Solenostemon Premium Sun Mighty Mosaic

The Premium Sun Mighty Mosaic Coleus is part of a series of well-branched and very vigorous Plectranthus. This Mighty Mosaic variety has lanceolate leaves that are regularly toothed. They display random splashes of red-ruby, yellow-brown, and chartreuse green. The plant has an upright habit, a clean appearance, and tolerates the sun as long as it is sufficiently watered or cultivated in a soil that remains moist. Since Coleus are frost-sensitive, they are planted in containers or in the ground in very mild climates. They also make colourful indoor plants. They are particularly appreciated in seasonal compositions and contemporary decorations. Their exotic charm is very effective and they require little maintenance.

Coleus, also known as Solenostemon and recently renamed Plectranthus, are plants related to basil and nettle. They belong to the family of labiates, as evidenced by their small bilabiate flowers with elongated lower lip, their fleshy square-sectioned stems, and their toothed and hairy leaves on the underside. This genus comprises around sixty species of frost-tender shrubby perennials, native to Asia and tropical Africa. Horticulture has given rise to numerous hybrids and cultivars, including many descendants of Solenostemon scutellarioides.

The Premium Sun Mighty Mosaic Coleus forms an upright, dense, and rounded clump, reaching about 40 cm (16in) in all directions in one season. The leaves are lanceolate in shape, fairly rounded, with a finely toothed border. Their lamina is veined and randomly coloured: red, yellow, beige, or chartreuse. The flowering, generally non-existent in this selection, is discreet. It occurs at the end of the season, in the form of small pale mauve-blue flowers. It is often recommended to remove these flowers so that the plants do not exhaust themselves producing seeds and maintain a generous foliage.

Coleus, sometimes called 'painted nettles' because of their incredibly diverse foliage, are irreplaceable for adding a beautiful exotic touch to any decor, both in the garden and in the house, where they can live for several years. They appreciate a semi-shaded exposure, which can be found at the edge of a bed of tall perennials or bushes, or in a cool rockery exposed to the north or east, away from the burning rays of the sun. They allow for creating small mosaic-like beds of colours and combine well with begonias in flower pots. The richness of their colours makes them somewhat difficult to associate: small ferns like Polypodium or purple misère (Tradescantia pallida) will be good companions for Coleus. Mighty Mosaic also pairs well with rich red flowers like Snapdragons or Chocamocha Cosmos.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before being placed outdoors once the risk of frost has definitively passed.