SOLENOSTEMON scutellarioides (COLEUS blumei) Coleus, Flame Nettle ____________________________________ Type: Annual* Height: 1' (30cm) Flowering Time: Summer Flower Colour: White, blue ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Asteridae (Daisy Superorder) Order: Lamiales (Nettle Order) Family: Lamiaceae (Nettle Family) Genus: Solenostemon (Solenostemon) Species: scutellarioides (like a Scutellaria) ____________________________________

Solenostemon scutellarioides, much better known by its former name of Coleus, or the common name of Flame Nettle, is a popular plant for summer bedding, providing a neat and colourful edging to borders. It is also widely used in large bedding displays, as plants are of uniform height and form a low carpet in muted colours; they contrast particularly well with silver-leaved plants. Plants form dense small bushes less than a foot high with serrated-edged leaves, usually in several colours, but hybrids with leaves in plain green or deep maroon are also grown.

Plants are usually grown for their colourful foliage rather than their spikes of insignificant flowers, so these should be pinched out to maintain a neat bushy habit.

*Solenostemon scutellarioides is a perennial plant, but is usually grown as an annual in summer bedding schemes. It is also be grown indoors as a houseplant.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Summer Outside (9 days)
Seed Pod There is no seed pod. The seeds are at the bottom of the calyx. Seed The seeds are tiny dark brown nuts. There are four seeds from each tiny flower. Seedling The seedleaves are rounded, and the first true leaves are already coloured.