Solenostemon 'Black Prince'

RHS Plant Profile

coleus 'Black Prince'

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Synonyms

Solenostemon 'Black Prince'

Conservatory Greenhouse Bedding Houseplants

A tender perennial subshrub that is often grown as an annual. It has toothed, soft purple-black leaves with a hint of red. Flower spikes in summer bear tiny lavender and white blooms

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–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): H1C

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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright filtered to moderate light. Pot up annually in spring. Grow outdoors in humus-rich moist but well-drained soil in summer. Provide a sheltered, frost-free environment

Propagation

Propagate by seed in early spring (cultivars may not come true) or softwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical

Pruning

Cut back if overwintering. Pinch out tips to encourage branching

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse pests such as mealybugs, scale insects and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

Generally disease-free