Sajetpa at Malayalam Wikipedia / Public domain
Coleus
Coleus barbatus
Overview
A tropical foliage plant that has experienced a renaissance, with modern cultivars offering extraordinary leaf patterns in every combination of green, purple, red, orange, pink, and chartreuse imaginable. Sun-tolerant varieties have revolutionized coleus from a shade-only plant to a versatile garden star. Though grown primarily as an annual in temperate climates, coleus is easily propagated from cuttings for year-round houseplants.
Coleus barbatus, also known by the synonyms Plectranthus barbatus and incorrectly Coleus forskalaei (and other spellings of this epithet), is a tropical perennial plant related to the typical coleus species. It is known by the common name woolly plectranthus. It produces forskolin, an extract useful for pharmaceutical preparations and research in cell biology.
Appearance
It is a semi-succulent plant that grows as a subshrub to 1.5 m high by 1.5 m wide. The oppositely arranged leaves are relatively large with serrated leaf edges. Purple-blue flowers grow on upright racemose inflorescences that are up to 25 centimeters long.
Coleus barbatus was first described by Henry Cranke Andrews in 1810 as Plectranthus barbatus. It was transferred to Coleus by Bentham in 1830. Although Coleus was previously sunk into Plectranthus, the original binomial was revived in a major study of the subtribe Plectranthinae in 2019.
Native Range and Habitat
The distribution area extends from tropical Africa across the Arabian Peninsula to parts of South Asia and East Asia. It is native to Burundi, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Tanzania.
Growing Conditions
Habitat & Range
- Habitat
- Meadows & Open Areas
- Native Range
- Native to Kentucky; also native to Burundi, DR Congo, Eritrea and 5 more regions; introduced in Indiana
- Cultivation Region
- Temperate regions
Botanical data via projectGAIA.
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Sowing & Propagation
Propagation Methods
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Start Indoors | Mar — Apr | Start indoors 8-10 weeks early; needs light to germinate; do not cover seed |
| Cold (1-2) | Transplant | Jun — Jun | Transplant after all frost; pinch flower spikes; take cuttings to overwinter |
| Cold (1-2) | Bloom | Jun — Sep | Grown for foliage; pinch blue flower spikes to maintain leaf production |
| Cool (3-4) | Transplant | May — Jun | Transplant after frost; part shade to full sun depending on variety |
| Cool (3-4) | Bloom | Jun — Oct | Vibrant foliage until frost; root cuttings in water for indoor winter plants |
| Moderate (5-7) | Transplant | Apr — May | Transplant in spring; Sun coleus tolerate full sun; shade types scorch |
| Moderate (5-7) | Bloom | May — Oct | Season-long foliage; hundreds of color patterns available |
| Warm (8-9) | Transplant | Mar — Apr | Plant in spring; brilliant foliage plant; pinch flowers |
| Warm (8-9) | Bloom | Mar — Nov | Nearly year-round foliage color |
| Hot (10+) | Transplant | Feb — Mar | Plant in early spring; thrives in heat with adequate water |
| Hot (10+) | Bloom | Feb — Nov | Long season; may survive mild winters as perennial |
Uses
Other Uses
- Premier foliage plant for containers and bedding
- Easily propagated from cuttings in water
- Houseplant for bright indoor light
