This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.
For pots that got tired of plain green 🐯
Family: Lamiaceae • Pot diameter: 13 cm • Height: 25–30 cm
Plectranthus (Coleus Grp) 'Tiger' is a striking coleus with bold ornamental foliage and distinctive tiger-like contrasts that bring instant colour, depth and texture to a planting. Its compact growth and rich foliage make it ideal for pots, planters, bright balconies and protected indoor spots. It stands out without relying on flowers, offering long-lasting decorative value through the pattern, intensity and energy of its leaves.
Place it in a bright position with indirect light or gentle morning sun, protected from intense midday sun that can fade or stress the leaves. Outdoors, it suits patios, balconies and sheltered courtyards, while indoors it needs enough light to keep its colour clear. The growing mix should be light, fertile and well drained, with watering when the surface begins to dry.
Taxonomic history: Coleus plants belong to the family Lamiaceae, a large family of ornamental and aromatic plants known for opposite leaves and often square stems. In the horticultural trade, these plants are still encountered under names such as Coleus, Plectranthus and Solenostemon, because the group has gone through repeated taxonomic revisions.
Native background of the group: The ancestors of cultivated coleus are linked with tropical and subtropical regions from Asia to northern Australia. Their natural adaptation to warm, bright but often protected positions explains why modern cultivars prefer warmth, bright partial shade and steady moisture without extremes.
Naming & selection: The name 'Tiger' refers to the characteristic foliage pattern, where contrasting colours create a strong striped, rhythmic effect. This is a cultivated foliage selection, with the main ornamental value placed on the leaves rather than the flowers.
Spread & decorative value: Coleus plants are easily propagated from cuttings, which helps keep the colour, shape and pattern of each cultivar stable in production. In garden design, they are used as instant-colour foliage plants in pots, planters, borders and seasonal displays, because their effect comes mainly from the leaves.
| 🔎 Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| 🌿 Species/Cultivar | Plectranthus (Coleus Grp) 'Tiger' — Tiger Coleus |
| 🪴 Pot/Size | 13 cm • 25–30 cm height |
| ☀️ Light | Bright partial shade, gentle morning sun or strong indirect light. |
| 💧 Watering | Regular, with a lightly moist but not constantly wet growing mix. |
| 🌡️ Temperature | Ideally above 12°C • sensitive to cold and frost. |
| 🍃 Foliage | Bold ornamental foliage with tiger-style patterning and strong colour contrast. |
| 📈 Growth | Fast, bushy and more compact with regular light pinching. |
| 🚫 Toxicity | Low-severity toxicity/irritation — avoid chewing of leaves by children and pets. |
It prefers bright partial shade, gentle morning sun or strong indirect light. Very strong midday sun can stress or fade the leaves, especially on hot balconies.
Water when the surface of the growing mix begins to dry. It likes steady, light moisture, but not stagnant water in the pot.
Yes, light pinching helps it stay compact and full. If flower spikes appear, they can be removed so the plant keeps its energy in the foliage.
It is sensitive to cold and frost. In winter, it needs a protected bright position or moving indoors if temperatures drop too low.
© Original plant description by Greenleaf Garden Center. All rights reserved. | This text is original material. Copying is prohibited.
🔎 Note: Due to the natural variation of plants, the plant you receive may differ slightly from the one shown in the photo. Shape, size and colour may vary depending on the season, growing conditions and the natural character of each plant.
