Coleus scutellarioides 'Le Freak'

University of Florida selection ‘UF15-4-43’

‘Le Freak’ began as the University of Florida coleus selection ‘UF15-4-43’. It came from open pollination in Gainesville, Florida, in 2014, with ‘UF12-49-1’ as the seed parent and an unknown pollen parent, and the seedling was chosen in 2015. It was selected for its crimson-and-chartreuse foliage, large lance-like leaves, strong branching, heat tolerance and reliable colour in both sun and shade. It later entered commerce through the Stained Glassworks line.

In the wild, Coleus scutellarioides comes from wet tropical regions stretching from Indo-China through parts of tropical Asia and the western Pacific to northern Australia. Its natural variation has given rise to modern cultivars selected for foliage colour, leaf shape, branching and a long leafy display.

Care for ‘Le Freak’

• Light: Give bright filtered light indoors. The cultivar can hold its colour across a broad light range outdoors, but an indoor-grown plant still needs gradual acclimatisation before it receives strong direct sun.
• Water: Rewater when the surface and upper part of the mix begin to dry and the pot feels lighter. Do not let repeated severe wilting become the watering cue, and do not leave the root zone persistently saturated.
• Substrate and drainage: Use a loose, freely draining houseplant mix in a pot with drainage holes. A little moisture retention is useful, but the mix should still admit air after watering.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep it warm, preferably above 15 °C, and away from cold draughts. Ordinary indoor humidity is usually adequate; very dry heated air can make leaf edges dry sooner.
• Feeding: Apply a complete fertiliser at a modest rate during active growth. Reduce feeding when growth slows rather than pushing soft winter growth.
• Shape and season: ‘Le Freak’ branches strongly on its own, so pinch only shoots that disturb the shape, cutting just above a node. Growth normally slows as light and warmth fall.
• Repotting: Move up one pot size when roots fill the container, watering becomes unusually frequent or growth stalls despite suitable light and feeding.

Common problems with ‘Le Freak’

• The lobed leaves suddenly hang limp: Check the root ball before adding water. A light, drying pot points to thirst, so water thoroughly and adjust the interval. If the mix is wet and you find soft stems or brown roots, cut back to firm healthy tissue with a disinfected blade, discard the rotten material and repot or restart healthy growth in fresh, airy substrate.
• Chartreuse margins turn pale, tan or brittle: Damage concentrated on the brightest side usually follows an abrupt increase in direct sun, while crisping around the whole plant more often accompanies repeated drying. Adjust exposure or watering according to the pattern.
• New growth is smaller and the mound opens out: Low light is the first factor to correct. Move it gradually closer to a bright window and check the next new growth before increasing fertiliser.
• Fine stippling, webbing or distorted tips appear: Inspect the leaf undersides and young shoots for spider mites or other sap-feeding pests. Isolate the plant, rinse off what you can and use a treatment labelled for the pest and indoor ornamentals, repeating only at the label interval.
• Leaves develop angular brown patches with grey-purple growth beneath: Treat this as possible coleus downy mildew. Isolate the plant, remove heavily affected material, keep foliage drier with better spacing and airflow, and discard a badly affected plant rather than keeping it beside healthy coleus.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Le Freak’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

What does the name Coleus scutellarioides mean?

The name Coleus comes from the Greek word koleos, meaning “sheath”, and refers to the stamens joined at their base. The species name scutellarioides means “resembling Scutellaria”, another genus in the mint family.

João de Loureiro established the genus Coleus in 1790 in Flora Cochinchinensis, page 372.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Ocimum scutellarioides in 1763 in Species Plantarum, second edition, page 834. George Bentham later placed it in Coleus as Coleus scutellarioides in 1830 in Plantae Asiaticae Rariores, volume 2, page 16.