NOS
COLEUS =
SOLENOSTEMON
PAGE

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Do not link to this page.		 'Crimson Velvet' is a bright, solid shade, dense and well-formed, heat tolerant, and quick to attain some size. In some conditions the leaves develop more of a two-tone red look, showing a much darker red center. Click on this image for a larger version. 'Saturn' is one of the brightest and most effective cultivars in the dark red and chartreuse combination. The two zones of color are solid and rich, giving a bright look from some distance - unlike most of the finely mottled or speckled clones. Note how it picks up and matches the chartreuse of the surrounding Alternanthera. Click on this image for a larger version.
Recommended Literature:

Pedley, R. and K. Pedley. 1974. Coleus: a guide to their cultivation and identification. John Bartholomew, Edinburgh. (Long the standard book on the genus).

Stout, A.B. 1916. The development of the horticultural varieties of Coleus. Journ. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 17(204)L 209-218 (a useful discussion of the early cultivars, their species parentages, and the formation of cultivar groups based on morphology)

 

 

CULTIVAR LEAF COLOR LEAF TYPE/
MARGIN		 MISC
Alabama Sunset (Alabama Sun, Alabama?) creamy yellow developing rich reddish-pink to cranberry tints, a bicolor effect overall. The red tints are very refined in their distribution.   from Alabama. Strong, upright, mounded, almost a shrub by fall. Said to be sun tolerant in the US south but it often bleath badly in central North Carolina sun. A good wide blade and best with some shade. A Top 10 landscape favorite in the US.
Amazon pure ochre highly ruffled  
Amazon Ochre ochre flecked rose red   from Indianapolis Zoo.
Anne Boleyn dark green, lighter green flecks   Narrow blade. Upright form.
Antique copper-green, speckled orange-red   Frieling. Dense foliage
Arabian Nights = Red Cascade      
Atlas bright green to chartreuse center, flame patterns in pink and violet, velvety purple midzone, chartreuse margin Scalloped Large, cupped blade.
Aurora purple center, parchment colors veined purple, lime margin    
Autumn dull maroon red, green markings Scalloped  
Aztec     Compact, 20-24 in.
Barnum speckled green, pink, and cream    
Beauty pink and purple, darker center, yellow margin    
Beauty of Lyon   Frilled, highly cut, twisted  
Bellingraf yellow tinged rose-red   Similar to 'Alabama Sunset' and possibly a synonym.
Beyond Avacado solid pastel medium green, matt finish   Good-sized shrubby landscape form.
Big Red dark red, thin green margin   Strong, vigorous plant. Stems dark red, showy.
Bizarre Croton cream veined pink Croton Stems, petiole pink, showy.
Blackheart dark blackish-purple center, green margin rehneltianus Trailing.
Black Ducksfoot dark blackish-purple, much darker with a bit of sun. Duckfoot 12 in. A super combo of fine texture and color. A useful plant for contrast in any summer container. It is probably the same as 'Purple Duckfoot'
Black Magic dark brownish-purple, bright and medium green scalloped teeth to margin, medium green center Scalloped Compact branching. Best with some shade.
Black Prince blackish-purple   Vigorous.
Black Trailer dark red, blackish-red at times, thin green margin   10 in. tall x 18 in. wide. A nice trailing form for baskets.
Blair's Witch Burgundy to purple center with green, yellow, and red zones. Scalloped  
Brilliant red center, margined yellow, other tints occur Crimped Compact, uniform.
Brilliancy Carmine to bright red, green margin Scalloped  
Brocade dark magenta-purple, margined bronze-pink ruffled from Downer. Good bedding plant form.
Bronze Gloriosa green, apex marked purple and bronze    
Bronze Pagoda     A listed name.
Burgundy Columns      
Burgundy Sun velvety burgundy red   24-30 in. Large blade. Slow to flower. Sunshine Series.
Butter Cream     A listed name.
