Coleus prostratus aka Flaming Katy

Coleus prostratus is a low perennial from tropical East Africa. Its native range runs from Eritrea south to Tanzania. Records also place it in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. It belongs to Lamiaceae, the mint family. The RHS lists Plectranthus prostratus as a synonym. That name appears in the Useful Tropical Plants account. Kew describes its form as a partly succulent subshrub. Its native climate has a dry season.

The plant makes a thick mound of low foliage. It reaches about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] in height. Its creeping stems branch and root at their nodes. These rooted stems allow the mound to spread along the ground. In hanging baskets, the stems trail below the rim. This growth habit gives the plant its main garden appeal. Bright light can bring purple lines along the leaf edges. The supplied sources give no further leaf details. They also provide no flower or fruit description. Insects pollinate the plant, but no flowering season is given.

In the wild, it grows in scrub with acacias. It often occupies rocky sites or patches of sand. Records from black cotton soil are rare. Its habitat spans elevations of about 197–5,906 feet [60–1,800 metres]. In cultivation, it prefers a site with some shade. It can also grow in full sun. The evidence gives no frost limits or hardiness zones. It does not set out a watering schedule for established plants.

Gardeners grow this species for display, often in hanging baskets. Seed and division of rooted shoots offer ways to raise plants. Sow seed in soil that drains well. Cover it with a light layer of sand. Keep the seed in a warm, shaded place. Germination takes about three weeks, according to Useful Tropical Plants. Rooting at the nodes also provides shoots for division. The supplied account names no pests or diseases for this species.

People gather wild plants for local medicinal use. In Uganda, women use it to increase sexual arousal and vaginal fluids. This records a traditional use, not proof of treatment benefits. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known food uses or hazards. That does not establish safety for people or pets. The same source reports a 2013 Least Concern assessment. It describes the species as widespread.