Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
A popular tender perennial grown for its vibrant, multicolored foliage featuring deep burgundy leaves accented with bright magenta centers along the midrib and scalloped margins.
- Light
- Bright indirect light or partial shade, about 4 to 6 hours of sun per day depending on climate intensity
- Water
- Keep soil evenly moist. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Drought will cause drooping, though it recovers quickly upon watering.
- Growth
- Herbaceous tender perennial with an upright, bushy growth habit, reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet with a similar spread, growing at a fast rate
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect sunlight or partial shade to maintain vivid leaf coloration. Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright indirect light or partial shade, about 4 to 6 hours of sun per day depending on climate intensity
Watering
Keep soil evenly moist. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Drought will cause drooping, though it recovers quickly upon watering.
Soil
Rich, well-draining loamy soil with a neutral pH range between 6.0 and 7.0
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 10 through 11, typically grown as an annual in cooler temperate regions
Growth habit
Herbaceous tender perennial with an upright, bushy growth habit, reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet with a similar spread, growing at a fast rate
Bloom season
Summer to early autumn, producing small, inconspicuous blue or white tubular flowers on terminal spikes, though often pinched off to encourage bushier foliage growth
Propagation
Easily propagated via stem cuttings placed in water or moist potting mix during spring or summer, rooting within two to three weeks
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies, especially when grown indoors or in dry conditions. Root rot may occur if soil remains waterlogged.
Similar species
Other members of the Lamiaceae family such as Salvia or Plectranthus species, but distinguished by distinctly multicolored, patterned, and scalloped foliage.