Buttermilk white to light yellow center, cream mottled, light green zone, white to cream ribs   Upright form. Known since 1965.
Cameroon ochre, mottled medium green, veined pink, amber-pink below    
Candidum ivory center, bright green outside   An old cultivar, not as widely seen today.
Camilla complex blend of light pink, mauve, light green, tawny, and yellow   Dense, mound form.
Cantigny Royale dark brownish-red or maroon well lobed Dense, compact plant. From Cantigny Gardens, Wheaton IL USA
Cardinal burgundy red, lime green margin   Large blade.
Carefree Group various Oakleaf Claude Hope hybrids.
Carnival green and red, mottled white and brown   Introduced 1970.
Chamaeleon blend of pink, yellow, and green, quite variable   Intro. 1975
Careless Love random mix of chartreuse and burgundy    
Carousel two tones of purple, green margin   Large blade.
Christmas Candy randomly m,ottled pink, red, magenta, dark green, and cream    
Cinders     A listed name.
Citron Ruffles     A listed name.
Coal Mine bright green, densely speckled in dark purple to black (like coal dust)   Strong stems, large blade
Collette light yellow-ochre, pink and cream zones rehneltianus Collette's Greenhouses, Belpre OH USA.
Color Pride red, bronze, and green blend    
Concord velvet-like dark red and pink, teeth greenish    
Copper Sprite copper-pink motted green, margin yellow    
Cranbarry Salad burgundy and green blend.   Tall to 36 in. Sunlover Series.
Cranberry Splash yellow mottled and streaked red   Sport of 'Cranberry Salad'
Crazy Quilt dark red, mottled darker red and ochre   Popular for standards
Crimson Ruffles dark crimson to red, purple veins, thin green margin Frilled  
Crimson Velvet bright crimson, velvety sheen, heavily veined or centered a darker crimson red    
Crinkley Bottom dark reddish-purple Crinkled  
Crown of Bohemia dark red markins Cordiform  
Dada Daddy bright yellow, white flame, heavily speckled yellow, carmine, and violet.   from Frieling.
Dairy Maid cream, mottled with green    
Dark Frills     Sport of 'India Frills' from Charles Downer.
Dark Star very dark blackish-purple   Probably the darkest clone. Nicely branched. Brownish-violet stems.
Dazzler irregular mottled white, green, and dark red   Large blade.
Defiance red center, wide greenish-yellow margin    
Dipt in Wine ochre with lower half bright red as if dipt in wine.   Wide blade.
Display velvety dark orange, black veins, green margin   Intro. 1975
Dolly medium yellow, irregular green and orange segments Fringed Smallish blade.
Dracula blood red (of course), green margin Cordiform  
Dragon Series various, always a sharp chartreuse margin Lobed, oak-like Large blades. Compact, self-branching
Dragon's Claw     A listed name.
Ducksfoot Series various. Duckfoot An unregistered trademark has been asserted by Hatchett Creek among others. This is a doubtful use of a trademark since the name has been long established in the genus such as in 'Purple Duckfoot'
Ducksfoot Dark Red dark purplish-red Duckfoot 'Purple Duckfoot' is a blacker color.
Ducksfoot Midnight dark blackish-purple, some light green flecks Duckfoot  
Ducksfoot Purple = Purple Duckfoot      
Ducksfoot Ruffled purple, pink, light green zones Duckfoot Ruffled, less cut than 'Ducksfoot Midnight'
Dwarf Trailing some= Indian Chief      
Eclipse Bright violet tinged pink Scalloped  
Elia Cinders rich purple, dusted or speckled dark green   Rounded blade.
Emerald Forest rich green blotched another green   Upright habit
Emily golden center, yellow-brown margin Frilled  
Etna lime center, velvety pink tinged red, lime tips Ruffled  
Evil dark blackish-red    
Fack pink center, brownish-purple, green teeth    
Fiesta pink, netted red and chartreuse   Vern Ogden.
