Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Eastern Asia, Malaysia
Middle Africa
Types
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Perennial Grass
Habitat
gardens, Subtropical climates, tropical environments
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-12
7-11
Sunset Zone
-
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Bushy, Evergreen
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
-
Sandy Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Red, Green, Purple
Purple
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Red, Green, Purple
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Green, Purple
Purple
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Green, Purple
Purple
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long Linear
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Damp
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer
Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Ample Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Damp
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
cut main flower spike, Cut or pinch the stems
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Full-strength liquid fertilizer
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Downy mildew, Red blotch, Stem rot
Insects, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Wet Site
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
-
Birds, Flying insects
Allergy
-
Asthma, breathing problems
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes, Used for making hedges
-
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Provides ground cover, Soil protection, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Glaucoma, High blood pressure, Liver Protection, Weight loss
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, useful as a ground cover
Food for animals, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
Plectranthus scutellarioides
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
Common Name
Coleus, Painted nettle
Elephant Grass
In German
Buntnessel
Elefantengras
In French
Vieux garçon
l'herbe à éléphant
In Spanish
coleo
pasto elefante
In Greek
Coleus
ελέφαντα χόρτο
In Portuguese
cóleus
capim-elefante
In Polish
Coleus
trawa słoniowa
In Latin
Coleus
elephanti herba
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Importance of Coleus and Elephant Grass
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Coleus and Elephant Grass. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Coleus and Elephant Grass 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 Grass is Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders and Wounds. Coleus has beauty benefits as follows: Weightloss while Elephant Grass has beauty benefits as follows: Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Coleus vs Elephant Grass
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 Grass 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 Grass have Asthma and breathing problems respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Coleus has no showy fruits and Elephant Grass has no showy fruits. Also Coleus is not flowering and Elephant Grass is not flowering . You can compare Coleus and Elephant Grass facts and facts of other plants too.