Succulent members of the mint family are best represented in cultivation by the genus Plectranthus, with some being quite soft and thin-leaved, with others proving to be fairly xeric succulents good for sun or dry shade in favorable climates. The Madagascan Dauphinea brevilabra is as showy as any plectranthus with verticils (whorls) of relatively large, zygomorphic, red-violet flowers superficially resembling some of the ornamental, herbaceous penstemons in the snapdragon family, Scrophulariaceae. But Dauphinea is a mint relative (Lamiaceae) as indicated by its slightly four-angled stems, whorled flower arrangement, and nutlet fruits. While the garden hardiness of this plant remains to be tested here at the Huntington, it has persisted among other succulents in our greenhouses and always draws attention with its beautiful flowers. Rooted cuts of HBG 97513, from cuttings received from Walter Röösli & Ralph Hoffmann, originally from R. Manglesdorff. The genus is monotypic and is named for the type locality of Fort Dauphin (Tolanaro), Madagascar. $6.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 85 (2), March - April, 2013