1880 .] 
AMERICAN AGrKICULTURIST. 
14.7 
The New Varieties of Coleus. 
Plants with bright-colored or variegated foliage 
are of special value in this country, where our hot 
summers prevent us from doing much in the way 
of producing bedding effects with flowers. The 
intense heat that causes such a rapid development 
and short duration of flowers is, as a general thing, 
favorable to the growth and coloring of the leaves 
of the so-called “ foliage plants.” Among these 
plants the Coleus stands at the head ; the old Vel- 
shade by the new varieties offered this spring. 
Both Henry A. Dreer, of Phila., and Peter Hender¬ 
son, of N. Y., have been raising seedlings, the one 
with some seed from Australia, and the other with 
seeds from Coleus multicolor and Chameleon, and 
the results obtained by both are among the marvels 
of horticulture. As we examined the specimens 
sent by Mr. Dreer last fall, and by Mr. Henderson 
this spring, we felt that any painting or colored 
engraving that should exactly reproduce them 
would be looked upon as a freak in color by 
come among our most popular plants ; if they falf 
to stand exposure, their usefulness will be limited 
to culture under glass. It is not easy to imagine g 
more beautiful sight than a greenhouse or conserM 
vatory would present if filled with well growf>. 
specimens of these new and wonderful Coleuses 
A New Cape Bulb. 
Last summer we saw in the grounds of Messrs, 
Woolson & Co. a plant quite strange to us; it 
A COLLECTION OE NEW COLEUS LEAVES. 
A new cape bulb (Montbrettia Fottsii). 
vet Coleus, C. Verschaffeltii, introduced some 20 
years ago, is as popular and valuable as ever; a 
bed of its rich velvety dark maroon foliage, in con¬ 
trast with the green of the lawn, presents a com¬ 
bination and contrast of colors of which the eye 
never tires, and which is pleasing in a place so 
small that it is the only decoration, or in extended 
grounds where it comes in as a part of an elaborate 
design. It was some years after the introduction 
of this excellent old plant that any others were 
offered, but new varieties came after a time, and of 
late each year has brought its “ set ” of new 
Coleuses, some of great merit. While our climate 
brings out the beauty of some kinds, it is very 
severe on others. Many of the so-called “ Golden” 
varieties, in which the leaves present rich maroon 
or crimson, and golden yellow in beautifully con¬ 
trasted markings, so long as the plants are partial¬ 
ly shaded, when exposed to the full sun lose their 
markings and become all of the darker color. 
There are a few exceptions to this, as in the 
“ Shah”; its leaves are curiously divided or halved 
by the two colors, and retain their beauty admira¬ 
bly. But however beautiful and brilliant the older 
Coleuses, they are completely thrown into the 
the artist rather than a true portrait of real leaves. 
In these new kinds the range of colors is surpris¬ 
ing. Among yellows there are from rich cream 
through lemon to deep golden and orange ; in reds 
from pale rose through every shade of carmine to 
scarlet on the one hand and crimson on the other, 
and deepening into maroon and chocolate ; besides 
there are various lively tints of green. These col¬ 
ors are in viens, dots, blotches, and variously washed 
and blended in the most pleasing manner. All that 
our group of leaves from Mr. Henderson’s varieties 
can do is to give the effect in light and shade, and 
show the general character of the markings ; the 
picture must be filled out by imagination, and no 
effort of this can exceed the reality. Each of the 
florists named, after selecting from some thousands 
of seedlings, has some 50 varieties too good to 
discard. Like Mr. Ricketts with his wouderful 
grapes, their success has been “ too unanimous,” 
and they are overweighted with treasures. For 
descriptions of those that are offered, reference 
must be made to the catalogues. What will be 
their final place time ouly will show ; if any con¬ 
siderable number retain half their present beauty 
when cultivated in the open ground, they will be- 
might be described by comparing it to a miniatur© 
Gladiolus. We were so much pleased with its ap¬ 
pearance that we brought away specimens for th& 
sketches from which the accompanying engraving 
was made. The plant was introduced into Scot» 
land long ago, some bulbs having been sent front 
the Cape of Good Hope to Mr. G. H. Potts, neat 1 
Edinburgh, Scotland; here they were cultivated 
for many years, and it is only recently that it has 
received the attention of English cultivators. It 
turns out to be a Montbrettia, and in honor of the 
gentlemen who introduced it, is called M. Fottsii, 
It grows about two feet high, has plaited leaves,) 
and a slender, wiry flower stalk which is often 
branched. The flowers are of a very dark, riefo 
scarlet, quite close upon the stem, but not crowded; 
and turning to one side ; they are an inch or more 
long, and of the shape shown in the engraving, 
One of its valuable qualities is the long time th© 
flowers remain in perfection. It is useful foj 
cut-flowers, as its spikes have not the stiffness and 
formality of some related plants, and its lasting 
qualities adapt it to this use. Though one would 
not expect to find a plant from the Cape hardy iii 
our severe winters, it has proved so in England,. 
