Coleus scutellarioides wizard jade

Description

Coleus scutellarioides 'Wizard Jade' is a compact tropical foliage plant valued for its bright jade-green leaves broadly edged in cream to white. Its strong contrast and dense growth habit make it an excellent accent plant for humid tropical terrariums, paludariums and decorative planted displays.

The 'Wizard' series is known for its compact habit and easy cultivation. 'Wizard Jade' stands out for its pale foliage, making it ideal for brightening displays dominated by dark green plants, mosses and colourful bromeliads.

Botanical family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Coleus

Species

Coleus scutellarioides

Cultivar

Coleus scutellarioides 'Wizard Jade'

Horticultural origin

'Wizard Jade' is a horticultural cultivar selected for its compact habit and strongly contrasting variegated foliage.

Foliage

The leaves are broad, soft and slightly serrated, with a jade-green centre surrounded by a wide cream to white margin.

Colour intensity varies with light levels. Under good lighting, the contrast between green and pale areas remains especially strong.

Growth habit and development

Coleus 'Wizard Jade' has a compact, branching and relatively dense growth habit. It can easily be maintained at a smaller size through regular pruning.

This controllable growth makes it suitable for small to medium terrariums, provided it is trimmed before becoming too large.

Terrarium compatibility

• Humid tropical terrarium: Yes
• Bioactive terrarium: Yes
• Paludarium: Yes, emerged section
• Tropical vivarium: Yes
• Nano terrarium: Possible with regular pruning
• Submerged cultivation: No

Recommended substrate

Use a humus-rich, light and free-draining substrate containing coco fibre, well-decomposed compost, perlite and fine bark.

The substrate should retain light moisture without remaining permanently waterlogged.

Watering

Keep the substrate consistently lightly moist. Avoid prolonged drought, but also avoid standing water around the roots.

Soft or low-mineral water is preferable in terrarium cultivation.

Humidity

Humidity of approximately 60% to 85% is suitable.

Good airflow remains important to reduce the risk of stem and leaf rot.

Temperature

Ideal growing temperature: approximately 20°C to 28°C.

Avoid prolonged cold conditions.

Light

Coleus 'Wizard Jade' prefers bright filtered light.

Good lighting helps maintain compact growth and clear variegation. Under insufficient light, stems may stretch and foliage contrast may decrease.

Growth

Fast to moderate growth. The plant responds very well to pruning and branches readily after pinching.

Flowering

The plant may produce small blue-violet flowers on upright spikes.

In decorative terrariums, flower spikes can be removed to encourage denser foliage growth.

Propagation

Propagation is very easy from stem cuttings. Cuttings can be rooted in moist substrate or water before planting.

Maintenance

Regular pinching helps maintain a dense, compact habit.

Remove old or damaged leaves and avoid keeping the foliage permanently wet without airflow.

Fertilisation

Use a very weakly dosed tropical plant fertiliser occasionally during active growth.

Avoid heavy feeding, which can encourage excessively fast and unbalanced growth.

Why choose Coleus 'Wizard Jade'?

Coleus 'Wizard Jade' is particularly useful for adding a bright accent to tropical planted displays.

Its jade-green foliage edged in cream creates strong contrast with red bromeliads, ferns and mosses.

JungleBox advice

Place Coleus 'Wizard Jade' in a bright position protected from harsh direct sunlight. Prune young shoots regularly to maintain a compact, bushy shape.

In terrariums, it works especially well in the foreground or midground combined with darker foliage plants.

Additional information

• Botanical name: Coleus scutellarioides 'Wizard Jade'
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Type: Horticultural tropical foliage plant
• Foliage: Jade green edged cream to white
• Growth habit: Compact and branching
• Exposure: Bright filtered light
• Substrate: Humus-rich, light and free-draining
• Humidity: 60 to 85%
• Temperature: 20 to 28°C
• Growth rate: Fast to moderate
• Humid tropical terrarium compatible: Yes
• Bioactive terrarium compatible: Yes
• Paludarium compatible: Yes, emerged section
• Propagation: Stem cuttings
• Regular pruning recommended: Yes