Do you really understand coleus? A complete guide to this plant

Alternative names of coleus

Coleus, also called five-color sago, laolai shao, five-color grass, and brocade purple perilla, is a perennial herbaceous foliage flower of the Lamiaceae family and the genus Coleus.

Morphological characteristics of coleus

Coleus is a perennial herbaceous plant; old plants can grow into a subshrub form, but the plant shape is unattractive and its ornamental value is low, so it is mostly grown as an annual or biennial. Plant height is 50~8Ocm, and cultivated seedlings are mostly controlled below 3Ocm. The whole plant is hairy, the stem is four-angled, woody at the base, with simple opposite leaves, ovate-round, long acuminate at the apex, with blunt teeth along the margin; leaves can grow to l5cm, the leaf surface is green, with bright markings in pale yellow, peach red, vermilion, purple, and so on. Terminal racemes, flowers small, light blue or light purple. Nutlets smooth and glossy.

Growth habits of coleus

Coleus is a warmth-loving plant with strong adaptability; the winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C. In summer, provide slight shading during high temperatures. It likes ample sunlight, and sufficient light can make the leaf color vivid; it likes moisture, so water thoroughly in summer, otherwise wilting is likely to occur. Also spray water on the leaves frequently to maintain a certain air humidity; apply more phosphorus fertilizer to keep the leaves bright. Avoid applying excessive nitrogen, otherwise the leaves will be dull; it requires loose, fertile soil, and ordinary garden soil is generally 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 the color of each leaf is different; in the dark it emits seven-colored light, like a colorful luminous pearl. It is said that coleus is spiritual: if a person with a pure heart owns it, it will shine and bring you happiness; on the contrary, it will gradually wither and lose its luster.

Variety classification of coleus

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

Seed propagation type

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

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

3, Fringed type, with leaf margins split and wavy-wrinkled; the changes in splits and ripples are great, and there are also many leaf colors.

4, Willow-leaf type, with slender, willow-like leaves, and leaf margins with irregular notches and serrations.

5, Yellow-green leaf type, with small yellow-green leaves, resistant to sunscald, and plants short with many branches.

Vegetative propagation type

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

2, Small-pattern grass, native to the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Plant height 15–20 cm, perennial herb, stems prostrate. Leaves opposite, rhombic, 2–3 cm long, leaf surface dark brown, margins green, underside pale. Flowers blue-green, panicles 10–12 cm long.

3, Clustered coleus, subshrub, plant height 80–100 cm, leaves bright green, heart-shaped ovate. Margins with coarse serrations. Flowers bright blue, verticillasters, with 3–10 flowers, arranged in spikes. Flowering period 11–12 months, grown in pots in winter for flower viewing.

Coleus picture appreciation