People have a great desire for colour in the shady locations of their landscapes just as much as they do in sunny areas. Unfortunately, the ornamental plants which are shade tolerant generally are not so richly or vibrantly coloured. Hence the selection of vibrant and multi-coloured bedding plants for shady gardens is limited.Inconspicuous flower bearing ornamental plants like Ornamental coleus is a colourful alternative for your home or shady landscape. They come in an extensive range of colours. They will provide an instantaneous blush and colour in the landscape. They have flecked and colourful foliage and can be showcased as a single specimen or grouped for a remarkable impact. These inconspicuous flower bearing ornamental plants can be used for various purposes in landscaping. These brightly coloured-foliage plants will thrive bright in pots and containers placed in shady locations around the landscape.
Coleus is the common name for Solenostemon scutellarioides syn. Plectranthus scutellarioides, a group of attractive ornamental foliage plants with large vibrant and multicoloured leaves. They are native to tropical Asia, Africa and Australia. They belong to Kingdom Plantae, Division Magnoliophyta, Class Magnoliopsida, Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) and Genus Solenostemon. Coleus is grown primarily for the impact of its splendid foliage which provides colour throughout the year. The ornamental coleus varieties range in colour from light green to deep purple and all variations in between.
One reason for the attractiveness of Ornamental coleus is their colourful foliage which is usually a greatly variegated mixture of green, cream, yellow, red, purple, burgundy, and/or pink. They provide a bold texture and a thick mass in the landscape because of its striking leaves, which have a sharp contrast in colour. Leaves also vary in size and shape from less than an inch to more than 4 inches. Coleus produces inconspicuous flower spikes in shades of purple and blue. Flower buds in ornamental coleus should be pinched on a regular basis since unchecked blossoming will cause the plant to go into decline.
Ornamental Coleus, being a versatile plant thrives in hot and humid conditions and can be used for accenting a range of landscapes. It can be best grown as a container plant, indoor potted plant, topiary and as a specimen in various landscape projects. Coleus prefers a well-drained fertile soil mix preferably with a lot of sand. They need to be irrigated regularly during summer months; otherwise, they have no special needs. They are considered as low maintenance plants. The ideal temperature requirement for coleus is 18-250 C. Coleus prefers evenly moist soil and is moderately resistant to pests and diseases.
Description of selected coleus cultivars
1.Gold giant
It is a tall and sturdy coleus cultivar with broad, golden-green leaves with reddish-purple undersides. Stems and petioles are purple in colour and it makes for a great background plant in a pot or garden bed. Full sun to partial shade is preferred. It is a medium tall variety and is well suited for hedging purpose in shady areas….read more
2.Miss Monahan
It is a sturdy coleus cultivar and has green leaves with a magenta spot in the centres and purple bunder sides. Stems and petioles are purple in colour. Full sun to partial shade is preferred. It has a compact dense nature and hence suited for the hanging basket….read more
3.Antique
Variability in colouration makes them virtually indistinguishable. Their scalloped leaves are chartreuse with deep maroon or purple flecking, which varies with the amount of sun exposure Leaves are light purple underneath. Stem and petioles are also light purples in colour. Plants form mounds up to 3 feet tall….read more
4.Pistachio Nightmare
Pistachio Nightmare has conspicuous bright green serrated leaves highlighted with a cream centre and speckled with radiant neon pink, yellow and brown with greenish undersides. Fresh new leaves have brighter colours. Stems and petioles are greenish-white in colour. It prefers full sun to partial shade..read more
5.Private Dancer
Private Dancer has bright chartreuse or yellowish green leaves, heavily marked and finely sectored dark mahogany red to dark maroon red with purple leaf vein. Some leaf blades exhibit variable chimera depths, giving many intermediate colours, part pink and part green, and it is radically interrupted by lime or violet red to maroon red sectored and stripes..read more
6.Juicy Lucy
Juicy Lucy is wide, soft leaves of the coppery-red or maroon centre are surrounded at the edge with a lacy greenish yellow pattern. Leaves are purple underneath. Stems and petioles are light purplish in colour. Partial sun or high shade is good for best colour..read more
7.Eruption
Trailing Queen has deep red-pink or magenta centre with a lacy green frilly border and a shock of hot pink in the centre of the textured leaf. Leaves curl upwards and have toothed margins. Stems and underside of the leaves are purple in colour..read more
8.Trailing Queen
Trailing Queen has deep red-pink or magenta centre with a lacy green frilly border and a shock of hot pink in the centre of the textured leaf. Leaves curl upwards and have toothed margins. Stems and underside of the leaves are purple in colour..read more
