Solenostemon FlameThrower Habanero

The Coleus Flame Thrower Habanero is a new variety of Solenostemon that stands out for the colour of its leaves, its attractive dense habit, and its good tolerance to both sun and shade. The plant is adorned with small dentate leaves that vary in color from caramel to bronze and orange, depending on their age, exposure, and season. It rarely flowers and requires little maintenance. Coleus plants are frost-sensitive and can be grown as indoor plants or as annuals in the garden to decorate balconies and terraces. They also make particularly decorative additions to seasonal compositions.

Coleus, also known as Solenostemon or Plectranthus, are plants related to Basil. They belong to the family Lamiaceae, as evidenced by their small bilabiate flowers with elongated lower lips, their fleshy square stems, and their dentate and velvety leaves on the underside. This genus comprises around sixty species of frost-tender perennial shrubs, native to Asia and tropical Africa. Horticulture has given rise to numerous hybrids and cultivars, including the Solenostemon scutellarioides from the 'Flame Thrower' series, selected for their ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation.

The Coleus 'Flame Thrower Habanero' forms a compact and rounded clump, reaching a height of no more than 35 cm (14in) and a diameter of 40-45 cm (16-18in) in one season. The leaves are small, beautifully dentate along the edges, and slightly velvety. Their lamina displays a changing colour palette of warm tones, including caramel brown, varying shades of bronze, orange, and amber. The flowering, rare in this selection, is discreet, sometimes appearing in late summer as small pale mauve-blue flowers. It is often recommended to remove these flowers so that the plants do not exhaust themselves producing seeds and can maintain generous foliage.

Coleus, sometimes called 'painted nettle' due to their incredibly diverse foliage, are irreplaceable for adding a touch of exotic beauty to any setting in both the garden and the home, where they can live for several years. They prefer a semi-shaded position, which can be found at the edge of a tall perennial border or among shrubs, or in a cool rockery exposed to the north or east, away from the scorching sun. They allow for creating small mosaic-like beds of colours and pair well with begonias in container plantings. Their rich range of colors can make them somewhat challenging to pair with other plants: small ferns like Polypodium or purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) will make good companions for the Coleus Flame Thrower. They particularly complement begonias in container plantings.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them in a sheltered location (conservatory, greenhouse, cold frame) at a temperature above 14C° for a few weeks before placing them outdoors once the risk of frost has been definitively eliminated.