Solenostemon Golden Freckles

The Coleus Golden Freckles is a variety of Plectranthus with generous and rounded foliage, marbled with green-beige, red, and then orange. This variety has slightly toothed and striped leaves. It is of medium vigor and well-branched, with an upright habit and tolerates the sun well. Coleus plants are frost-sensitive and can be grown as indoor plants or as annuals in gardens to decorate balconies and terraces. They are also particularly appreciated in seasonal compositions and contemporary decorations. Their exotic charm is very effective and they require little maintenance. This variety is cultivated in semi-shade or non-burning sun, in moist soil.

Coleus, also known as Solenostemon, recently renamed Plectranthus, are plants related to Basil and nettle. They belong to the Lamiaceae family, as indicated by their small bilabiate flowers with elongated lower lip, their fleshy square section stems, and their toothed and hairy leaves on the underside. This genus comprises about sixty species of frost-sensitive perennial shrubs, native to Asia and tropical Africa. Horticulture has given rise to numerous hybrids and cultivars, including many descendants of Solenostemon scutellarioides.

The Coleus Golden Freckles forms an upright, dense, and rounded clump, reaching about 50 cm (20in) in all directions in one season. The leaves are rounded to oval in shape, with a slightly toothed edge. The lamina is slightly textured and green-beige in colour, randomly streaked with red and then orange. The flowering is discreet. It sometimes occurs at the end of the season, 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 generous foliage.

Coleus, also known as 'painted nettles' because of their incredibly diverse foliage, are irreplaceable for adding a beautiful exotic touch to any decor, both in the garden and indoors, where they can live for several years. They thrive in semi-shaded positions, which can be found on the edge of a tall perennial border or among shrubs, or in a cool rockery exposed to the north or east, away from the burning rays of the sun. They can be used to create small mosaic-like beds of colours and pair well with begonias in flower pots. Their range of colours is such that they can be quite challenging to pair with other plants: small ferns like Polypodium or purple misère (Tradescantia pallida) make good companions for Coleus. Since Golden Freckles tolerates sunny locations, it can also be combined with Cosmos Chocamocha or red or orange dwarf Dahlias.

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