Coleus (Solenostemon Hybrids)

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Loam
PREFERRED LIGHT: Shade to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Multicolored leaves; for beds or containers
SEASON OF INTEREST: Early summer to fall
FAVORITES: Miniatures 'India Frills', 'Duckfoot'; medium Wizard mix, 'Brilliant Red'; 'Purple Emperor'
QUIRKS: Needs warm soil; plant outside in early summer
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Dahlias, hosla, pansies, phormium
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Shade or partial shade
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Aphids, whiteflies
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good
SOURCE: Bedding plants, cuttings
DIMENSIONS: Dwarfs 12 in (30.5 cm) tall; others from 2-3 ft (0.6-1 m) tall and wide

Coleus in the Landscape

If you want a dash of care-free color, plant coleus. The brightly variegated leaves are the real reason for growing coleus, and what a range of festive shades. Coleus leaves are speckled, splashed, banded, rimmed, and streaked with nearly every color and combination of colors imaginable including copper, deep maroon, pink, white, chartreuse, yellow, and orange. Leaf size and shape vary, too, from the tiny ruffled foliage of 'Duckfoot' to 8 in (20.3 cm) long leaves for big cultivars, such as 'Atlas'. Upright-growing dwarf coleus, such as 'India Frills', are perfect planted 1 ft (0.3 m) apart as a 12 in (30.5 cm) tall colorful hedge.

The larger, upright 2-3 ft (0.6-1 m) tall versions, such as simmering pink-and-yellow-leaved 'Alabama Sunset', can fill in the middle or back of a shady border. Medium-sized coleus are often planted in perennial gardens to act as "accessories," providing a touch of color to echo the flower colors in companion perennials. Spreading plants such as 'Duckfoot' and the more common upright-growing coleus are custom-made for pots, and always make a big splash.

Not Just for Shade Anymore

Originally, coleus were only planted in warm shade, and the older varieties, such as 'Pineapple Queen', will scorch badly in full sun and show painfully slow growth. But many of the newer coleus varieties tolerate bright light, provided they receive enough water to prevent wilting. Still, in strong sun it's best to steer clear of coleus with pale yellow, white, or cream in the leaves and choose more sun-tolerant red-leaved varieties.

Increasing the Bounty

Coleus are easy to grow from cuttings. Simply snip a branch long enough to have three sets of leaves and place the lower, leafless 2 in (5.1 cm) of stem in a glass of water. Roots begin to sprout within 2 weeks. Pot the cutting as soon as roots develop, set the pot where it will be shaded, and water it generously for several weeks until new growth appears. Then you can move the young plant into a container or into the garden when the soil warms. Prized plants can be wintered over by rooting cuttings before the first frost in fall, potting and placing them on a sunny windowsill indoors.

It's easy to grow coleus from seed, but the choice of varieties is limited, and plants are generally less vigorous than named varieties grown from cuttings. Sow seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost, or sow outdoors in warm garden soil. Seeds need light to sprout, or germinate, so sprinkle them on the surface of moist, well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist and seeds will germinate in I to 2 weeks. Thin or transplant seedlings when they have several sets of mature leaves.

Growing Coleus

Coleus are very tender and will be damaged by the slightest frost, so wait until the soil warms in spring to plant them outdoors. As summer heats up, coleus need plenty of water. Dry plants wilt readily, so you'll know when it's time to water. When growing coleus in containers, use a large pot with plenty of room for roots. To encourage side branching, snip off the growing tips once or twice in early summer. Although coleus produce tiny blue flowers at the stem tips, many gardeners feel the flowers detract from the leaves and clip them off The only pests to bother coleus are aphids and whiteflies, which are more prevalent indoors than out and are easily treated with insecticidal soap applied according to package directions.