[Overview]
An evergreen perennial or subshrub.
The leaves are simple and opposite, come in various colors, and have entire margins.
The flowers are small, and the corolla is 5-lobed.
The fruit is a utricle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by stem cuttings and division.
It prefers fertile soil in a sunny, well-drained site.
In poor sunlight the leaf color becomes poor.
In winter, bring it indoors to a bright place.
For potted plants, water thoroughly from spring to autumn when the soil surface dries, and keep on the dry side in winter; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release chemical fertilizer placed on the soil.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew, aphids and spider mites.
