Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Eastern Asia, Malaysia
Southern Africa
Types
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Habitat
gardens, Subtropical climates, tropical environments
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-12
10-12
Sunset Zone
-
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Bushy, Evergreen
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Red, Green, Purple
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Red, Green, Purple
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Purple
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Green, Purple
Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Succulent
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Damp
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer
Late Spring
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Ample Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Damp
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
cut main flower spike, Cut or pinch the stems
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Full-strength liquid fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Downy mildew, Red blotch, Stem rot
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Wet Site
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes, Used for making hedges
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, Soil protection, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Glaucoma, High blood pressure, Liver Protection, Weight loss
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, useful as a ground cover
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Plectranthus scutellarioides
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Coleus, Painted nettle
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Coleus
Elephant Bush
In German
Buntnessel
Elephant Bush
In French
Vieux garçon
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
coleo
elefante Bush
In Greek
Coleus
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
cóleus
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Coleus
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Coleus
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Lamiaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Coleus
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Importance of Coleus and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Coleus and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Coleus and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Coleus is Asthma, Glaucoma, High blood pressure, Liver Protection and Weight loss whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Coleus has beauty benefits as follows: Weightloss while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Coleus vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Coleus vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Coleus are whereas of Elephant Bush have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Coleus has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Coleus is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Coleus and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.