Everything about Coleus totally explained
Solenostemon is a
genus of
perennial plants, native to
tropical Africa,
Asia,
Australia, the
East Indies, the
Malay Archipelago, and the
Philippines. They are commonly known as
Coleus, a name which derives from an earlier classification under the genus name
Coleus, species of which are currently included in either
Solenostemon or another genus,
Plectranthus.
Species
Species include:
Cultivation
Many
cultivars of the southeast Asian species
Solenostemon scutellarioides have been selected for their colorful variegated
leaves, typically with sharp contrast between the colors; the leaves may be green, pink, yellow, maroon, and red (somewhat resembling the unrelated
caladium). The plants grow well in moist well-drained soil, and typically grow 0.5-1 m tall, though some may grow as tall as 2 meters. Coleus are typically grown as
ornamental plants. They are heat-tolerant, though they do less well in full sun in subtropical areas than in the shade. In cultivation in
temperate areas, they're often grown as
annuals as they're not hardy and become leggy and unattractive with age. In bright hot areas, the colors of the plant will typically be more intense in shaded areas than in full sun, and the plants will require less water there. Coleus also make low-maintenance
houseplants, and can often be propagated by clipping a length of stem just below the leaves and putting the stem in water to root. The plant's
flowers grow on a stem above that stem's leaves, and tend to be purple and quite small in comparison to the leaves. The plant isn't generally grown for its flowers.
Diseases
One disease that can affect coleus is downy mildew. This mildew appears on the leaves making the plant look dirty because it's brown in color. The organism is called
Peronospora sp. and can also result in curled leaves. The leaves also twist. Sometimes symptoms are not found on leaves which make the disease harder to control.
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) Another disease is
Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus which causes brown or yellow spots on leaves, rings, black or brown stem discoloration, and brown leaf veins. It is a virus that causes plants to die. The disease is spread by an insect called a
thrip that develops the disease from an infected plant and carries it to an uninfected plant. It only takes a few of these insects to infect a whole greenhouse.
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Propagation
There are two ways to
propagate Coleus. Seeds are inexpensive and easily obtainable. Sprouts can show color in as little as two weeks. Alternatively,
cuttings can be taken.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Coleus'.
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