How to grow Blue Coleus

Plants perform exceptionally well as ground covers, in warm dry areas, but can be successfully grown in light shade as well. If planted in rockeries the results are even better. Stems root easily and the plant spreads, forming a tidy clump. The plant is often used in the landscaping of difficult sites. It may look a little stressed in very dry conditions, but bounces back when it receives some water ¹.

Prefers loam to sandy soil with good drainage and has relatively low water requirements. This might be attributed to the light coloured foliage (grey-green), which is often associated with water-wise plants. The leaves reflect the sun’s rays, keeping the plant cool and ultimately reducing transpiration ¹.

Easily propagated from softwood cuttings, and this is the recommended method.

These estimates for how long Blue coleus takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

The name Plectranthus is derived from the Greek word plektron, meaning a spur, and anthos, a flower and neochilus is derived from the Latin word chilo, which refers to the (calyx) lips ¹.

Anecdotal: P. neochilus is believed to scare away snakes from human dwellings (perhaps because of their unpleasant aromatic smell)

Coleus cannis, Lobster flower, spur flower

Misspellings: Plectranthus noechilus

¹ PlantzAfrica entry on Plectranthus neochilus