Coleus scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Spacecake'

Stained Glassworks selection ‘UF17-128-7’

‘Stained Glassworks Spacecake’ is the University of Florida selection ‘UF17-128-7’. It came from open pollination in Gainesville, Florida, in 2016, with ‘UF15-96-16’ as the seed parent and an unknown pollen parent. It was chosen for its cream, pink, maroon and green foliage, strong branching, vigorous growth, heat tolerance and reliable colour in sun and shade. No flowers were observed during the selection trials.

Coleus scutellarioides is native to wet tropical regions from Indo-China through tropical Asia and the western Pacific to northern Australia. Breeders use the species’ natural leaf variation to develop stable colour combinations and different plant shapes for ornamental growing.

Keeping ‘Stained Glassworks Spacecake’ healthy indoors

• Light: Bright filtered light is a good indoor position. Its multicolour pattern remains reliable across a broad outdoor light range, but acclimatise indoor leaves gradually before giving them strong direct sun through glass.
• Water: Rewater as the surface and upper portion of the mix begin to dry and the pot becomes lighter. Avoid both repeated hard wilting and a constantly saturated root ball.
• Substrate and drainage: Use a loose, aerated mix that retains some moisture without staying dense after watering. Drainage holes are essential.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep the plant warm, ideally above 15 °C, and away from cold draughts. Average indoor humidity is generally adequate when moisture is even and air is not stagnant.
• Feeding: Give a balanced complete fertiliser at a moderate rate while new leaves are developing. Reduce it when growth slows; extra feed will not make the cream, pink or maroon pattern stronger.
• Shape: Strong natural branching usually fills the plant without constant pinching. Remove or shorten only shoots that break the outline, cutting just above a node.
• Season and repotting: Expect slower growth in lower winter light and water less often accordingly. Repot when the roots are crowded, the plant dries much faster than usual or growth is constrained despite otherwise suitable care.

Troubleshooting ‘Stained Glassworks Spacecake’

• New growth loses contrast while the stems lengthen: Low indoor light is the first factor to correct. Increase brightness gradually and judge the colour pattern on the next fully expanded leaves rather than adding extra fertiliser.
• Cream or pink areas develop dry tan patches on the window side: Abrupt direct sun is more likely than a nutrient problem. Reduce the strongest exposure and acclimatise the plant in stages before trying direct sun again.
• The plant wilts although the mix is still wet: Check drainage and root condition. If you find soft brown roots or a softened stem base, cut back to firm healthy tissue with a disinfected blade, discard the rotten material and repot or restart healthy growth in a clean, airy substrate.
• Fine pale stippling spreads between the coloured veins: Inspect the leaf undersides for spider mites. Isolate the plant, wash the foliage and use a mite treatment labelled for indoor ornamentals if required, following the label interval.
• Angular brown lesions develop with grey-purple growth beneath: Treat possible coleus downy mildew promptly. Separate the plant, remove badly affected leaves, improve airflow and avoid wetting the canopy unnecessarily; discard a severe infection.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Stained Glassworks Spacecake’ 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.

About the name Coleus scutellarioides

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.