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Solenostemon scutellarioides

 
Solenostemon scutellarioides
'Palisandra'

Synonym(s) Coleus blumei
Common name coleus
Family lamiaceae
Life cycle tender perennial
Flowers blue (summer)
Size 2'
Light part shade
Cultural notes fertile soil (not too dry)
From seed germinate at room temperature, or slightly above, with exposure to light
Flowers first year from seed sown indoors early.
detailed seed-starting info below

Through the years, we've grown quite a number of coleus varieties – all of them distinguished by colorful leaves that add drama or a flash of light to shady places in the garden. Several seasons, we grew the marvellous 'Palisandra', which has wonderful dark-purple large velvety leaves. Another seed-grown variety came from a 'Rainbow Mix' packet. The last one we grew in Pennsylvania was 'Sedona' from the ColorBlaze series, which showed itself off nicely in a hypertufa container on our patio, growing in at least half-day sun. Now that we're in Houston, we've picked up a few unnamed varieties to stick in the rare shady strips our garden has to offer. It may actually be possible, with some purposeful protection during the coldest nights, to overwinter our favorite specimens around here.

coleus
Grown from 'Rainbow mix'
Solenostemon scutellarioides
ColorBlaze 'Sedona'
coleus
Cool contrast and irregular leaf shape on this variety from a Houston-area nursery
Solenostemon scutellarioides
and a more conventionally colored one

We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston.

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from Park '02. Gel-cup under light 70F (100%G, starting 4d)
  2. Same seed as above. Baggy 70F with light (100%G, 4d)
  3. Same seed as above. Baggy 70F with light (33%G, 6-9d)
  4. Seed from '04 garden. Baggy 70F with light (80%G, 5-11d)
  5. Seed for 'Rainbow mix' from PT'07. Baggy 75F with light (89%G, 6-8d)

Not sure if this comes true from open-pollinated seeds. Young plants are very frost-tender - don't put out until all danger of frost is over.


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