9.Grape Expectations
Grape Expectations could be used for border planting because of its tall upright and mounding growth habit. It has Concord grape purple or velvetish vine colour with a flash of violet-pink or magenta in the centre which extends up to the margin..read more
10.Mahogany Giant
Mahogany Giant is a tall type and could be used for border planting. It has deep purple-black coloured foliage with purple underneath. Stem and petioles are purple in colour. It grows 12-15 inches tall. It prefers full Sun to Partial Shade. It could be used for border planting since it is a tall variety..read more
11.Apple Mint
Apple Mint has green coloured leaves with the brown spotted centre. Leaves are green underneath and stem and petioles are greenish in colour. Apple mint could be used in planters because of its gorgeous and elegant look. They had a uniform growth pattern and consistent colouration..read more
12.Gay Delight
Gay Delight has oval shaped chartreuse/lime green coloured leaves with nearly black dark purple or dark maroon venation with the light green colour underneath. Stems and petioles are dark purples in colour. It is Sun tolerant coleus..read more
13.Kong Scarlet
Kong Scarlet Coleus has attractive small serrated pointed leaves which are scarlet brown in colour with distinctive lemon yellow edges throughout the year. Leaves are light green underneath. Stem and petioles are yellowish green in colour. The flowers are not ornamentally significant. Kong Scarlet is a tall type and could be used for border planting..read more
14.Tilt a Whirl
Tilt aa whirl has distinctive rolled up or swirling circular leaves of gentle heather to mahogany brown colour with zigzag frilly edges tipped in lime or yellow colour and feathered centres and green veins. Leaves are light green underside and stems and petioles are greenish in colour..read more
15.Daredevil
Daredevil is a medium tall type and is well appropriate as hedges in shady areas. They possessed appealing colouration and peculiar leaf pattern. Leaves curl upwards and have twisted and toothed margins. It has a brownish centre with greenish yellow leaf margin. The undersides of the leaves are light green in colour and stems are greenish purple..read more
16.Kong Junior
Kong Junior is a herbaceous evergreen annual bedding plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. It has a dark brownish centre with greenish leaf margin. The undersides of the leaves are light green in colour and stems and petioles are light greenish in colour..read more
17.Blusher
Blusher has concord grape purple coloured leaves of rich texture with a flash of violet-pink or magenta in the vein which is restricted towards the centre. Leaves are purple underneath and stems and petioles are purplish in colour. It is a dwarf and compact type and can be used for container planting and for interior decoration purpose..read more
18.Green Halo
Green Halo are big powerful plants with bold greenish yellow large leaves blazed with a creamy white flash in the centre. Stem and petioles are greenish-white in colour and leaves are light greenish white underneath. It grows to a height of 46 – 61cm..read more
19.Electric lime
Electric lime has lime green coloured toothed leaves with contrasting and prominent bright yellowish white spots and streaks all over and has distinct white leaf veins. Leaves are greenish with white spots underneath and stem and petioles are greenish-white in colour..read more
20.Freckles
Freckles have bright yellowish green leaves, speckled with maroon all over. This attractive plant tends to offer light greenish leaves in low light but still maintains a distinctive beauty. It performs extremely well in direct sun. It could be planted in vertical gardens as they give thick and bold texture because of its sharp contrast..read more
21.Black berry waffles
Blackberry waffles have deep purple-black or velvettish vine coloured and highly serrated or toothed foliage with grapevine colour underneath. Stem and petioles are dark purples in colour. It is a dazzling plant with deep purple colour and has a unique texture. It has a sturdy growth habit. It tolerates partial sun or high shade..read more
22.Wizard Mosaic
Wizard Mosaic has bright chartreuse, heavily marked and finely sectored dark mahogany red to maroon red with a brilliant mix of the two shades and has a distinct purple vein. The underside of the leaves is green in colour and stem is light green in colour..read more
23.Finger paint
Finger paint is Sun-loving coleus known for their vibrant and attractive foliage. It has burgundy and lime-yellow bicoloured foliage. Irregular burgundy splashes on the lime green to yellow leave make this a colourful addition to summer gardens, pots, mixed containers or landscape beds..read more
24.Indian Summer Coleus
Indian Summer Coleus has gorgeous toothed and pointed leaves with distinctive dark pinkish red vein and tinges of green and pink. It has an upright spreading habit of growth with striking colours and patterns. Indian Summer Coleus is recommended for different landscape applications like Hanging Baskets, General Garden Use, Container Planting, Edging purpose, Mass Planting, etc. It does best in partial shade to full shade..read more
Source-
- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Old Goa, Goa
