Monroe County Master Gardener Association

Our feature for the month, shown in the header photo is Coleus (Solenostemon).  The colorful foliage and unusual shapes are the main reason most people add this plant to their gardens.  It likes moist rich soil, and can survive in shade or sun. The same variety may appear enhanced, or a particular color will become a stronger element of that same plant when in a different lighting situation.  It’s fun to experiment with cuttings from a plant and see the changes it makes when placed elsewhere in the garden.   In Michigan, we consider it an annual.  However, it is a perennial plant in native tropical Africa, Asia and Australia.  New cultivars with many varieties of colorful foliage have been recently introduced.  Propagation may be done by seed or cutting.  Cuttings seem to propagate fast if kept in moist soil and you can easily transplant them in a short time.  They also root well in water, even without rooting hormones.  It sometimes is susceptible to downy mildew, which appears on the foliage making it look dirty, twisted or curled.  Another disease, that you may find is impatiens necrotic spot virus which is spread by thrips.  Generally, it is an easy plant to grow and offers color without bloom.  It will produce a flower at the top of the leaves, which is usually small in size and purple in color.  The flower is no way as beautiful as the foliage.  Pinching it off will encourage added foliage.     Many a coleus has enriched my garden and I’ve included some of the photos in this slide show.  Please enjoy and  plan a spot now for this plant in your garden.   It’s definitely the workhorse in my garden.