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Copper-or salmon-colored coleus?

11 years ago

Does anyone know if there is a copper- or salmon-colored coleus variety that can be grown from seed? Like many of us, I am hunting for something to replace impatiens for my shady beds that need a burst of color. I love several of the salmon- and bright copper-colored coleus. But the ones I have are grown only from cuttings and I would need too many of them for what they cost, compared to the four flats of impatiens I usually get or grow from seed every year.

I winter sow some coleus now from seed, but not in the colors I would want to replace impatiens. And I just haven't had luck getting cuttings to root and last all winter without running into disease problems on coleus (or impatiens for that matter).

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Comments (10)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
Have you tried holding the cuttings in water for the winter?
goblugal
11 years ago
There are no Copper/Salmon coleus from seed - like you have discovered, they are all propagated vegetatively. Your best bet would be to visit an independent garden center, and ask if they can bring in a larger quantity, grown in a smaller container, just for you. A tray of liners would be your best bet
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I think some of the newer varieties just donÂt do as well. For a number of years I have been buying Giant Exhibition (mixed colors) and Black Dragon. No problems with any of them: both got big and healthy both in the garden (soft, well-amended soil) and in pots. Then in the last few years I have tried Stained Glass, which grew a bit then stopped. All it wanted to do after that was make flowers. All of which I nipped off but it never made any more leaves or bushed out. 2 years ago I fell in love with Wizard Pineapple: a great yellow-green color. I bought a lot, put it in pots and in the ground. None of them ever got taller than 3 inches at most, then followed the same pattern as the Stained Glass. Just in case it was a fluke I bought more Wizard Pineapple this year and they followed the same pattern. All they want to do is make flowers. Side by side, planted in the same pots, and in the same locations in the garden, the older varieties are growing like mad, and respond to pinching. The new ones are dwarf little midgets. Pinch a flower and they just make a new one, not a leaf. All were planted immediately after purchase and had no chance to become rootbound. All have plenty of water and sun. This year I saw a really charming new kind called Coral Sunrise. Wavy-edged green with a coral stripe down the middle. They were only in inch or 2 high when planted out. Those did not grow AT ALL. They are the same size now as when planted 2 months ago. Phooey.
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Interesting - it's not my experience, but I've read that Dipt in Wine requires full sun whereas Stained Glass (although the color may vary) tolerates shade well. From your weather conditions, I'd expect you'd have the opposite results form what you had. On the other hand - is stunted really a problem? You say it's not sick. At any rate, Dave's Garden has some information on both cultivars. You might check the link below and then search for "Coleus Stained Glass" for more information. Here is a link that might be useful: Dave's Garden - Coleus
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I planted Wizard Mix April 6 - never realizing how much time coleus needed to grow. As it turned out, I'm only 2 weeks off because we've had cold nights (below 40F) right up to May 20th. I wanted to show how much my coleus have grown in just one week. The top picture is May 21, when they were 6 1/2 weeks old. After a week on my back porch, at 7 1/2 weeks old, they are finally showing some of their true colors. I'm so glad I didn't cull the plain green ones, because they're not plain anymore! I read online coleus takes 9 weeks from seed to plant in the ground. I think that's true, and next year, I'll mark my calendar and really get it done on time. I found Rainbow Mix seeds and they are taller, and I plan to start those next winter. I like the shapes of Carefree, and am waiting to buy those from Ebay.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
Wait.....I think I saw some options when I was looking around early this morning, but I still haven't figured out how to attach links with my Kindle Fire (which I am using now) .

I'll post later tonight.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
OK, Kimka....here's the seed company I saw earlier. There might be something in their large collection of seed propagated Coleus that might please you. At least, it gives you an idea of what might be available.

I surely do see some that I don't think that I can live without.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lots of Coleus from seed
eahamel
11 years ago
Wow, that's an impressive assortment of coleus from seed! Thanks for posting that, Rhizo!

Here's a link to a place that sells plants, several thousand it looks like. They have several pages of them, take your time.

Here is a link that might be useful: rareplants coleus
rusty_blackhaw
11 years ago
Coleus seed selections have improved in recent years (there's a lot more to choose from than just mixes like the "Fairway" series), and this is probably a reasonable option for those wanting shade plants.

Still, for the most attractive and best performing coleus (including those that work in full sun too), cuttings are the way to go. Not all coleus seem equally vigorous on windowsills or under lights over the winter, but many are easy to propagate, like this red I mass-produced plants from this past winter:

{{gwi:20465}}
eahamel
11 years ago
That's a drop-dead gorgeous red!
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
11 years ago
Eric, could you tell us how you did this? My cuttings in water usually rot after a while.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
If a dead leaf falls in the water, it can make things icky. Do you think that's what happened? They also need a lot of light.
kvenkat
11 years ago
Rosy Dawn Gardens has the most coleus for sale that I have seen. I have ordered from them and have been pleased.

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