(sol-eh-no-ste' mon)(kol-ee' us)
Common name: Coleus, Flame Nettle
Family: Lamiaceae, Mint
Height x width: 6-24" x 12-24"
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Foliage: ovate, regularly toothed to variously cut, usually variegated, many color combinations
Flowers: dark blue or whitish terminal spike-like racemes in summer
Hardiness: annual
Soil: well-drained, moist
Light: part shade to shade, some cultivars (often darker colors) tolerate sun in zones 3-5 if kept well-watered
Pests and problems: leafspots, mealybugs, mites, aphids, whiteflies, slugs
Landscape habit, uses: shade gardens, containers, massing; upright rounded habit, houseplant
Other interest: name from the Greek koleus for sheath, refering to florets enclosing stamens; native to Java
Other culture: flowers of little interest--remove before bloom for best growth and branching
Propagation: seed (115,000 seeds per ounce) sown 10 weeks before planting out, cuttings in summer or fall for houseplants or overwintering
Species:
scutellarioides (schoo-te-lair-ee-oy' dees)--listed under blumei
species in past but cultivars are hybrids of several species; many series
of hybrids usually available only as a mix:
Carefree--small oak-shaped leaves, self-branching, compact and bushy, bred by Claude Hope
Dragon--large leaves, well-defined colored yellow-green edge, self-branching
Fairway--rainbow type, small leaves, compact, late to bloom
Fashion Parade--variously colored, variously lobed and patterned, 9-12" tall
Fiji--fringed leaves, many colors, bred by Claude Hope
Jazz--dwarf habit, otherwise similar to Wizard
Old Lace--fringed, ruffled and serrated leaves
Rainbow--medium sized leaves, variously colored and striped
Saber--saber-like leaves closely spaced, compact plants
Solar--brightly variously colored medium leaves, serrated to deeply cut, sold as cuttings
Wizard--large heart-shaped leaves, basal branching
Cultivars:
| Cultivars | leaves |
| 'Alabama Sunset' | brick-red, thin yellow edge |
| 'Candidum' | brilliant green and soft ivory, rainbow type |
| 'Color Pride' | red, bronze and green border |
| 'Flamenco' | scarlet-red, fringed, yellow-green edge |
| 'Gaslight' | scarlet, yellow-green netted edge |
| 'Othello' | blackish |
| 'Scarlet Poncho' | red with green flecks, edged yellow-green, 10-12" tall |
| 'Solar Eclipse' | cherry red, black markings, serrated |
| 'Solar Flare' | maroon, green-yellow edge, deep serrations |
| 'Solar Shadow' | green, maroon toward edges and tips, serrated |
| 'Solar Spectrum' | ivory and red streaked, serrated |
| 'Solar Storm' | dark red, green, ivory mottled, deeply cut |
| 'Valentine' | crimson-red, narrow yellow edge |
| 'Volcano' | bright red |
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