Evaluation of Ornamental Coleus for Landscaping of Shady Areas
Abstract
There is a strong desire amongst people to have colour in the shady areas of their landscapes. But shad e-loving plants generally are not richly or brightly coloured . Ornamental coleus is an inconspicuous flower bearing ornamental plants which can act as a colorful option for shady landscape. Ornamental coleus is a promising ornamental foliage plant which p rovides a bold texture and a thick density for shady landscape. With this background, collection, conservation and evaluation of different ornamental coleus types / varieties carried out at ICAR -Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa. Twenty four different types / varieties of ornamental coleus have been collected, maintained and evaluated for their suitability for landscape use. Significant differences were observed among different coleus types / varieties for various morphological and qualit y parameters. Plant height , number of leaves, number of branches, Stem girth, Length of leaf with petiole, Petiole length, leaf width, Length of leaf without petiole varied from 42.00 cm (Juicy Lucy) -89.67 cm (Eruption), 24.89 (Gay Delight) -72.00 (Tra iling Queen), 3.00 (Mahogany Giant) -8.67 (Eruption), 0.563 cm (Blusher) - 0.817 cm (Eruption), 11.03 cm (Tilt a Whirl) - 18.83cm (Grape expectations), 2.07 cm (Pistachio Nightmare) - 6.00 cm (Eruption), 5.50 cm(Trailing Queen) -10.83 cm(Grape expectations ), 8.33cm(Tilt a Whirl) - 14.78 cm (Grape expectations) respectively. Different ornamental coleus used in the present study exhibited an incredible range of diversity for various traits and it co uld be recommended to function for various purposes in landsc aping like beds, borders, hedges, planters, hanging baskets, vertical gardens or containers.
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Introduction
Ornamental coleus is an inconspicuous flower bearing ornamental plant that add colour to your shady landscape. Coleus is the common name for Solenostemon scutellarioides syn. Plectranthus scutellarioides , a group of ornamental plants with large colourful leaves. It is native to tropical Asia, Africa and Australia and belongs to the Family Lamiaceae (Labiatae) and Genus Solenostemon . It is grown mostly for the impact of its foliage and provides a gallant texture and a thick density in the shady landscape. Coleus has become a very popular house and garden plant prized for their colourful foliage (Erica and Allen, 2000). Coleus is versatile in nature and thrives in hot and humid conditions and can be used for accenting various landscapes and provides year-round colour (Jean., 2012). It can be best grown as an indoor potted plant, container plant, topiary and a specimen in various landscape projects. Ornamental coleus can easily be propagated by stem cuttings (Patel., 2013; Jill M., 2012). The brilliant foliage of this classic plant light up your garden, brightens the shady spots and can make a dramatic statement in the landscape . People are not aware of the selection and landscape performance of different varieties of ornamental coleus. Information on the choice, growth attributes and landscape performance of different varieties of ornamental coleus has been rather scanty. Hence a study on collection, conservation and evaluation of different ornamental coleus were conducted at ICAR – Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Ela, Old Goa. The objective of the study was to evaluate different cultivars of ornamental coleus based on various landscape performance criteria and to identify cultivars that could be used for various purposes in landscaping like Beds , Borders, Edging, Hedges , Planters, Mass planting, Hanging baskets, Vertical gardens, Container plantings and General Garden Use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these inconspicuous flower bearing ornamental plants like coleus could be used in shady landscapes and throughout the home to beautify the surroundings. The attractive and splendid foliage of these plants even challenges a brightest bloom. They improve the visual appeal and adds colour to the shady landscape. A foliage plant in a living room provides a hue of colour and helps to soften harsh lines from furniture and architectural design. The mere presence of ornamental foliage plant like coleus in our surroundings brings a vibrant feeling of refreshment. The i mage and look of the area whether it’s home or office or hospital is enhanced by the growing of these ornamental plants. Apart from providing pleasant aesthetics, these foliage ornamental plants utilize the vacant spots in an efficient manner and fill our surroundings with fresh oxygen. Thus growing plants in the indoor as well as in the surroundings, helps in making our lives better by creating a vibrant and refreshing atmosphere.
