Coleus X Hybridus Facts

Growing Conditions

• Coleus x hybridus doesn't mind the heat, but it needs moisture. It has no frost tolerance and prefers temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler climates, plants can be placed in full sun, but in most gardens they should be placed in dappled shade. Soils should be evenly moist and well drained. To maintain bright color and reduce the tendency to become leggy, it's necessary to trim off flowers as they grow. While the flowers are pretty, they are no competition for the vividly colored leaves.

Insects and Diseases

• Growing coleus x hybridus can have some challenges. Some common diseases are downy mildew and impatiens necrotic leaf spot. Downy mildew appears as fuzzy white patches on the leaf or stem. Impatiens necrotic leaf spot is a virus that appears as a circular area with a dead spot in the middle. Common insects are mealybugs, aphids and whiteflies. Mealybugs look like tiny tufts of cotton and are found on the stems, and aphids are fleshy bugs that eat leaves. Whiteflies look like tiny moths and feed on the undersides of leaves.

Coleus x Hybridus Propagation

• You can propagate coleus x hybridus in two ways. Stem cuttings should be 3 to 4 inches long, and they root pretty quickly in water. They can also be placed directly into the soil. Seeds need to be pressed lightly into soil but not covered completely, because they need light to germinate. Place seed trays in a bright area but not in direct sunlight. Soil should be between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Coleus History

• The coleus genus is native to the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. After Karl Blume came back from Indonesia in the 1800s with a collection of plants that included coleus, it became very popular and people were paying exorbitant prices to obtain a plant. This incited a flurry of breeders everywhere who rushed to create new varieties. In Mexico, coleus was desired for different reasons. The Mazatec Indians of Mexico grew it for spiritual and ritualistic purposes. It was cultivated for its purported psychoactive properties.