Coleus scutellarioides

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Coleus scutellarioides, commonly called coleus or painted nettle, is a flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to a wide region from Southeast Asia to Australia and is grown all over the world for its bright, decorative leaves.

Appearance and size: Coleus is usually a bushy plant with a woody base. It commonly grows about 0.5 to 1 meter tall and wide, though some varieties can reach 2 meters or trail. The leaves are the star feature: they are fleshy and range in size from about 1.5 to 10 cm long and 1 to 6 cm wide. Leaves come in many colors and patterns, including greens, creams, yellows, pinks, reds, purples and maroons. Margins can be toothed or wavy.

Flowers: The flowers are small, bluish-purple and form at the ends of stems, but most gardeners remove flowers to keep the plant looking leafy.

Growing and care: Coleus loves moist, well-drained soil and warm temperatures. It tolerates heat but does best in shade or partial shade in very hot areas; in sunny spots it may need more water and the colors are often more intense in bright light. In cold climates, it is usually grown as an annual; in warm areas it can be perennial. Plants can be grown in borders, containers or as houseplants.

Propagation and varieties: Coleus can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Seeds are inexpensive, but named cultivars do not come true from seed. Germination needs light. Cuttings root easily in water. Modern breeding has produced many cultivars with striking leaf color and patterns, including both upright and trailing types. Some cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Pests and diseases: It can be affected by downy mildew, which causes brown leaves or curling, and by viruses like impatiens necrotic spot virus transmitted by thrips, which can kill plants in a greenhouse.

Other notes: In the wild, the plant’s leaves are not as colorful as many garden varieties. Coleus has had several scientific names over time, but “coleus” remains the common name used widely.