Flamethrower flame nettle is a popular cosmetic plant life grown for its vibrant , multi - colored foliage . Its oculus - bewitch leaves come in a mix of burgundy , lime green , orangish , yellow , and more , creating a flamboyant showing in gardens and container . But one key question home nurseryman have is whether flamethrower coleus is a perennial or an annual works . screw the lifetime of this beautiful coleus will help guide how and where to use it in the landscape . In this article , we ’ll take a detailed face at whether flamethrower flame nettle is a recurrent or annual .
Overview of Flamethrower Coleus
Flamethrower coleus belongs to the plant genus Solenostemon and species scutellarioides . It ’s also known by its botanical name Plectranthus scutellarioides . This tropic plant is aboriginal to regions like Africa , Asia , and Australia . Flamethrower coleus is part of a popular serial publication of coleus breed by Ball Horticultural Company , featuring striking multicolored foliage .
What makes flamethrower flame nettle so prized is its kaleidoscope of colourful leaf . The foliage comes in diverge combinations of deep burgundy , shiny lime dark-green , vibrant orangish , sunny yellow , pinkish - red , and more . The leaves have a distinctly fluff , jagged edge . Mature flamethrower flame nettle reaches about 18 - 24 inches tall and wide . It has an upright , mound form .
Flamethrower coleus thrives in warm weather condition and does best in zones 10 - 11 . It needs at least 4 hours of direct sun per day . Too much shade will get the vibrant leaf coloring to fade . Well - drained , fertile soil keeps it happy . The flush are insignificant , as this plant life is all about the sensational foliage .
Is Flamethrower Coleus a Perennial?
Flamethrower coleus is primarily grow as an annual in most region . It can be consider a abruptly - lived perennial only in Robert Lee Frost - liberal climates where temperature stay above 40 ° F all year . In zone 10 - 11 flamethrower coleus may winter and riposte the following spring . Everywhere else , it ’s generally grown as an annual .
One grounds flamethrower flame nettle play as an annual is because it can not tolerate any icing . temperature dunk just below freeze will damage or kill the plant . Its aboriginal tropical habitat is freeze - free twelvemonth - round , so flamethrower coleus has no natural permissiveness to cold .
Even in geographical zone 10 or 11 , flamethrower coleus will thrive during the blistering summertime calendar month , but be given to decline in winter Flowering reduce its vigor , and the foliage may thin out or lose its striking colour during cool wintertime weather Each natural spring , gardeners in warm climates must judge if overwinter plants are strong enough to revive or if newfangled flora should be started .
Growing Flamethrower Coleus as an Annual
For most gardeners , the best way to enjoy flamethrower coleus is to produce it as a degraded and flashy yearbook . Here are some tips
kickoff seed indoors 8 - 10 calendar week before the last bear hoarfrost escort . Provide bright luminosity and temperatures around 70 ° F for good germination .
transplanting seedling or purchased plants out of doors after all danger of hoar has passed . Gradually acclimate plant to sunshine first .
infinite plants 12 - 15 column inch apart in beds and border . Ensure the soil is enriched with compost and drainpipe well .
Pinch back shoot tips sporadically to encourage bushy , stocky growth . This also sustain the life of the plant .
Water frequently , about 1 - 2 inches per week . Do n’t permit the territory completely dry out .
Fertilize every 2 - 3 calendar week with a balanced limpid fertiliser during the growing season .
take out spent flush to promote more leave and nurture plant vigour .
In frost - prostrate region , start out new flamethrower coleus plants each spring for the best performance . Plants usually decline after one growing time of year .
Using Flamethrower Coleus in Gardens and Containers
The blaze of color from flamethrower coleus work it a substantial standout in garden , window boxes , and planter . Here are some way to showcase it :
Garden Beds & Borders – Plant en masse for a sheer color statement . Or mix with blossom , leaf works , and grass over for exciting contrast . Use as edging along paths or the front of beds .
Containers & Planters – A peachy thriller plant for container jazz band . span with trailing plants like common ivy or vervain . Also shines solo in pots and window boxes .
Hanging Baskets – Cascades beautifully over basket edges . Mix with calibrachoa , petunias , or other drag annual .
Indoors – Grow in a cheery window as a houseplant . render unique indoor coloration all winter . Needs at least 4 hours of direct sun daily .
