Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 9b |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | mounded |
| Mature height | 20 inches |
| Spread | 20 inches |
| Light requirements | partial shade to shade |
| Moisture requirements | moist |
| Plant origin | import |
Campfire Coleus
Botanical name: Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Campfire’
This variety produces vibrant and velvety orange-copper leaves; has a dense and compact habit; great for gardens, containers and mixed borders.
Other names: Flame Nettle, Painted Nettle
Ornamental Features
Campfire Coleus' attractive serrated pointy leaves remain orange in color throughout the year. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
Campfire Coleus is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a mounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant. The flowers of this plant may actually detract from its ornamental features, so they can be removed as they appear. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Campfire Coleus is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, Border Edging, General Garden Use, Container Planting, Hanging Baskets
Planting and Growing
Campfire Coleus will grow to be about 20 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 16 inches apart. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Campfire Coleus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
