Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
flowerColeus is a tender perennial grown as an annual for its vivid, patterned foliage rather than its small, insignificant blue flower spikes. Plants range from 6 in to 3 ft tall and wide, with leaves in red, burgundy, pink, orange, yellow, green, and endless variegations. Long thought of as a shade plant, many modern cultivars take full sun, so coleus now works in beds, borders, and containers in nearly any light. It roots so easily from cuttings that favorite plants can be carried over winter on a bright windowsill.
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Sun
partial shade
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Water
Every 3 days
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Bloom
~60 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
tender perennial
Perennial in warm zones; grown as an annual where winters freeze
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Spacing
12-18 in apart
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Planting Depth
Set transplants at the same depth as the cell pack
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Moist, rich, loose, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
When to Fertilize
Light feeding through the growing season
Fertilizer
Balanced; avoid heavy nitrogen, which dulls leaf color
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow coleus in moist, rich, loose, well-drained soil. It tolerates deep shade to full sun, but plants may wilt in hot afternoon sun and grow leggy in heavy shade, so match the cultivar to the light. Keep the soil consistently moist and never let it dry out completely, especially in containers. Pinch the stem tips regularly to keep plants bushy and full, and pinch off the flower spikes as they form to direct energy into foliage. Feed lightly; too much nitrogen dulls the leaf color. Cuttings root readily in water or moist potting soil.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care, and they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first bloom
Jun 28
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Impatiens: A shade-loving annual that flowers alongside coleus in the same moist, partly shaded beds
- Wax Begonia: Pairs well in shade containers with similar moisture needs
- Caladium: Another bold foliage plant for shade that contrasts with coleus leaf patterns
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Gather on soft new growth, especially indoors; rinse off and conserve natural enemies
Common on indoor and greenhouse plants; use yellow sticky traps and rinse foliage
Appear in hot, dry indoor air; raise humidity and wash the leaves
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Coleus is grown for its leaves, so the main task is pinching. Pinch growing tips every few weeks for a denser plant and remove flower spikes to keep the foliage vigorous. In fall, before frost, take 3 to 4 in stem cuttings of favorite plants and root them in water or moist soil to overwinter indoors in bright light for next year.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Coleus is an ornamental foliage plant, not edible. Its value is bold, season-long leaf color that thrives where flowers struggle, in shade and in sun, plus the ease of cloning it from cuttings. Have a different variety? Cultivars of the same species share the same basic care, so this guide still applies even if your exact leaf pattern is not shown.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Coleus leaves can cause mild skin irritation, a contact dermatitis, in some people with repeated handling. The plant is also considered toxic to cats and dogs if eaten, causing drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea, so keep it out of reach of pets that chew houseplants.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.