Solenostemon Copinto Long Island Ice Tea

The Coleus Copinto Long Island Ice Tea is a variety of Plectranthus whose foliage evokes the eponymous cocktail with the warmth and sweetness of its amber colour; its leaves blend apricot, caramel, and bronze, a colour nicely accentuated by fine red veins. Vigorous and with a well-defined appearance, the plant has an upright, bushy habit. Being frost-sensitive, Coleus plants are cultivated as indoor plants or in gardens as annuals to decorate balconies and terraces. They are also particularly decorative in seasonal compositions and contemporary designs. Their exotic charm makes a big impression and they require little maintenance, in semi-shade and in moist soil

Coleus, also known as Solenostemon and recently renamed Plectranthus, are plants related to Basil and nettle. They belong to the mint family, as indicated by their small bilabiate flowers with elongated lower lip, their fleshy square stems, and their toothed and velvety leaves on the underside. This genus includes around sixty species of frost-tender perennial shrubs, native to Asia and tropical Africa. Horticulture has produced numerous hybrids and cultivars, including many descendants of Solenostemon scutellarioides.

The Coleus 'Copinto Long Island Ice Tea' forms an upright, dense, and rounded clump, reaching about 55 cm (22in) in all directions in one season. The sturdy and branched stems bear medium-sized leaves with small serrations along the edges. The slightly hairy lamina varies in colour, ranging from amber to orange. The flowering, which is late and sporadic in this selection, is discreet. Occasionally, pale mauve-blue flowers may appear at the end of the season. 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 referred to as 'painted nettles' due to their incredibly diverse foliage, are irreplaceable for adding a beautiful exotic touch to any setting in the garden or indoors, where they can live for several years. They prefer semi-shaded exposure, which can be found on the edge of a bed of tall perennials or shrubs, or in a cool rockery exposed to the north or east, away from the scorching rays of the sun. They allow for creating small mosaic-like beds of colours and pair well with begonias in flower pots. The richness of their colours makes them somewhat difficult to combine: small ferns like Polypodium or purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) will be good companions for Coleus Copinto Long Island Ice Tea. They also go particularly well with begonias in flower pots.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products reserved for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them in sheltered areas (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.