Botanical name
Solenostemon scutellarioides
Other names
Common coleus, Flame nettle, Painted nettle, Coleus blumei, Coleus blumei var. verschaffeltii, Ocimum scutellarioides, Welewaka, Coleus pumilus, Plectranthus blumei , Plectranthus scutellarioides, Dwarf coleus, Painted leaf, Poor man's croton
Genus
Species
S. scutellarioides - S. scutellarioides is a finely hairy, tender, evergreen perennial usually grown as an annual with semi-succulent stems bearing ovate, toothed, sometimes frilly, multi-coloured leaves and terminal, whorled racemes of small blue, white, or purple flowers throughout the year.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Clump-forming
COLOUR
Flower
White, Purple, Insignificant or absent, Pale-blue in All seasons
Foliage
Purple, Green, Veined, Red in All seasons
HOW TO CARE
Watch out for
Specific pests
Glasshouse whitefly , Mealybugs , Scale insects
General care
Propagation methods
Seed, Softwood cuttings
WHERE TO GROW
Solenostemon scutellarioides (Common coleus) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.6m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Containers, Greenhouse, Indoor
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in bright, filtered light. Water freely and fertilise every two weeks when in growth. Keep just moist in winter. Outdoors, gwon in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny or partial shaded site
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered