Overview

Bring a burst of vibrant color to your living space with the exquisite Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant. Also known by its botanical name, Solenostemon, this particular cultivar is celebrated for its breathtaking fiery copper foliage. The ‘Lion’s Mane’ variety forms a captivating mound of narrow, richly colored leaves that radiate warmth and energy. It’s an exceptional choice for those looking to add dramatic visual interest without the need for flowers, as its leaves are the true showstopper. This vibrant foliage plant thrives in various settings, from a cozy indoor windowsill to a shaded outdoor patio, making it a versatile addition to any plant collection. Its striking appearance and relatively straightforward care make it a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners.

The name ‘Lion’s Mane’ aptly describes the plant’s dense, flowing appearance, reminiscent of a majestic lion’s mane. Its intense copper-orange hues are consistent throughout the growing season, providing continuous visual appeal. Whether you’re aiming to create a focal point in a small pot or looking for a cascading effect in a hanging basket, this fiery copper coleus delivers. It’s a plant that truly stands out, offering a tropical feel and an undeniable charm that can transform any space into a vibrant sanctuary.

Key Benefits

The Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it an excellent choice for any plant lover. Its ornamental value is unparalleled, but it also brings practical advantages to your home or garden:

• Stunning Visual Impact: The primary benefit is its dramatic, fiery copper foliage. Unlike many plants that rely on blooms for color, the ‘Lion’s Mane’ Coleus provides consistent, vibrant hues that brighten any indoor or outdoor setting, offering year-round beauty in warmer climates or as an annual elsewhere.
• Versatile Decor: This plant is incredibly adaptable, looking equally impressive in a small accent pot, as a centerpiece on a table, or gracefully trailing from a hanging basket. Its compact size and self-branching habit make it suitable for various decorative schemes.
• Easy to Grow: Known for its resilience, the Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant is considered low-maintenance. It tolerates a range of conditions and doesn’t demand constant attention, making it perfect for busy individuals or those new to gardening.
• Excellent for Partial Shade: Many colorful plants require full sun, but this coleus thrives in partial shade, making it an ideal solution for brightening up shadier spots in your garden or home where other vibrant plants might struggle.
• Air Purification: Like many houseplants, the Solenostemon genus can contribute to improving indoor air quality by absorbing common household toxins, helping to create a healthier living environment.
• Compact Growth Habit: With a spread of up to 8 inches, this mini coleus is perfect for smaller spaces, apartments, or adding a touch of greenery to a desk or shelf without overcrowding.
• Consistent Color: The intense copper-orange shades of this vibrant foliage plant remain rich and true, providing reliable color without the fleeting nature of seasonal blooms.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant is straightforward, allowing you to enjoy its brilliant foliage with minimal fuss. This plant is generally forgiving, but understanding its preferred conditions will ensure the most vibrant colors and robust growth. The correct name for this plant is Solenostemon (Coleus), and proper Solenostemon plant care is key to its success.

For optimal growth and color, provide your fiery copper coleus with partial shade. While it can tolerate some morning sun, intense afternoon sun can scorch its delicate leaves and fade its vibrant hues. If growing indoors, place it near a window that receives bright, indirect light; an east-facing window is often ideal. Outdoors, choose a spot under larger trees or on a shaded porch. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, and ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. The optimal temperature range for coleus is 70°F to 100°F (21°C to 38°C), making it well-suited for warm climates or as an annual in cooler regions.

This indoor coleus plant thrives in rich, well-draining potting mix. A standard all-purpose potting mix amended with some compost works well. Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Pruning is beneficial to maintain a bushy shape and encourage more branching; simply pinch back the growing tips. Watch out for common pests like aphids and spider mites, and treat with insecticidal soap if necessary. Ensure good air circulation, especially indoors, to prevent fungal issues. Bringing your Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant indoors before the first frost is essential if you wish to overwinter it in colder climates.

Size & Details

The Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant is a charming, compact specimen perfect for adding a splash of color to any setting. This plant typically arrives in a 3.7-inch pot, providing a well-established root system ready for immediate display or transplanting. It forms a lovely mound of foliage that can spread up to 8 inches wide, making it an ideal choice for small containers, desktop displays, or as part of a mixed planting arrangement. Its self-branching nature ensures a full and lush appearance without much intervention.

When you receive your fiery copper coleus, it will be a live, healthy plant, carefully packaged to ensure its safe arrival. Expect a relatively fast growth rate under optimal conditions, quickly filling out its container with its beautiful foliage. This particular variety is cherished for its consistent color and manageable size, making it a delightful and enduring addition to your plant collection. While primarily grown for its foliage, its compact habit and vibrant hues make it a standout choice for adding year-round interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant typically forms a mound with a spread of up to 8 inches. Its compact size makes it ideal for small pots and hanging baskets, providing a full and lush appearance without becoming overly large.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This particular fiery copper coleus is shipped in a 3.7-inch pot, providing a healthy start and a good base for growth. You can keep it in this pot for a while or transplant it into a slightly larger decorative container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant is versatile and can be grown both indoors and outdoors. It thrives as an indoor coleus plant in bright, indirect light, and outdoors in partial shade. In colder climates, it’s often grown as an annual or brought indoors for winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This coleus prefers partial shade. Too much direct sun, especially harsh afternoon sun, can scorch its leaves and cause the vibrant color to fade. For optimal Solenostemon plant care, aim for bright, indirect light indoors or dappled shade outdoors.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant is considered relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for beginners. It requires consistent moisture and protection from intense sun, but otherwise, it’s quite forgiving.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your vibrant foliage plant will arrive as a live, healthy plant in its 3.7-inch nursery pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit. We recommend unpacking it promptly and giving it a good drink of water upon arrival.
• Q: Is it shipped in soil? A: Yes, the plant is shipped securely in its original potting soil within the 3.7-inch nursery pot. This helps to protect the roots and reduce transplant shock, ensuring a smooth transition to its new home.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: Coleus plants are sensitive to cold. The optimal temperature range is 70°F to 100°F. They should be protected from temperatures below 50°F (10°C) to prevent damage. If growing outdoors in a colder climate, it’s best to treat it as an annual or bring it indoors before the first frost.
• Q: Can I propagate this plant? A: Yes, coleus is very easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Simply take a cutting, remove the lower leaves, and place it in water or moist soil. Roots will typically form within a few weeks, allowing you to create more Lion’s Mane Coleus live plant specimens.
• Q: Does this plant have flowers? A: While coleus plants do produce small flower spikes, they are generally grown for their stunning foliage. Many growers pinch off the flower stalks to redirect the plant’s energy into producing more leaves, enhancing the fullness and vibrancy of the fiery copper coleus.