Solenostemon scutellaroides Mezmerize​ Rusty Red

Coleus Mezmerize Rusty Red is a tender perennial plant to be grown as an indoor plant or as an annual in your borders and containers. This variety is distinguished by its chocolate foliage tinged with pink and finely toothed. It will bring depth and originality to your combinations. Sow it in spring. Coleus is easy to grow and appreciates moist soil and a bright, but not scorching, exposure.

From the Lamiaceae family, like nettle and basil, Coleus, also known as Solenostemon or Plectranthus, are tender shrubby perennials, native to Asia and tropical Africa. They are mainly cultivated for their decorative foliage, but they also offer spike-like flowering during the summer. Their small two-lipped flowers with elongated lower lip are typical of the Lamiaceae family. The flowers are usually removed as soon as the buds appear so that the plants do not exhaust themselves producing seeds and maintain generous foliage.

The Mezmerize Rusty Red Coleus forms an erect and well-branched clump that can reach 40 to 50 cm in all directions. Admire its oval, finely toothed leaves with a velvety finish. The lamina is chocolate to dark purple tinged with pink on the periphery. The central vein appears sprinkled with silver. The Rusty Red variety is appreciated for its good heat tolerance. Its foliage is not prone to curling under the sun.

In the garden, place it at the edge of a border or in a beautiful container. Coleus are essential in mosaic bedding and very popular in parks and public gardens. Combine the Rusty Red coleus with begonias like Gumdrop Coco White begonia with chocolate foliage and white flowers or soften it with the salmon-flowered grandiflora begonia.