Solenostemon FlameThrower Chipotle

The Coleus Flame Thrower Chipotle is a magnificent novelty, remarkable both for the colour of its leaves, its pretty dense tufted habit, and its good tolerance to both sun and shade. The plant forms a cushion covered with small leaves bordered with acid green to yellow on a dark Bordeaux to brown background. It rarely flowers and requires little maintenance. Grown as indoor plants or in the garden as annuals, Coleus are frost-sensitive. They are used to decorate balconies and terraces and are also particularly decorative in seasonal compositions.

Coleus, also known as Solenostemon or Plectranthus, are plants related to Basil. They belong to the Lamiaceae family, as evidenced by their small bilabiate flowers with elongated lower lip, their fleshy square-sectioned stems, and their dentate and velvety leaves on the underside. This genus includes around sixty species of frost-sensitive shrubby perennials, native to Asia and tropical Africa. Horticulture has given rise to numerous hybrids and cultivars, including the Solenostemon scutellarioides of the 'Flame Thrower' series, selected for their ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation.

The Coleus 'Flame Thrower Chipotle' forms compact tufts, not exceeding 40 cm (16in) in height and 45 cm (18in) in diameter in one season. The leaves are small, nicely dentate at the edges and slightly velvety. The center of the lamina is coloured reddish-brown, contrasting with a thin border of more or less yellowish green. Flowering, which is rare in this selection, is discreet. It sometimes occurs in late summer, 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 nettle' due to their incredibly diverse foliage, are irreplaceable for adding a beautiful exotic touch to any decor, in the garden as well as in the house, where they can live for several years. They prefer a semi-shaded exposure, which can be found at the edge of a bed of tall perennials or shrubs, or in a cool rockery exposed to the north or east, away from the burning rays of the sun. They allow for the creation of small mosaic-like beds of colours and pair well with begonias in flower pots. Their richness of colours makes them somewhat difficult to combine: small ferns like Polypodium or purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) will be good companions for Flame Thrower Coleus. They also go particularly well with begonias in flower pots.

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