The decorative coleus flower grows beautifully both at home and in the garden. Gardeners love the plant for its elegant appearance, fast growth, and unpretentiousness to growing conditions. No wonder they call it nettle. More than 150 species of coleus are known. They are distinguished by a variety of colors, leaf shapes, plant heights, but all belong to the Lamiaceae family.
General description of the flower
In nature, coleus is an Asian resident, but it is also found in the forests of the African continent, on islands with a tropical climate. Blume varieties are most often grown at home. Under natural conditions, the herbaceous plant is an annual, but it can also be a perennial bush:
- Always green bush, tall (up to 85 cm).
- The quadrangular stem is glassy, woody at the base.
- Large oval leaves are located opposite each other. They are soft with a velvety surface. Although the flower is called nettle, unlike it, coleus leaves do not burn. The foliage of the plant is variegated, with varied patterns.
- The plant's unattractive flowers, similar to a spike or panicle, bloom on the top of the head.
Some species, in particular hybrid varieties, remain deciduous. Indoor coleus are low (from 15 to 35 cm), very beautiful, colorful. And in the garden, hanging flowers became the decoration of flower beds, flowerpots, and flower beds.
What colors are there?
The color palette of coleus is varied. The color can be one-color, two colors or several at once. There is foliage with hundreds of different openwork patterns and colored designs.
There are all kinds of colors and shades of the rainbow on the leaves of the plant. They can be:
- pure white;
- emerald green;
- red;
- burgundy with pale pink veins;
- light green with blue lace;
- bright yellow.
Thanks to the richness of their color range, coleus have become favorites in decorating garden plots; proudly displayed on the windowsills.
Coleus varieties
Several hundred plant species are known to flower growers. Some varieties are suitable for home breeding. Although, with the onset of warmth, they are taken out to the balcony or terrace, where they will also show off and decorate.
Mariposa
Coleus Mariposa is native to a tropical climate. Therefore, the plant is heat-loving and will not survive frosts. Grows outdoors provided that night temperatures are not lower than 17 °C. The plant is perennial, but in the climatic conditions of the central region it is usually grown as an annual.
The leaves are wide, dark purple, and pinkish along the edges. Loves sunlight, easily tolerates slight shading. Before planting in a permanent place, seedlings must be protected from direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves of the flower.
Butterfly
An unpretentious perennial up to 50 cm high. It blooms in July, flowering continues until October. Gorgeous foliage of various colors. The shape of the leaves resembles the wings of butterflies. Hence the name of the species Butterfly, which means “butterfly”. The beauty of the foliage is not flashy, but exciting and tender. The color changes depending on the lighting.
The plant is light-loving, but is afraid of direct sunlight. In summer it needs abundant watering with soft water at room temperature.
Crimson Ruffles
Hybrid species, quite large. Characterized by rapid growth. After pruning the top it bushes luxuriantly. The plant has gorgeous burgundy leaves with pink edges along jagged edges. Crimson Raffles is light-loving. When there is insufficient light, more green stripes appear. It grows both at home in a pot and in open ground, if temperature permits. Blooms from July to October.
Candidum
The plant is perennial. The variety is not large. Leaves are medium sized. The leaf is white in the middle and light green at the edges. The flower is discreet, delicate, and looks poetic.
The plant is light-loving, although it does not tolerate direct sunlight. Coleus candidum growing in open ground, if the air temperature is not lower than +18 °C. The place should be well lit and shaded.
Golden Bedder
A perennial species up to 60 cm high. Grown at home and in open ground. The variety has beautiful serrated leaves, monochromatic, yellow. It blooms in mid-summer, but the flowers are inconspicuous and are pinched off. The beauty of a plant is in its foliage.
The place for the growth and development of the bush should be illuminated, but slightly shaded. Water it abundantly, especially in summer.
Firebird
The literal translation of the name is “fire bird”. The creator of the variety is Ivan Kruglyak, a Russian breeder from Crimea. The surface of the leaves is corrugated. There are blurred bright red spots on the dark green of carved foliage. The flower is characterized by very rapid growth. The bush is often pinched to make it look more luxuriant. Medium-sized variety, perennial. In open ground it is grown as an annual plant.
Glory of Luxembourg
Lush, always green perennial, no more than 60 cm tall with a woody stem. The diameter of the crown of the bush is up to half a meter. Grown for its serrated double leaves rather than its small pale blue tubular flowers. The oval foliage is amazingly beautiful, chocolate brown, with green-yellow edges. The plant prefers moist but well-drained soil.
Rose Blush
Half-meter, fairly large perennial bush. Very lush, branched appearance. The leaves are large and corrugated. The predominant foliage color is pink, with a bright light green border around the edges. The variety grows both at home in a pot and in open ground.
Saber
The variety is dwarf, does not grow more than 22 cm. Suitable for growing in open ground and creating landscape compositions. Little Sabre is like a carpet of living cherry leaves with a yellow-green border. The variety is unpretentious.
Salmon Lace
The bush is lush, medium size. The leaves are large with jagged, bright green edges. The middle of the leaf is orange-pink, feathery in color. The color of the leaves changes depending on the lighting. In the sun, coleus is bright and shiny, in the shade the foliage darkens and fades.
The plant does not overwinter in open ground; in the fall it is placed in a pot and moved indoors.
Buttercup
A perennial lush bush of medium size (up to 50 cm). The leaves are small, jagged, golden. The color of the foliage most likely gives the name of the flower, which means “buttercup”. The variety is perfect for decorating the landscape to create a background or an effect of colors and tones.
Which variety to choose
All types of coleus are good in their own way. Delightful, undemanding to growing conditions. To choose a variety, you first need to understand why and where coleus will grow. Will it decorate the garden or just show off on the windowsill and please the eye? Both low-growing and tall varieties are suitable for garden design. When choosing a variety, you need to trust your taste. Which coleus you like best, those should be grown.
The growing conditions and care requirements for all varieties are the same:
- In any case, whether the plant will live at home or in the garden, if you decide to get a flower, it is advisable to purchase it in early spring.
- The plant should look healthy, with plenty of shoots.
- You should not buy coleus that is getting ready to bloom. This means that he was often fed minerals due to exhaustion.
The use of coleus in landscape design
The regular French style of planting coleus in the garden has been used for a long time.Since it was possible to regulate the height of the bushes and prevent their unattractive flowering; bright colorful foliage - all these are wonderful conditions for creating arabesque flower beds or carpets. Not a single landscape composition is complete without coleus. Red coleus look very worthy among silver cineraria and snow-white honey-fragrant alyssum. Flower beds of one multi-colored “nettle” on the lawn also look great.
The wealth of coleus varieties and variety of colors allow you to create interesting patterns and embody the most daring ideas of landscape designers. At the same time, the plant is unpretentious and grows quickly.
Snow-white lilies are combined with bright coleus, cannes with reds leaves. Other plants feel great next to them, since “nettle” with its large leaves protects the soil and its neighbors from the burning rays of the sun.
Hanging coleus leaves warn of the need for watering.
Combinations of colors in flowerpots and hanging flowerpots also look elegant, without which one cannot do without when creating a garden design. Roses look gorgeous against the background of low coleus. Low-growing varieties of flowers are used to decorate borders and paths. Multi-colored nettles cover nondescript areas and empty spaces. Luxurious coleus not only pleases the eye, but also lifts your spirits.