Firebrand scarlet, green and yellow margin Scalloped Flat, large blade. Intro. 1972.
Fire Fingers dark red, green margin Finger-leaf, deeply incised, twisted  
Firefly reddish-pink center, margins green and cream    
Flemenco scarlet red, yellow-green margin Frilled  
Flirtin' Skirts green center, light yellow margin, radiating red lines, overall gold flecked red and green Ruffled Neat 18 x 18 in. plants
Freckles green with red freckles   Sunlover Series. A plant of this name on one UK list says "apricot orange with red blotches". The UK name dates to 1955. That does not match what is sold in the US under this name. It would be an easy name to originate in several places and times.
Frilled Beauty dark red, becoming lighter red, margins green becoming yellow Frilled  
Funfair yellow mottled white and pink    
Fusion lime green, veined purple, purple brushmarks    
Garnet = Red Cascade      
Gaslight scarlet red, chartreuse net-veined margin    
Gay's Delight chartreuse with dark veins   Extremely tall, 36-48 in. Sunlover Series.
Ghost Rider   Crested From Doug Lohman.
Glennis chartreuse to light yellow center, brown to violet veins, dark pink to purple margins   Small but wide leaf.
Gloriosa terracotta orange and green Undulate, crimped, arrowhead-shaped Intro. 1979 which calls the Latin word into question.
Glory of Luxembourg velvety red, yellow margins    
Gold Giant tawny gold, burgundy below   Large blade. Can become tall, shrubby
Goldie cream suffused medium green, marked and veins with purple    
Green and Gold Queen greenish-cream center, bright lime outside rehneltianus Trailing.
Green Ball = Yellow Croton?      
Green Cloud medium green, violet veins, faint olive and red speckled crested A listed name.
Green Earrings bright green, veins cream to off white   Stems purple, showy.
Green Mars green tinged red Crinkled Sport of 'Red Mars'
Haines dusky dark red fades to salmon pink at the margins    
Hallelujah     A listed name.
Harvest-time green with red markings and tints Crinkled  
Holly pink to white center, green outside cut, undulate, holly-like Large blade.
Hurricane Benji     Hurricane™ Series.
Hurricane Jenni     Hurricane™ Series.
Hurricane Louise pink center, red halo zone    
India Frills complex and ornate pink, purple, green zonations Frilled, finely cut Smallish blade. Forms a dense mound of very beautiful foliage.
Indian Chief yellow, red, and green tricolor look Duckfoot Dwarf, compact.
Inky Fingers dark purple center, bright medium green margin, some white possible Finger-leaf Low form, good for bedding.
Inky Pink brownish-violet and pink tones    
Jade Wizard ivory, dark green margin    
Jan's Gold green, golden yellow margin   US Patent #12174 to Jan Grocholski.
Japanese Giant pink and violet on purplish-brown   Very largem thick stems, Very huge leaf.
Jazz     A listed name.
Jean dark red, irregular purple markins, gold margin Scalloped Tall. Large blade.
Jeanette     A listed name.
Joseph's Coat irregular bandings and zones of green, pink, red, and purple    
Josh Cooke bright green, lobed light pink center    
Juliet Quatermain rich ruby red or just mottled red nettle-shaped  
Jungle Love green heavily spotted dark red, becoming mostly red rounded Large blade.
Jupiter copper becoming dark red Frilled, crested  
Kentish Fire salmon pink, brown midzone, green margin   Compact. Known since Victorian times.
Kingwood Karnival center veined magenta, brown tints, gold margin sabre-like  
Kingwood Kritter golden cream, spotted ochre, light pink veins    
Kingwood Rose bright pink with brown markings    
Kiwi Fern dark purplish-red, golden yellow margin Frilled, fern-like, deeply cut Very ornate blade. Highly distinct clone. Compact form.
