Why are my leaves turning yellow?

This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.

Does it need direct sun?

No, it prefers bright, indirect light to prevent leaf scorch.

Plant guide

Swedish Ivy.

Plectranthus verticillatus

Pronounced plek-TRAN-thus ver-ti-sil-LAY-tus

Also known as Gossip Spurflower, Swedish ivy, Whorled Plectranthus

Whorled plectranthus — Photo by zebedeugalinha (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Swedish Ivy is a charming, trailing plant that looks lovely in hanging baskets. It is not actually an ivy, but it grows quickly and fills out pots beautifully. You will love how easy it is to propagate from stem cuttings.

Another photo of Swedish Ivy — Photo by Thomas Mesaglio (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Bright, indirect light is best for healthy growth.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet long
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 11
Bloom time: Late summer to autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant is getting too much water. If the stems look leggy, just pinch them back to encourage a bushier shape.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Pinch back the tips of the stems to maintain a full, compact appearance.
Repotting: Move to a slightly larger pot once the roots begin to crowd the container.
Soil: Well-draining, peat-based potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 28°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth

Safety

People: It is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion is not recommended.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The stems are somewhat brittle and can break easily, but there is no specific ingestion risk for children.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for consumption and may cause digestive upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Glossy, rounded, scalloped leaves
Trailing, succulent stems
Opposite leaf arrangement
Small white or pale purple flowers

Height: 0.15 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, dark green, evergreen
Flowers: white, pale purple, 1 to 2cm

Problems to watch for

Mealybugs · Small white cottony insects that feed on plant sap.
Root rot · Caused by overwatering or poor drainage.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your swedish ivy from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, division
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Bring containers indoors before the first frost. Keep the soil slightly drier during the winter months.
In containers: It is excellent for hanging baskets and containers, requiring at least a 15 cm pot.

Stem Cuttings

1. Snip a 10 cm stem cutting just below a leaf node.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Place the cutting in water or moist potting mix until roots appear.

Group plants with similar water needs to make maintenance easier.

Grows well with

Peace Lily · They share similar light and moisture requirements.
Spider Plant · Both plants look great in hanging baskets and enjoy indirect light.

Similar species

Creeping Charlie · It has a similar trailing habit but is more aggressive.

Science

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Plectranthus
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern Africa
Conservation: This plant is common in its native range and not of conservation concern.

It grows as a trailing plant in shaded forest understories where it spreads by rooting at the nodes.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: hanging baskets, ground cover, indoor houseplant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves turning yellow?: This is often a sign of overwatering or poor drainage.
Does it need direct sun?: No, it prefers bright, indirect light to prevent leaf scorch.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Plectranthus comes from the Greek words for spur and flower, referring to the shape of the blooms.

Good to know

It is a popular houseplant because it is so easy to propagate.
The leaves have a pleasant, mild scent when crushed.
It thrives in bright, indirect light.

Keep your swedish ivy growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 22, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.