Coleus: you may not know it has these other names

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Coleus is a perennial herbaceous plant and a foliage ornamental flower. It is often used to create patterns in flower beds, venues and theatres, and can also serve as the accompanying foliage in flower baskets and bouquets. Indoor displays are mostly small to medium-sized potted plants; choose light-colored, smooth-textured cachepots to set off the coleus's gorgeous leaf colors. Now let's learn about coleus together with the editor!

Other names for coleus

Coleus, also called wucai su, laolai shao, wuse cao, and jin zisu, is a perennial herbaceous foliage ornamental flower of the genus Coleus in the mint family Lamiaceae.

Morphological characteristics of coleus

Coleus is a perennial herbaceous plant. Old plants can grow into a subshrub form, but the plant shape becomes unsightly and its ornamental value is low, so it is mostly grown as an annual or biennial. Plant height50~8Ocm, cultivated seedlings are mostly kept under3Ocm. The whole plant is hairy, the stem is four-angled and woody at the base, the leaves are simple and opposite, ovate-round, with a long tapering tip and bluntly toothed margins; leaves can grow tol5cm, the leaf surface is green with brightly colored markings in pale yellow, peach red, vermilion, purple and so on. The terminal raceme bears small flowers that are light blue or light purple. The nutlets are smooth and glossy.

Growing habits of coleus

Coleus is a warmth-loving plant with strong adaptability. In winter the temperature should not fall below10°C; in summer, shade it slightly during high temperatures. It likes full sunlight, and ample light makes the leaf colors vivid. It likes moisture, so water it well in summer, otherwise it easily wilts. Also spray the leaves frequently to maintain a certain air humidity. Apply more phosphorus fertilizer to keep the leaves bright. Avoid excessive nitrogen, otherwise the leaves become dull. It requires loose, fertile soil; ordinary garden soil is sufficient.

Coleus flower language and legend

The flower language of coleus is a hopeless romance, expressing innocence and despair. Legend says coleus has seven leaves, and each leaf's color is different; in the dark it gives off seven-colored radiance, like a colorful luminous pearl. It is said that coleus has a spirit: if a person with a pure heart owns it, it will shine and bring you happiness; otherwise, it will gradually wither and lose its luster.

Variety classification of coleus

According to the propagation method, coleus can be divided into two types.

Seed-propagated types

1Large-leaf type, with large ovate-round leaves, tall plants, few branches, and an uneven leaf surface.

2Colorful-leaf type, with small, long elliptic leaves, pointed tips, a smooth leaf surface, and leaf colors including red, orange-red, yellow-green, and green spots on a white ground.

3Frilled-edge type, with lobed and wavy leaf margins; the lobes and waves vary greatly, and there are also many leaf colors.

4Willow-leaf type, with slender, willow-like leaves and irregularly lobed and serrated margins.

5Yellow-green leaf type, with small yellow-green leaves, resistance to sunscald, and short, much-branched plants.

Vegetatively propagated types

1Five-color coleus, with markings in pale yellow, peach red, vermilion, dark red and other colors on the leaves.

2Small-pattern coleus, native to the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Plant height15～20cm, perennial herb, with prostrate stems. Leaves opposite, rhombic, long2～3cm, dark brown on the surface, green at the margins, and lighter on the underside. Flowers blue-green, in panicles long10～12cm.

3Cluster coleus, a subshrub, plant height80～100cm, leaves bright green, heart-shaped ovate. Margins with coarse serrations. Flowers bright blue, in verticillasters, with3～10flowers arranged in spikes. Flowering period11～12months; grown in pots in winter for viewing the flowers.