Klondyke bright orange, apex yellow, streaked brownish-red Scalloped  
Lava Flow dark purple, mottled pink Frilled  
Lemon Chiffon light yellow, becoming lime veined purple   Wide leaf. Dark purple stems. Mounded form.
Leopard yellowish-green, spotted burgundy Finger-leaf Sport of 'Yellow Corton'
Lifeline solid yellow   Mahogany colored stems. Freiling hybrid.
Lime Frill yellow-cream center, lime green overall Frilled, ruffled  
Lohman's Crest dark red sabre-shaped Fasciated, crested stems. Doug Lohman find. Fasicated mutations are not uncommon but can be difficult to propagate.
Lord Falmouth crimson red and brown, green margin rehneltianus Trailing.
Kiwi Fern dark red, margined golden yellow Fern-leaved, ruffled A simply stunning and distinct clone. Deserves to be in every Coleus garden.
Mardi Gras rich blend of green, yellow, and red   Compact form.
Marisa ochre-gold, flecked yellow, reddish-violet veins, reddish-violet margin    
Mars (see Misc ->)     In the US this name can mean 'Purple Duckfoot'. There is also a Mars Series - see 'Red Mars' and 'Green Mars'
Max Levering yellow-greenwith dark red zones and random spots    
Meg Hay rich red, lime margin    
Melody green suffused red    
Midas dark reddish-purple Crinkled  
Midnight dark purple, margined green Crinkled  
Mission Gem pink spotted purple, yellow to green marbled margin    
Morning Mist green and lime with burgundy tints    
Mr. Wonderful red center, green outside, heavily netted in red    
Mrs. Pilkington dark red center, red midzone, cream margin and tip Teardrop-shaped Compact form.
Muriel Pedley red, maroon, cream, and green Scalloped  
Mutated Japanese Giant "looks like sald for Godzilla" says Glasshouse Works    
Nettie green, pink, and purple blend arrowhead-shaped  
New Orleans burgundy center, yellow to light green margins   Similar to 'Black Magic'. Very tall to 42 in.
Night Skies dark purple, umber tints, yellow dots (stars)    
October Wedding burgundy and lime Scalloped Large blade.
Odalisque blackish-maroon center, yellow-green to gold margin   Trailing.
Old Timer     A listed name.
Olympic Torch = Shocking Pink      
Othello blackish-purple   Richly textured leaf. Can be slow.
Pat Martin burgundy center, chartreuse margin   Tall to 40 in. Sunshine Series.
Penney (Penny) light bronze-olive green, magenta veins Triangular, wide scallops Vern Ogden hybrid.
Percy Roots dark purple, thin green margin   Sport of Juliet Quartermain.
Phantom green, red, and bronze Finger-leaf  
Pineapple bright greenish-gold   Burgundy stems. Notable for little or no flowering. Sunshine Series. The simple name 'Pineapple' has been confused with the following clones.
Pineapple Beauty dark red center, lime green to golden yellow outside    
Pineapple Prince light yellow or "metallic bronze gold", tinted pink to purple, dark purple below   Stems dark purple, showy. Tall, strong plant. Frieling hybrid.
Pineapple Queen lime yellow, showy dark red petiole, burgundy apex and sometimes burgundy midrib   Nicely texture blade. Slow to bloom.
Pineapple Red bright reddish-orange Frilled  
Pineapplette yellow spotted red Frilled Strong growing, durable.
Pink Devil bright pink spotted maroon, green margin Frilled  
Pink Rainbow pink, bronze, orange, and green   Rainbow Series. Large 10-12cm blades.
Pink Shawl pink, green, and brown blend Frilled, Fantasia-type  
Pistachio Nightmare medium red center, zones cream to ivory, bright green margins    
Plum Parfait plum purple and pink center, ivory and green margin Scalloped, Ruffled Sunshine Series. Proven heat tolerant in Texas.
Poyton dark red, cerise pink center, green spots Serrate margin Around since1955.
Pride of Autumn bright carmine, brown zone, greenish margin   Ivory white stem.
