Scientific/Botanical Name:
Genus: Solenostemon
Specie:
Variety/Cultivar:
English Name:
Common Name:
Coleus (a name which derives from an earlier classification under the genus name Coleus, which is currently treated as two: with species included in either the genus Solenostemon or in another genus, Plectranthus.
Botanical Family:
Name in Latin: Lamiaceae
Name in English: Mint Family
The Plant
Origin: native to tropical Africa, Asia, Australia, the East Indies, the Malay Archipelago, and the Philippines
Growth Habit: perennial or annual
Flower: grow on a stem above that stem's leaves, and tend to be purple and quite small in comparison to the leaves
Blooming Period:
Leaf: colorful variegated leaves, typically with sharp contrast between the colors; the leaves may be green, pink, yellow, black (a very dark purple), maroon, and red (somewhat resembling the unrelated caladium)
Usage:
ornamental plant, Coleus also make low-maintenance houseplants, and can often be propagated by clipping a length of stem just below the leaves and putting the stem in water to root.
Care and Handling
Soil: good multipurpose potting soil
Amount of water: grow well in moist well-drained soil
Nutrition: Feed weekly with a water soluble, lime free fertilizer
Special handling: They are heat-tolerant, but they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade.
Special feature/remarks:
Pinching is the most essential part of making the Soloenostemon into being a bushy, colorful, and healthier plant.