Coleus scutellarioides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Coleus blumei
- Coleus pumilus
- Coleus x hybridus
- Plectranthus scutellarioides
- Solenostemon pumilus
- Solenostemon scutellarioides
- Phonetic Spelling
- KO-lee-us skew-te-lair-ee-OY-deez
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Coleus is an annual or herbaceous perennial in the mint family with attractive foliage and succulent stems that comes in many colors and provides year-round interest. It forms a 3 ft. mound as it grows and it can be used as a tender annual outdoors in a bed or border, in a hanging basket or container. If grown as a houseplant, it requires bright light. Remove flowers as they appear and pinch back stems to promote bushy leaf growth. Too much sun will cause plants to wilt, too much shade causes them to become leggy. It is easily grown from stem cuttings in potting soil or a glass of water. These plants are seldom damaged by deer.
Some dwarf forms exist that may be labeled under the former name Coleus pumilus; they have a trailing habit, bright coloration, and are excellent in mixed containers.
Name Changes: Many Solenostemon and Plectranthus species have been moved to the genus Coleus. Technically, Coleus pumilus and Solenostemon x scutellarioides now fall under Coleus scutellarioides.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites on indoor plants.
Quick ID
- Various multicolored leaves with crenate to incise
- Opposite leaves on square-angled stems & twigs
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Floating Garden Garden "Bed" Fence Planter Garden "Bed" Collector’s Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alabama Sunset'
- 'Buttercream'
- 'Camellia'
- 'Carnival' (Sun)
- 'Color Blaze Dark Star'
- 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade'
- 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch'
2nd Place in the 2019 NC State Annual Color Trials (in ground plantings) - 'Compact Red'
- 'Dark Heart'
- 'Defiance'
- 'Dragon's Claw'
- 'Eclipse'
- 'Fancy Rose' (Sun)
- 'Flare'
- 'Florida Sunrise'
- 'Fright'
- 'Henna'
- 'Indian Summer'
- 'Mint Mocha'
- 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun)
- 'Pinata'
- 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun)
- 'Pineapple' (Sun)
- 'Pineapplette' (Sun)
- 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade)
- 'Red Head'
- 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun)
- 'Sibila' (Sun)
- 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha'
- 'Sunset' (Sun)
- 'Sun Wasabi'
- 'Tell Tale Heart'
- 'Trailing Red'
- 'Trailing Rose'
- 'Trusty Rusty'
- 'Versa Crimson Gold'
- 'Versa Lime'
- 'Versa Redhead'
- 'Versa Watermelon'
- 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- 'Alabama Sunset'
- 'Alabama Sunset', 'Buttercream', 'Camellia', 'Carnival' (Sun), 'Color Blaze Dark Star', 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade', 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch', 'Compact Red', 'Dark Heart', 'Defiance', 'Dragon's Claw', 'Eclipse', 'Fancy Rose' (Sun), 'Flare', 'Florida Sunrise', 'Fright', 'Henna', 'Indian Summer', 'Mint Mocha', 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun), 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun), 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun), 'Pinata', 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun), 'Pineapple' (Sun), 'Pineapplette' (Sun), 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade), 'Red Head', 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun), 'Sibila' (Sun), 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha', 'Sunset' (Sun), 'Sun Wasabi', 'Tell Tale Heart', 'Trailing Red', 'Trailing Rose', 'Trusty Rusty', 'Versa Crimson Gold', 'Versa Lime', 'Versa Redhead', 'Versa Watermelon', 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alabama Sunset'
- 'Buttercream'
- 'Camellia'
- 'Carnival' (Sun)
- 'Color Blaze Dark Star'
- 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade'
- 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch'
2nd Place in the 2019 NC State Annual Color Trials (in ground plantings) - 'Compact Red'
- 'Dark Heart'
- 'Defiance'
- 'Dragon's Claw'
- 'Eclipse'
- 'Fancy Rose' (Sun)
- 'Flare'
- 'Florida Sunrise'
- 'Fright'
- 'Henna'
- 'Indian Summer'
- 'Mint Mocha'
- 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun)
- 'Pinata'
- 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun)
- 'Pineapple' (Sun)
- 'Pineapplette' (Sun)
- 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade)
- 'Red Head'
- 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun)
- 'Sibila' (Sun)
- 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha'
- 'Sunset' (Sun)
- 'Sun Wasabi'
- 'Tell Tale Heart'
- 'Trailing Red'
- 'Trailing Rose'
- 'Trusty Rusty'
- 'Versa Crimson Gold'
- 'Versa Lime'
- 'Versa Redhead'
- 'Versa Watermelon'
- 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- 'Alabama Sunset'
- 'Alabama Sunset', 'Buttercream', 'Camellia', 'Carnival' (Sun), 'Color Blaze Dark Star', 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade', 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch', 'Compact Red', 'Dark Heart', 'Defiance', 'Dragon's Claw', 'Eclipse', 'Fancy Rose' (Sun), 'Flare', 'Florida Sunrise', 'Fright', 'Henna', 'Indian Summer', 'Mint Mocha', 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun), 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun), 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun), 'Pinata', 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun), 'Pineapple' (Sun), 'Pineapplette' (Sun), 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade), 'Red Head', 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun), 'Sibila' (Sun), 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha', 'Sunset' (Sun), 'Sun Wasabi', 'Tell Tale Heart', 'Trailing Red', 'Trailing Rose', 'Trusty Rusty', 'Versa Crimson Gold', 'Versa Lime', 'Versa Redhead', 'Versa Watermelon', 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Coleus
- Species:
- scutellarioides
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Asia and Malaysia; Asia and tropical Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Nutlet
-
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are small, blue-violet, in slender, terminal clusters, and irregularly shaped. Blue-white two lipped nettle-like flowers appear in racemes, early summer to fall but are not showy and can distract from the leaves. The flowers are insignificant. The calyx of the flower is persistent and resembles a saucer hence the Latin name "scutella."
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are ovate to oblong toothed and frequently feature a mixture of colors and patterns including red, burgundy, and pink. This plant is grown for its multi-colored foliage. This plant has opposite, simple leaves on 4-angled stems. They are often blotched with various colors and patterns.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Stems can be semi-succulent and light green, making them stand out from the leaves. This plant has 4-angled stems.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
