Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
Also listed as Coleus blumei, Coleus pumilus
Also known as Common Coleus, Painted Nettle
Climate Match for your location
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Coleus is a tender foliage plant prized for its vibrant, patterned leaves in shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, and green. It grows quickly and is commonly used as a houseplant or annual bedding plant in gardens.
Why grow it
Coleus offers reliable, rapid foliage color in settings where many other ornamentals struggle with limited light. Unlike many colorful bedding plants that depend on flowers, coleus delivers sustained visual interest through leaf pattern and pigmentation from spring through fall. Its shade tolerance makes it useful for understory positions in permaculture systems where sun-demanding species would underperform.
Watch out for
Coleus responds poorly to sudden temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and typically declines once ambient conditions fall consistently below this threshold. Indoor growth often requires supplemental light to maintain leaf color saturation; plants grown in deep shade tend toward leggy growth and muted pigmentation. Consistent soil moisture supports healthy development, though waterlogged conditions can invite root rot.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Coleus is a tender foliage plant prized for its vibrant, patterned leaves in shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, and green. It grows quickly and is commonly used as a houseplant or annual bedding plant in gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Coleus grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Coleus offers reliable, rapid foliage color in settings where many other ornamentals struggle with limited light. Unlike many colorful bedding plants that depend on flowers, coleus delivers sustained visual interest through leaf pattern and pigmentation from spring through fall. Its shade tolerance makes it useful for understory positions in permaculture systems where sun-demanding species would underperform.
Watch out for
Coleus responds poorly to sudden temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and typically declines once ambient conditions fall consistently below this threshold. Indoor growth often requires supplemental light to maintain leaf color saturation; plants grown in deep shade tend toward leggy growth and muted pigmentation. Consistent soil moisture supports healthy development, though waterlogged conditions can invite root rot.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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