My Orthosiphon aristatus (Cat's Whiskers) is returning this year. They are normally only hardy to zone 9 and I am in 8a but since we had a very mild winter it was able to hold on and is returning. ]Orthosiphon aristatus ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) I meant to take some cuttings last fall and totally forgot so I am really thrilled that it is returning, I love this plant.
I'm pleased for you Toni. I hope you get lots of cuttings planted and that they all 'take' so that you have lots of cat's whiskers.
I am thinking that since our ground never freezes and there is mulch around it, the roots weren't affected by the cold just the above ground growth was. But I will be taking cuttings through the summer to make sure I have replacements next year if needed. Frost won't get them, at least it didn't mine, but a night of freezing temps took it down. The forecast for that night didn't include a freeze warning, just supposed to have been in the upper 30's and it had survived that earlier in the month. But it stayed below 32 for a couple of hours and that was it. Cheryl, I have only found one online source for them Cat's Whiskers and they have not been in any garden centers around here. I found this one at Whole Foods Market, they always have lots of pretty, healthy veggie and herb plants in early Spring then some unusual perennials late Spring.
you had me worried that something had happened to your cats whiskers and they were now coming back...glad to hear it is a plant. Sometimes mother nature lets us grow things we otherwise could not...and quite often the things intended for our area don't make it. It all depends on Mother Nature. Enjoy...
