Joseph’s coat, coleus: Vibrant foliage plants for attractive displays

TROPICAL and sub-tropical gardens are renowned for their vibrant colours, which do not necessarily come from flowers.

Among the most striking foliage plants are Amaranthus tricolor – also called ‘Joseph’s coat’ – and the coleus shrubs.

These plants do not sprout flowers, but are prized for their brilliantly-coloured leaves that provide long-lasting visual impact in gardens, parks and also container-planting.

During a recent outing to Kota Sentosa Market near Kuching, I found many interesting coleus varieties at a flowers-and-plants lot.

The shades were vibrant, from yellowish-green foliage to striking violet serrated leaves – they were truly amazing.

They were also not too expensive, so I bought two pots ready for my home garden and porch displays for the coming Lunar New Year.

Never hesitate to buy and plant these yourselves, my friends – it’s fairly easy.

Amaranthus tricolor (Joseph’s coat)

Botanically it belongs to the Amaranthaceae family.

It grows fast, and recognisable by its broad, ovate and vividly-coloured leaves forming the foliage.

It has small, greenish flowers, but they are insignificant.

The colours can be red, yellow, orange or purple – and they can be of one tone, or even of many shades on the same plant.

The colour’s intensity increases with stronger sunlight.

Although commonly regarded as a flower plant – indeed, it does look like one – Amaranthus tricolor’s true ornamental value lies in its foliage.

They are used for mass bedding displays, borders and background planting, as well as a general garden feature.

In many Asian cultures, it is also grown commercially as a leafy vegetable, prized for its nutritional value.

In Malaysia, we have the ‘bayam merah’ (red spinach), cooked in many ways according to which community recipe is being used.

Some say the ‘bayam merah’ is good for the blood, and the nutritional properties support this claim.

The high iron, vitamin and mineral contents help boost haemoglobin levels and thus, good for treating anaemia; while the nitrates help improve cardiovascular health, enhance circulation and regulate blood pressure.

Coleus

This species, however, is not safe for consumption.

The plant, from the Lamiaceae family, is famously known for its extraordinary leaf patterns, and the colours can range from green, crimson, pink, yellow and dark bronze, to combinations of any shades.

Native to Oriental and South East Asia, and also the Pacific, the coleus is a tender perennial, with soft serrated-edged leaves.

It is a bushy, but compact herbaceous shrub that can grow up to 1m tall.

The flowers are small blue or purple spikes; pinching these off would not only encourage leaf growth, but can also prolong the plant’s life.

The coleus is quite easy to grow, and it is a fast-growing plant too.

It is suitable for container-planting, flowerbeds, and also mass planting within a landscape.

The seeds of Amaranthus tricolor can be purchased at your local nurseries, or even in some supermarkets, especially the ‘bayam merah’.

The growth requirements are good sunlight, which can really intensify the colour; good medium that is well-drained, especially for ground-planting; maintenance work, which is minimal and fuss-free – once-in-a-while weeding should suffice; and moderate watering, which is unnecessary in the current rainy weather.

In the case of coleus, stem-cutting propagation can be done.

This delicate plant requires partial shade or filtered sunlight.

For me, I have it grown under a covering of green mesh, which only permits a 50-per cent sunlight penetration – just the right environment for coleus.

Other than home and commercial gardens, landscaping and public parks, these two foliage plants are also excellent for student’s gardening projects and urban balcony planting.

Happy Gardening!