3 named cultivars

perennial

Coleus

The Story

Plant Bio

Plectranthus scutellarioides, universally known as coleus, is a tender perennial from tropical Asia and northern Australia, grown almost entirely for its foliage. Leaves are scalloped or fringed and marked in combinations of lime, chartreuse, burgundy, pink and near-black, on square stems six inches to three feet high. The small blue-white flowers are insignificant.

Leaf colour is the whole point, and it is lost in both directions: too much sun bleaches and wilts the foliage, too much shade draws the plant leggy and dulls the markings. Pinch out the flower spikes as they form, because once it sets seed the plant puts its energy there and the leaves go over.

Uses & Benefits:

Season-long foliage colour in combinations no flowering annual matches, and it performs in shade.

Fast, cheap and easily propagated from cuttings, so one plant can fill a scheme the following year.

Grown for foliage rather than nectar; the flower spikes are usually removed before they open.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

24 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Tropical Asia to northern Australia

Toxicity

Toxic to pets if ingested

Planting

How to Grow

Plant out only after the last frost has passed.
Choose part shade to full shade, or morning sun at most.
Use rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil or compost.
Pinch the growing tips early to build a branching plant.
Remove flower spikes as soon as they appear.
Take cuttings in late summer to carry plants through winter.

Pro Tip

Cuttings root in a glass of water within a fortnight, which is the cheapest way to keep a favourite leaf pattern year to year.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Pinch out flower spikes as they form 🌿
Keep the soil evenly moist 💧
Grow it in part to full shade 🌳
Take cuttings in late summer to overwinter 🌱

Don't

Plant it out before the last frost ❌
Leave it in hot full sun and expect the colour to hold ❌
Let it flower and run to seed ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Pinch
Propagate

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Shade bedding for foliage colourContainer, window box and hanging basket plantingHouseplant in a bright indoor position

Companion Plants

Impatiens Begonia CaladiumSweet Potato Vine Fuchsia

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Coleus questions

What zones can Coleus grow in?

Coleus is hardy in USDA Zone 10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Coleus deer resistant?

Yes — Coleus is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Coleus bloom?

Coleus typically blooms in flowers insignificant, usually removed through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Coleus need full sun?

Coleus does best in part shade.