Primrose Cloud light primose yellow highly cut, contorted  
Primrose Spire lemon yellow, dappled green Scalloped  
Primrose Spray spotted lime and golden yellow Spatulate Very small blade. Spreading mounded form.
Purple Duckfoot medium to dark blackish-purple, varying with the light Duckfoot Popular for the contrast of both texture and color. A lower spreading to sometimes globose form that is excellent for bedding. Holds it color very well in many climates and conditions.
Purple Emperor solid blackish-purple Ruffled, fluted, crested  
Purple Prose dark purple, redder center    
Radical Butterbean rich green puckered Purple stems.
Raspberry Custard medium yellow, finely veined magenta, magenta margin, green mottled edge    
Rainbow Strain various   One of the first popular seed strain. Yielded about 90% good-colored, compact seedlings. The Wizard Strain and others have mostly replaced it.
Raver's Delight pink, brown, and lilac blend Scalloped, deeply so  
Red Cascade dark blackish-red, gold margin   More red than 'Black Trailer'
Red Coat red lined with yellow    
Red Croton bright cerise pink and black Croton, undulate  
Red Mars dull red, green tings Feather-like Small, refined blade. Dwarf, good for bedding out.
Red Nettie red, green, and yellow blend. Fades dark maroon red. arrowhead-shaped  
Red Ruffles dark red, green margins Ruffled 30 in. Thick waxy blade. Sunlover Series
Red Trailing Queen dark reddish-purple, thin green margin   Trailing form.
Red Paisley Shawl green and maroon, pink and ivory margins long, crimpled blade  
Red Velvet entirely velvet-like purplish-red   Lime green stems, showy.
Religious Radish dark brownish-red center, radish red margin, marked black   Very bold and distinct clone.
Rex chartreuse fading to yellow tips, brightly marked dark red and carmine in the center    
Rheingold gold, lime, and green blend, brownish-green tracings Finger-leaf From Downer.
Rob Roy cerise pink center, black midzone, green margin   Trailing.
Rosa yellow center, rose-purple bruskmarks, bright green margin Scalloped Small, refined blade.
Rose Blush white mottled green, rose tinged   Large blade.
Rose Trailer rose-red center, creamy yellow ring, olive green margin   NOT the same as 'Trailing Rose' so it should be renamed to avoid confusion. Cascades nicely.
Roseo magenta pink, red tints, lime veins, chartreuse teeth Scalloped  
Roy Pedley lime green, burgundy flecked near veins    
Royal Scot orange-red center, bright golden margin   Upright, strong form.
Ruby Flush rich red, tinged darker red   Sport of 'Cranberry Salad'
Rustic Orange light orange, especially bold at the apex, yellow margin, coral-orange tints   34 in. Sunlover Series. Some report it can be slow.
Saint Valentine (St. Valentine) dark pink center (like a heart perhaps), green margin   Tall to 36 in. Cultivar names should not contain abbreviations like St.
Salmon Plumes cherry red center, yellow to green margin highly cut, twisted  
Sam Cooke green and burgundy blend    
Saturn light yellow to lime center in a small "lance" shape (20-25%), dark purplish-red base, some lime spots, teeth slightly lighter or yellow   Tall, 36-40 in. Sunshine Series. Very effective bicolor look at a distance.
Say Cheese yellow-green, tinged pink, suffused apple green    
Scarlet Poncho red, flecked green, yellow-green margin   Dwarf, 10-12 in.
Scarlet Ribbons cherry red center, dark red zone, green margin narrow, ribbon-like  
Schizophrenia light yellow, very random burgundy markings   Larger blade. Broadly branched form.
Shocking Pink pink, lilac, brown, and lime becoming bright pink in sun    
Sizzle medium pea green, thin crwam veins, heavily purple flecks   Large blade. Upright habit.
Snowflake dark red, thin green margin Finger-leaf From Vern Odgen.
