Coleus.

I built a Pergola and an Arch this year and I was looking for some Oriental effect ornaments and plants to add around the area to give an Oriental garden look.

A friend recommended Coleus and gave me eight plants he grew himself,I have never had Coleus in my gardens. I planted the eight Coleus in pots and I am so impressed by this plant.

There are not two plants alike,the leaves are so vibrant in colours,Reds,Greens,Browns, and Yellows,all different veins,mottled,and now they are shooting long Blue flowers on every leaf stem, very impressive.
The Coleus gives an Oriental effect to the surroundings of the garden and really sets it off..

(Dead Chuffed).

 

I've tried growing it by seed and had no success for some reason, they germinate but never grown on!
So decided to a few plug plants this year and like yourself I dead chuffed with them. I took around a dozen cuttings yesterday and Sunday and placed them in a jar of water.
Hopefully I'll get them through winter

 

Not east to over winter, usually they suffer leaf drop below 10c and below that they might rot, indoors on a window sill is best.
not sure why your seedlings didn't grow on Sean as they are 'normally' easy to grow, it depends where you kept them and the temperature.

 

Yes very nice, but not hardy?

Val

 

They are my nemesis @strongylodon tried the last 2 years they germinate but never seem to get pass the seed leave stage!

 

I used to grow Coleus from seed.
I think they need to be sown a bit later than a lot of bedding plants as they like it warm and good light.
They grow like the clappers once conditions suit them.

I'd only ever bother overwintering any named plants.#
Seed grown plants start flowering too early in the following year, and just look untidy.

 

Me too. Tried them for the first time (planted out) last year. Set off the Exotic Border a treat



put them in the planters too

I find they are very slow to develop. I sow them early, put them under lights to get them going, and then once I get to end of May and they are planted out they soon get a wiggle on

I sow the Purple ones earlier than the ones with some green as I find they are even slower to develop.

Yup, definitely agree with that. Bought half a dozen varieties from Dibleys last year, although we liked them all we have only kept two varieties going (by cuttings). Saturn that we like the colours of and Pagoda because of its massive leaves.