Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Franklin Street’

Cultivar series and natural origin of Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Franklin Street’

‘Main Street Franklin Street’ belongs to Dümmen Orange’s Main Street series.

Its species, Coleus scutellarioides, is native to wet tropical regions from Indo-China through parts of tropical Asia and the western Pacific to northern Australia.

Keeping Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Franklin Street’ healthy

• Shape: The cultivar naturally makes a full upright plant. Pinch shoots that run ahead of the canopy just above a node so side branches can fill the space.
• Light: Keep it in bright filtered light indoors. Introduce direct window sun gradually after the plant has settled into bright filtered light.
• Water: Check the root ball before the leaves wilt. Rewater once the upper portion has begun to dry and the container feels lighter, then drain away excess water.
• Potting mix: A loose houseplant mix that holds some moisture while draining freely suits its fast, soft growth. Use a container with open drainage.
• Temperature and humidity: Temperatures of about 18–25 °C suit routine growth; extended cold below 10 °C should be avoided. A 50–60% humidity range suits it.
• Feeding: During active growth, use a light-to-moderate dose of complete fertiliser. Feed less after the current flush of growth finishes.
• Repotting and growth rhythm: Increase pot size once the roots are clearly crowded. When cooler or lower-light conditions slow growth, allow a little more drying between waterings.

Problems to watch for on ‘Franklin Street’

• Stems lengthen and gaps open through the crown: Low indoor light is the most likely cause. Increase brightness first; once the next growth is shorter and firmer, trim only the stretched shoots back to a node.
• Rose or orange tissue develops pale, dry patches: Damage concentrated on the side facing the window usually follows a sudden jump in direct sun. Move the plant out of the harshest rays and reintroduce stronger exposure in stages.
• The whole plant wilts despite damp compost: The roots may be staying too wet or may already be damaged, rather than simply needing more water. Check drainage and root condition; if tissue is soft or rotten, cut back to firm healthy tissue with a disinfected blade, discard the removed material and repot or restart healthy growth in fresh, airy substrate.
• New leaves twist around sticky shoots: Look closely for aphids on the tips and leaf undersides. Isolate the plant, rinse away small colonies and use an appropriately labelled indoor treatment if they persist, repeating only as the label directs.
• Brown angular patches appear and spread quickly: Inspect beneath affected leaves for grey-purple downy mildew growth. Separate the plant, remove heavily marked leaves and improve airflow; do not keep a badly affected coleus among healthy plants.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Franklin Street’ 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.

When was Coleus scutellarioides first published, and what does it 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.