What kind of growing environment suits coleus? A detailed guide to its care conditions

Other names for coleus

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

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 50~8Ocm; cultivated seedlings are mostly kept below 3Ocm. The whole plant is hairy, the stem is four-angled, woody at the base, with simple opposite leaves, ovate, with a long acuminate tip and bluntly toothed margins; leaves can grow to l5cm, the leaf surface is green with bright markings in pale yellow, peach red, vermilion, purple and other colors. Terminal raceme, 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, and in summer high temperatures it should be slightly shaded. It likes sufficient sunlight, and ample light can make the leaf color vivid; it likes moisture, so in summer it should be watered sufficiently, otherwise it is prone to wilting. Also spray water on the leaves frequently to maintain a certain air humidity; apply more phosphorus fertilizer to keep the leaves vivid. Avoid applying excessive nitrogen, otherwise the leaves become dull; it requires loose, fertile soil, and ordinary garden soil is sufficient.

Coleus flower language and legend

The flower language of coleus is desperate love, 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 radiance, 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; otherwise, it will gradually wither and lose its luster.

Variety classification of coleus

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

Seed-propagated types

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

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

3, Crinkled-edge type, with lobed and wavy-wrinkled leaf margins; the variation in lobes and waves is very great, and there are also many leaf colors.

4, Willow-leaf type, with slender, willow-shaped leaves, and leaf margins with irregular lobes and serrations.

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

Vegetatively propagated types

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

2, Small-pattern coleus, 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, panicle 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 month, grown in pots in winter for viewing flowers.

Coleus picture appreciation