Overwintering Flamethrower Coleus Indoors
Gardeners in freeze - prone zones can winter flamethrower coleus indoors as a houseplant . This involve digging up a flora before the first fall frost and providing optimal indoor grow conditions . Here are some tips :
Choose the tidy , most vigorous plants to winter . Avoid flowering plants .
In late summer , snip the works by 1/3 to foreshorten stress on the beginning during transition .
Dig up the works and repot it into a container just slimly gravid than the rootball .
leave at least 4 hour of unmediated sunlight from a south or Occident - facing window . Use grow lights to supplement sunlight .
asseverate indoor temperature between 60 - 80 ° farad . Keep away from dusty drafts .
earmark the soil to partially dry out between waterings . Water less frequently in winter .
Resume fertilizing every 2 - 3 weeks in outflow when new ontogenesis emerge .
Transplant back outdoors after the peril of frost has buy the farm next year .
Overwintering dedicate gardeners in cold-blooded climate a chance to savour flamethrower coleus for more than one time of year . It requires persevering care to keep plants healthy indoors through the wintertime months .
Common Problems with Flamethrower Coleus
When grown as an annual , flamethrower flame nettle is relatively trouble - free . However , it can encounter a few problems to watch for :
Sunscald – Leaves grow brownish or whitener to bronze from too much direct sunshine . Provide good afternoon wraith in hot climates .
Fading leaf color – Warm weather , fertiliser , and abundant Dominicus is require to maintain the rich foliage hue .
Leggy growth – Increase sunlight exposure . snarf back on a regular basis to encourage bushiness .
theme rot – Avoid overwatering . Improve drainage if leaves wilt and industrial plant decline .
Mealybugs & whitefly – Check leaf undersides and treat early before pests spread .
Deer browsing – Typically not trouble by cervid . Use forcible barrier if needed .
With right care , preventive measure , and favorable uprise conditions , these job can be nullify in most cases . Flamethrower coleus is relatively unfussy when grown as an annual .
Final Thoughts on Flamethrower Coleus as Perennial vs. Annual
To resume central full point in this article :
Flamethrower coleus is in the main used as an annual in all zones except 10 and 11 . It can not endure frost or dusty temps below 40 ° F .
In USDA zones 10 - 11 only , flamethrower coleus may rejoin each spring and act as a curtly - live on perennial . Winter performance is often weak .
For most gardener , flamethrower flame nettle will thrive during one growing season and be replaced each spring for peak functioning .
turn it in seam , borders , containers , and hanging baskets to take advantage of its long summertime bloom period as an annual .
overwinter indoors is potential but requires diligent care . Plants often correct after one time of year .
Start new plants each year for the gravid optic impact from flamethrower flame nettle ’ stunning multicolored foliage .
So in review , flamethrower flame nettle should be viewed as an annual in all but the warm climates . Treat it as a quick and flashy seasonal plant to highlight seam , perimeter , pots , and basketball hoop for one vibrant rise time of year . Its permissiveness for spicy conditions and frost - sensitivity makes flamethrower coleus an ideal yearly for creating explosions of colourful pastime in your garden .
Annuals & Perennials Size Chart
Typically available from former spring through summer . Check with your local computer storage for current availability.
Fancy - march , mosaic - like leafage display a extensive array of colour from lime tree green , Au to burgundy . Makes a flashy annual in containers , borders or as an emphasis .
Plant with Sweet Potato Vine
These characteristics apply to the greater Sacramento area and nearby regions . Do you live outside of our service area ? Please check with your local conjunct extension to receive out what the best ways are to grow plants in your domain .
Grows well in enrich grease with good drain . Feed with a world-wide fertiliser in spring after planting . Coleus is icing tender and will break back almost completely during wintertime . Can be bring inside and overwintered as a houseplant to avoid frost .
Typically uncommitted from early spring through summer . Check with your local store for current availability . Warm - season annual bear single or dou .
compendious , low - growing , affectionate - season annual . Produces an abundance of small white , pink or over-embellished flower clusters . Plant as a infinite filling dry land cov .
Perennial that is often develop as an annual . Stalks of white , pinkish , or purple flowers bloom throughout summer atop foliage . Use as in containers or .
Typically available from wintertime to summertime . Call your favorite memory for current availability . Compact perennial has frilly , fragrant flower that .
Annual grows bunch of striking , fragrant flowers in pink , majestic , cherry-red , coral , blue - violet that flush spring through fall . Stop by the memory board for .
