Coleus , Colossus .

Coleus . It is a small , insignificant little plant . The winters have led us to believe that we live in a fairyland , populated by pink , yellow and light purple regal dahlias ; orange and yellow large rounded , startlingly omnipresent knobs of marigold , red splotches of salvia , drooping in all their fiery elegance ; and myriad colours of delicate petunias and pansies . Not to forget the fragrant colours of chrysanthemums which along with marigolds and dahlias capture droplets of feel good sunshine for you to stare at , in the heart of deepest winter , with grey fog swirling all around you .

In the midst of all this outburst of colourful splendour , it is likely that we forget our dear old friends , the decorative plants with coloured leaves . 

One of this is Coleus . 

I have never seen a more prettier , symmetrical , hardy , resilient and elegant plant . 

It has pretty scalloped edged heart shaped leaves , with a maroon body , and faint green edges . As if a brush dipped in pale green colour just brushed past . Then there is the position of the leaves . They are at 180 degrees to each other and  perpendicular to each pair , so that the sunshine supply of any of the pair of leaves is not encroached upon . 

Then there are adventitious roots at nodes , to pick up moisture from the atmosphere , also enabling easy replanting of broken off branches . 

The plant has recently started flowering . Spires of tongue shaped flowers , almost like salvia , but with two small rounded petals at the base and a large tongue shaped petal protruding  from the base make the flower . It functions as a landing strip for bees and other insects , looking for nectar . The petals are light purple  with a pale green centre . The flowers are also tiny . Challenging  homo sapien's vision . 

The plant is  poisonous . Hence the clear message . I may be pretty to look at , but don't mess around with me . 

That saves it from raids by cattle / feral cats , pigs and humans . 

That also endears it to me . For me , it is the best plant to keep around . Way to go , Coleus . You the boss !!