Depending on where you live, you might know them as painted nettle or poor man’s croton, but for many of us, they’re simply coleus plants (Coleus blumei). I, for one, enjoy them, as do many others. They have some of the most stunningly coloured foliage—green, blue, and purple.
Yellow, pink, red, maroon, and other colours Coleus also has a wide range of leaf sizes and overall shapes. This means that no matter where you want to put coleus, you can find one that will work perfectly. These plants are great for adding colour to the garden (or home), especially in dark, drab-looking corners.
Growing Coleus Plants Coleus is probably one of the simplest plants to grow and propagate. In fact, the plants root so easily that you can start cuttings in a glass of water. They can also be propagated by seed indoors eight to ten weeks before the last expected spring frost.
More information can be found at Gardening Know How: Coleus Care – Growing Coleus.
Coleus or forskolin are used for high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), asthma, dry eye, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.