Coleus, Flame Nettle, Painted Nettle 'Merlot'

Coleusscutellarioides

Family
Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Coleus (KO-lee-us)
Species
scutellarioides (skew-tell-ar-ee-OH-ih-deez)
Synonym
Solenostemon scutellarioides
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Light Blue
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Mid Fall
Other Details
Category
Annuals
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Burgundy/Maroon
Dark/Black
Where to Grow
Can be grown as an annual
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From herbaceous stem cuttings
Seed Collecting
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

San Francisco, California

Hebron, Kentucky

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Beaumont, Texas

Monroe, Washington

Woods Creek, Washington

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Gardener's Notes:

4
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
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M
Hebron, KY | August 2007 | positive

I love this one. Blends well with other colors of Coleus as I have shown in my photo.

J
J
Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) | February 2007 | neutral

Merlot is a heat and sun loving variety that has won the following awards:
2006 - Best of Breed - North Carolina State
200...Read More

M
Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) | April 2006 | positive

Another "black" cultivar that has tiny chartreuse makings on the scalloped margins. The stems are also contrasting in chartreuse. Very ...Read More

P
| March 2004 | positive

I bought my first Coleus plant because if its color. It has been with me now for 3-1/2 years. I have about 5 others that I grew from cu...Read More

B
San Francisco, CA | June 2003 | positive

I find Coleus to be difficult to grow. Merlot was barely hanging on in the begginning, but I did see some improvement. It does have some ...Read More

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