Botanical Color Work
The Color
Codex
A collection of botanical color work — coleus variety reference, interactive color tools, and Werner's Nomenclature-inspired swatch art. Equal parts science and beauty.
Color Projects
Reference
The Color
Codex
Codex
An illustrated reference of coleus varieties organized by color family — from near-black dragons to electric chartreuse. Inspired by Patrick Syme's 1821 Werner's Nomenclature of Colours, where every hue had a name and every name had a meaning.
Open the codex
Interactive Tool · Coming Soon
Coleus Color
Wheel
Wheel
An interactive web application for exploring 88+ coleus varieties by color, growth habit, light tolerance, and propagation difficulty. Find complementary pairings, compare varieties side by side, and build your ideal container combination. Coming to Kate's Plant Shop when complete.
In development
Coleus Color Wheel
88+ varieties · Interactive · Coming Soon
Organizing 88+ coleus varieties by color family, light tolerance, and propagation difficulty. An interactive pairing tool for container gardeners and collectors.
Hover a swatch to see the variety name
About the Project
The coleus color wheel began as a personal database of 88+ varieties, tracking patent status, propagation difficulty, light tolerance, and color family. It became a web application. It's becoming a reference tool for the Kate's Plant Shop community.
The Color Codex is its visual counterpart — part Werner's Nomenclature homage, part coleus lover's field guide. Both projects live here until the color wheel is ready for its permanent home at Kate's Plant Shop.