Arabesque Dipt Wine

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Lamiaceae

Order

Lamiales

Genus

Solenostemon

Species

coleoides

Description

Ornamental herbaceous plant with vigorous growth and an upright habit. Appreciated for its vibrantly coloured foliage, resistant to summer heat and suitable for any exposure from shade to full sun. The new varieties are used by gardeners and green enthusiasts at all levels of experience to create landscaping effects in flower beds as well as for terraces and balconies, even in arrangements with ornamental flowering species, due to the unique decorative accent given by the leaves that remain bright and lush even when exposed to high summer temperatures.

Variety description

The bi-coloured burgundy/lime leaf dipt wine belongs to a new generation of coleus, those from cuttings, which are robust and hardy, with thicker leaves and stems than seed coleus. As a result, they adapt very well to all light and heat conditions in summer. The foliage is very decorative, and the bright colours resist such high temperatures and direct sun, varying in some cases the proportions between the two colours (more lime with more sun). They are selected for delayed flowering so that growth continues undisturbed throughout the summer. At the start of cultivation as well as when transplanting into beds, minimum night temperatures above 13-14°c must be ensured to avoid problems with rooting and mortality. Due to their decorative characteristics of adaptability and resistance, they are among the emerging varieties on the market, in landscape use, especially the dipt wine which happily matches all lighter colours (pink and b.

Curiosities and special features

The generic epithet, Solenostemon, derives from the Greek solén meaning channel or tube and from stémon meaning stamen while cóleus, also derived from the Greek, means sheath or scabbard, both terms referring to the particular conformation of the flower filaments gathered in bundles.

Origin and distribution

Native to the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Africa, south-east Asia, Australia and India, present in greater numbers in Indonesia and Sry Lanka; it first came to Europe in the 1800s and later to America, attracting considerable interest due to its decorative foliage. At the beginning of the 1990s it was revalued as a plant for landscape use or for planters; today it is represented by numerous robust and hardy varieties, with leaves of brilliant and scenic colours.

Flower size

Flower individually is small, clustered in a spike-like Inflorescence.

Leaf

The leaf, with its decorative and striking colours, has a lanceolate tomentose lamina, i.e. covered with a dense, fine down.

Flowering period

Flowering occurs from late summer to early autumn for a duration of 20 to 40 days; the plant is mainly appreciated for its decorative foliage that remains throughout the summer.

Inflorescence

Inflorescence spike.

Leaf colour

Leaf is two-coloured, with high decorative value.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies between 0.5 and 0.8 m, depending on the transplanting time and exposure.

Lifespan

Plant cultivated as an Annual in relation to the climatic conditions present.

Where to plant

Its longevity in the summer season and the ornamental value of its foliage make it, even in situations of full sun exposure, an excellent solution for embellishing contexts such as large flowerbeds and street roundabouts, large pots, outdoor tubs

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower has a simple, small form with plain petals. It is arranged in medium-sized spike-like inflorescences. It flowers from late summer to early autumn, with a flowering period of between 20 and 40 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

Growth is vigorous, suitable for compact and visually impressive overall results.

Plant habit

The habitus is erect outlined by the sinuosity of the ornamental foliage, ideal for landscape use.

Branching

It develops medium branching already at the lowest part of the stem, giving the plant a well-tended, leaf-rich appearance.

PH

The ideal pH of the soil or medium is sub-acidic, between 6.0 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting into the bed, which should be done when night-time temperatures stabilise above 13/14°C, dig up the soil about 20/30 cm deep, eliminating any weeds, residues from previous crops and bulky pebbles or stones, then bury organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser and break up the coarsest clods with a hoe. To improve the drainage of excess water, continue by creating a raised flowerbed by slightly bouldering the soil, then carefully level the surface by preparing the planting holes at a suitable density.

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Sun exposure

Suitable for exposure in half shade, bright shade, full sun.

Ideal climate and temperature

Suitable for warm temperate regions. The ideal temperature is between 16 and 20 °C. The biological temperature is between 7 and 34 °C, the latter representing a very wide temperature range that reflects the plant's resistance to intense heat, a peculiar characteristic in view of the current climate changes with increasingly sultry summers. In the first period after transplanting, it is very important that the temperature is above 15 °C to encourage a rapid restart, as lower temperatures can lead to collar and root rot.

Use

Its decorative foliage and high resistance to summer heat make it ideal as a plant for use in
Outdoor ornamental Landscaping

Hardiness

It is medium to highly rustic, tolerates summer heat and adapts to different light conditions.

Soil

It prefers medium textured soil or soil tending towards sandy, Amended, well draining and not compact; for tubs and planters use a spring plant substrate of fibrous peat with perlite.

Difficulty

It is fairly easy to manage and maintain in beds or tubs, particularly in warm temperate zones.

Growing tips

In order to achieve the best vegetative growth results, it is recommended to
Keep the substrate dry at low temperatures Can be planted in sunny or half-shaded beds.

Combinations with other plants

In order to create pleasant colour and movement effects, it can be used in compositions with ornamental flowering plants such as Begonia x hybrida, Bidens ferulifolia, Impatiens walleriana, Petunia x hybrida, Tagetes patula, Salvia farinacea, Zinnia marylandica or with other species with decorative foliage such as Plectranthus argentatus, Colocasia or even by combining different varieties of the same coleoides species.

Planting

We recommend an average density of 14 plants per square metre for transplanting in flowerbeds in order to obtain a correct vegetative development of each specimen and, consequently, a balanced and proportionate composition. We suggest placing each seedling in a raised bed with the collar outside the soil surface, taking care not to damage the roots and avoiding completely sinking the root balls, which must be well moistened; finally, water immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours and avoiding water stagnation.

Propagation

By apical cutting.

Watering

Use rainwater, alternatively from aqueducts or canals, by hand watering or with an irrigation system. When transplanting, assist the seedling to adapt properly to its new site by maintaining a constant but non-stagnant humidity to prevent subsequent collar or root rot. Afterwards, allow the soil or substrate to dry slightly between one watering and the next to prevent water stress that can lead to pre-blooming with stunted foliage growth; it is also advisable not to water the aerial part of the plant from above during the late afternoon or evening to avoid subsequent phytopathologies.

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Fertilising

During pre-transplant soil preparation, carry out a background fertilisation by burying organic or slow release chemical fertiliser. During the spring-summer period, following proper post-transplant settling, regularly apply a balanced fertiliser suitable for ornamental species to the soil or substrate at the foot of the plant, to be distributed in liquid form, i.e. diluted in the irrigation water, without exceeding the frequency and doses applied.

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Edibility for humans

Non-edible.

Toxicity for humans

The leaves of some varieties may be toxic if ingested.

Tip

It should be remembered that transplanting too early in the bed (with temperatures not permanently above 13°C) may impair the rapid restart and therefore the final height may also be lower than expected. It is important to assist the plant well with watering on the first day and the first week after transplanting in order to achieve the desired crown height without undesirable pre-flowering. In this case, remove the apex with all the flowers to restart growth. Fertilising the flower bed is recommended but not essential. Given the high water requirements, automatic irrigation is advisable.