Solar Eclipse bronze center, reddish, marked black, yellow margin Scalloped PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solar Flare medium cherry red center on medium to dark green to olive or black, dark to bright yellow margin Serrated Wide, thick blade. PPAF. Hatchett Creek. Nice mounded habit with maturity. Slightly puckered leaf.
Solar Furnace dark red   PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solar Red velvety red   PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solar Shade solid lime green, a lighter pleasing shade   PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solar Shadow green with dark red accents and margins   PPAF. Hatchett Creek. Larger blade.
Solar Spectrum blend of green, red, and bronze, often whote with red markings Serrated PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solar Storm green, dark red, ivory to yellow margin highly incised PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solar Sunrise "red and bronze with yellow and green"   PPAF. Hatchett Creek.
Solomon yellow tinged dark red   Sport of 'Pineapple Queen'
Sparkler creamy yellow center becomes greener, some red tracings Finger-leaf, ruffled Dwarf to 12 in.
Speckles yellow spotted and blotched red    
Spire dull green to yellow Scalloped, deeply so Petiole and stem red, showy
Stained Glass dark velvety purple, vein very bright pink    
Stormy Weather ochre spotted gold and red Frilled, Scalloped Purple stem.
Strawberry Jam strawberry red of course    
Sunbeam light yellow, refined green and cream markings    
Sunset russet red   Compact.
Swinging Linda rose-purple, violet margins, pink flames rehneltianus Trailing. Doug Litchfield selection. A good hanging basket, hence the name.
Swiss Sunshine light yellow center, raspberry red markings, bright yellow and green margins   Trailing. Small refined blade.
Tell Tale Heart blackish-purple heart-like center, green margins   Trailing. Smallish blade.
Texas Parking Lot = Alabama Sunset AND Shocking Pink      
The Line light lime green, thin dark burgundy midrib or central line   Quite a distinct line and a very recognizable clone.
Thumbellina green and burgundy blend Rounded, tiny leaf Compact, 20 in. Sunlover Series.
Tilt-a-Whirl purple, irregular lime green margin    
Tobasco     A listed name. Probably 'Tabasco sauce red". Tabasco is however a commercially trademarked name.
Tom Cooke red and cream center, green margin    
Trailing Queen pink center, dark green and brownish-purple zones rehneltianus An old, colorful favorite. Flowers can be very showy in their violet glory.
Trailing Red = Red Cascade      
Trailing Rose bright red center, dark purple midzone, thin green margin   Trailing, low-growing.
Treales purple, green, and pink blend    
Ulrich green, ornately flecked dark red, later yellow veined lilac Scalloped, Cordiform  
Valentine crimson-red, thin yellow edge   Not to be confused with 'Saint Valentine'
Vesuvius brown, marked salmon, green margin pointed blade Compact
Victorian Ruffles brownish-purple, lime margin, mauve tints fluted leaf From Doug Lohman. Compact, mounded.
Violet Tricolor bright pink to violet center, dark purple zone, lime green margin. Center is more magenta in the sun. Scalloped  
Volcano bright red    
Watercolor creamy yellow center, rose tints, green margined, interesting blending and suffusion of colors Scalloped  
Wetzer     A listed name.
White Gem pure white center, green outside   Large smooth blade. Compact form.
White Pheasant white center, broad green margin Deeply cut  
Wild Lime bright yellow center, lime green margin    
Winsome orange, pink, and red blend. Green and yellow margin    
Winter Sun brownish-orange, thin yellow margin    
Wizard Strain   Small, ovate Dwarf to 12 in., self-branching.
Wisley Tapestry rich tapestry blend of red, yellow, and green, a good combination and balance. Finger-leaf Wisley Gardens. Prostrate, trialing. Popular for bedding in the UK
Yellow Croton dull yellow to yellow-green, red veins Croton Compact form.
Zap Gnarley lime, heavily marked cream and dark red Fringed Mounded, low, whorled leaves