also goes by the name Plectranthus neochilus. Its common names are blue coleus, lobster flower, and poor man's lavender. It is native to southern tropical Africa and southern Africa. It grows in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants grow about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall. Their many branches may lie along the ground or stand upright. Their form varies across the native range. In southwestern Namibia, plants often live for just one year. Those farther east tend to be perennial, living for several years. Their stems lie low. The fleshy stems have four blunt angles and fine, whitish hairs. Roots are fibrous, forming thin strands. Some plants in grassy sites have thick, tuberous roots instead.

The fleshy leaves feel soft, with hairs on both sides. They may feel sticky and give off a bad smell when crushed. Leaf blades are oval or wider toward the round tip. Shallow teeth line their edges. Orange gland dots mark the undersides. Leaves cluster on short stalks or sit almost against the stem. They tend to fold along the main vein. In shade, leaves stay light green and lie open and flat. In full sun, they turn copper-brown and fold lengthwise.

Flowers bloom in autumn in long groups at the stem tips. These spike-like groups, called racemes, hold many flowers in rings. The rings sit close together above, with wider gaps below. Flower shades range from mauve-purple through violet to blue. Each flower has a bent tube that widens toward its mouth. The pale blue-white upper lip stands upright, with four lobes. The longer lower lip forms a small boat shape. Broad, pale bracts, or modified leaves, have purple tips. These fall early. The fruits are tiny, dark brown nutlets.

In the wild, this plant grows where dry spells come each year. It grows beneath trees in open woodland and among savanna rocks. It also grows in coastal thickets, clearings, and rocky ground. Its low, bushy form and blue flowers have made it a garden plant. At a glance, it can look like lavender. The supplied species evidence gives no firm guidance on cold limits or watering. It gives no confirmed food uses or findings on toxicity. It also gives no details on pests or diseases.