UF/IFAS Approves Eight New Coleus Cultivars For Release

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fourteen new cultivars, including eight coleus varieties and six citrus, have been approved for release by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Coleus are used as decorative bedding plants for landscaping, in mixed containers and as indoor potted plants in homes and gardens in North America and throughout the world. They are versatile, consumer-friendly plants because they are easy to grow in sun and shade and require less maintenance than many other garden plants, said David Clark, professor in floriculture and biotechnology, who developed the new cultivars.

The panel recently gave its nod to the following coleus cultivars:

• UF08-5-10 – This is a vigorous plant with an upright growth habit, attractive golden yellow lance-shaped leaves striped with lime green.
• UF08-19-10 – Another vigorous plant with multicolored lance-shaped leaves that are bright green around the edge, then filled with a layer of maroon and a magenta-striped center.
• UF09-8-37 – This vigorous plant has orange lance-shaped leaves.
• UF10-45-12 –Bright yellow leaves with magenta veins in a netted pattern.
• UF12-30-6 – Pure lime green foliage, a rarity in an open-pollinated breeding program.
• UF12-46-2 – This plant has bright lime green leaves with mostly dark maroon veins in a netted pattern.
• UF12-85-28 – It has maroon leaves with lime green margins.
• UF12-86-9 – This plant has three contrasting colors: magenta pink veins, surrounded by chocolate-brown with lime green leaf margins.

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