Coleus Plectranthus
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Coleus:
- Phonetic Spelling
- plek-TRAN-thus
- Description
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Plectranthus is a genus of about 85 species of annuals, evergreen perennials, semi-succulents, and shrubs native to Africa and India in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. These plants vary greatly depending on the species. Some are grown as ornamentals, ground covers or for their attractive foliage.
These plants are often used in hanging baskets, containers, in the front of the border, or to add color during the growing season. They generally need well-drained amended soils in part sun to shade.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mealybugs, spider mites, leaf spots, and root rot can sometimes be problems.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Plectranthus
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa, India, Yemen
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Description:
- Flowers vary per species. Often 2-lipped in racemes
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Varies per species. Leaves are often showy with wavy or serrate margins. Some are fuzzy and others variegated.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
