About

Coleus scutellarioides 'Winsome' is a tender perennial subshrub typically cultivated as an annual. Its foliage features a distinctive variegation, primarily displaying a mix of mid-red and yellow patterns.

About the genus

This genus consists of annual or perennial herbs and shrubs, with some species exhibiting succulent or tuberous characteristics. They are among the simplest plants to propagate. The soft-textured foliage contributes rich colors, including red, pink, green, and purple, enhancing garden beds, borders, and container arrangements.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H1C

Plant details

Plant type
Bedding, Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1-2 years
Suggested uses
Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright filtered to moderate light. Pot up annually in spring. Grow on outdoors in humus-rich moist but well-drained soil. Provide a sheltered frost-free environment
Pruning
Pinch out tips to encourage bushiness. Cut back if bringing indoors for winter
Propagation
Propagate by seed in early spring (cultivars may not come true) or softwood cuttings in summer
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to mealybugs, scale insects and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free