Coleus scutellarioides ‘Pink Diamond’

A cultivated form of a wet-tropical Asian species

‘Pink Diamond’ is an ornamental cultivar of Coleus scutellarioides, a soft-stemmed species native from Indo-China through tropical Asia and the western Pacific to northern Australia. Wild plants grow primarily in wet tropical habitats, where warmth and recurring moisture support fast branching growth.

Care tips for ‘Pink Diamond’

• Light and colour: Use very bright filtered light to keep growth compact and the pink veins clear. Introduce any direct sun gradually and protect the patterned leaves from sudden hot midday exposure.
• Water and substrate: Water as the upper layer begins to dry, before the root ball becomes uniformly dry. Use a loose, fertile mix that holds some moisture yet drains freely.
• Temperature: Keep the plant warm and away from cold night-time windows; prolonged temperatures below about 15 °C are best avoided.
• Humidity and airflow: Average household humidity is usually suitable. Moderate extra humidity can help in very dry heated rooms, but pair it with open spacing and reliable air movement.
• Feeding, shaping and support: A low to moderate dose of complete fertiliser is enough during active growth. Pinch above a node only where extra branching or height control is needed; the upright crown is normally self-supporting.
• Repotting, winter and propagation: Repot when roots crowd the container or watering becomes excessively frequent. As winter light slows growth, reduce feed and extend the interval between waterings; healthy stem cuttings root readily and retain the pink-veined pattern.

Troubleshooting ‘Pink Diamond’

• Pink veins become weak while the stems stretch: Low light is the first cause to correct. Move the plant closer to a bright window gradually and evaluate colour only on fully expanded new leaves.
• Green edges turn crisp and curl inward: Check for a dry root ball, hot direct sun and heater air. Restore stable moisture and shelter the plant from the strongest exposure until undamaged leaves develop.
• Fine pale dots spread across the burgundy surface: Spider mites can be difficult to notice on patterned foliage. Inspect the undersides and shoot tips, isolate the plant and use a mite treatment labelled for indoor ornamental plants only after confirming the pest, repeating only at the interval stated on the label.
• Yellowing starts low on the plant while the mix remains wet: Inspect roots rather than watering again. Cut brown or soft roots back to firm healthy tissue with a disinfected tool, discard the rotten material and repot the healthy plant into fresh, airy substrate.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Pink Diamond’ 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.

Coleus scutellarioides: where the name comes from

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.