Strobilanthes auriculatus
Images by part: leaf (5) · flower (5) · fruit (0) · bark (2) · habit (3) · other (1)

Strobilanthes auriculatus

Persian Shield · Coleus · Purple Shield · Painter's plant

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: partial_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 9–11
Click count
544
Observations
12

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Partial sun

Strobilanthes auriculatus is indigenous to habitats such as forest understories and rocky areas, where it grows in natural shade. It favors partial sun but can tolerate full sun or full shade, reflecting its hardy, adaptable nature.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Strobilanthes auriculatus originates from tropical regions, where the climate is characteristically warm and humid. Consequently, it is well adapted to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations and prefers a steady thermal environment, so indoor temperature swings should be avoided. It generally cannot withstand cold and requires elevated temperatures for growth; if the environmental temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Early spring, as Strobilanthes auriculatus breaks dormancy, is the best time to apply fertilizer. This encourages overall growth and flower formation. Fertilization improves the foliage, stems, and branches, while encouraging larger, more colorful, and longer-lasting blooms. It helps transport nutrients from the roots to the flowers and enhances the plant’s health and resistance to disease.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Shrub
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Strobilanthes
Family
Acanthaceae
Hardiness Zone
9-11
Mature Height
0.91 m to 2.13 m
Mature Spread
49 cm to 91 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
Purple, Violet
Flower Size
2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
Bloom Time
Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Mid fall, Late fall, Early winter
Native Area
Nepal, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, China

Tags (6)

Common Names (4)

en Persian Shield
en Coleus
en Purple Shield
en Painter's plant