Coleus thyrsoideus

RHS Plant Profile
flowering bush coleus

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flowering bush coleus RHS / Joanna Kossak
flowering bush coleus Christopher Whitehouse
flowering bush coleus RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Plectranthus thyrsoideus
Solenostemon thyrsoideus

Herbaceous Perennial Houseplants

A bushy evergreen perennial with heart-shaped, round-toothed leaves to 10cm long, and spikes of bright blue flowers 1cm long, mostly in winter

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
A genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, some of which can be succulent or tuberous in nature, and one of the easiest plants to propagate. Their velvety leaves add vibrant shades of red, pink, green and purple to beds and borders, pots and containers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S Trop. Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in areas prone to frost; may be grown outside in the summer. Use a peat-free John Innes No 2 compost and position in dappled shade. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month and water freely. In winter much less water is required

Propagation

Propagate by seed in temperatures of 19-24°C (66-75°F) when they are ripe. Can also be propagated by softwood cuttings any time of year

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pinch out tips of young plants to encourage bushy growth

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free