Plectranthus scutellarioides Tropical Feather - Coleus

Plectranthus scutellarioides Tropical Feather is a variety of Coleus with narrow, bicoloured foliage, perfect for enlivening beds and containers in partial shade throughout the summer. It forms a small, dense, sculptural and very colourful clump. It is tender, so mainly used in seasonal beds or as a houseplant. It fits into contemporary or exotic displays, accompanied by other perennial plants or annuals.

A botanical species from the Lamiaceae family, Plectranthus scutellarioides (synonyms Coleus scutellarioides, Coleus blumei, Solenostemon scutellarioides) is native to Southeast Asia. It is found as far as northern Australia, where it grows in warm, humid environments, in clear undergrowth or on the edge of woodland, in rich, moist soil.
The Tropical Feather cultivar belongs to a group of compact coleus with deeply cut foliage, selected by the German company Kientzler Young Plants for cultivation in window boxes and pots. It is not hardy in our gardens, but it is perennial under a tropical climate. It forms an upright to rounded, bushy clump, branching from the base, reaching 30 to 40 cm in height and 25 to 30 cm in width by the end of the season. The quadrangular, slightly fleshy stems are often tinged with red and bear very characteristic leaves. In Tropical Feather, the leaves are very narrow, lanceolate and finely toothed on the edges, which gives a feathery appearance to the foliage. Each leaf has a red to reddish-purple centre, broadly edged with green to yellowish-green, sometimes almost chartreuse on young shoots, this bicolour pattern remaining clearly visible even from a distance. The slightly quilted leaf surface captures light well and highlights the veins. 
The inflorescences are the same as the species: small, two-lipped, bluish-purple to pale blue flowers, grouped in upright clusters, appearing in summer if the stems are not pinched; they have secondary decorative interest and are usually removed.

In the garden, Tropical Feather enlivens beds in shade or partial shade and shaded pots and containers on the balcony or terrace. Pair it with heucheras with bright foliage like 'Lime Marmalade' or 'Guacamole', begonia semperflorens 'Doublet Pink', or impatiens SunPatiens® Compact White. In the background, ferns or hostas with large green leaves will highlight the other plants.
You can keep your coleus from one year to the next by overwintering them in a conservatory or a bright indoor space.

In tropical countries, Solenostemon scutellarioides is sometimes cultivated for local or ritual uses. In some Pacific regions, coleus, nicknamed "old boy", is associated with folk beliefs about married life, while in Europe, it is mainly appreciated as "painted nettle" for the diversity of its foliage.

Note: Please note, plug plants are products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, pot them on and store them under cover (conservatory, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C for a few weeks before being placed outdoors once all risk of frost has passed.