Coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
A popular ornamental foliage plant featuring brightly colored, patterned leaves with scalloped or ruffled edges in shades of green, magenta, and yellow.
- Light
- Bright indirect light to partial shade, about 4 to 6 hours per day
- Water
- Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; allow the top layer to dry out slightly between waterings
- Growth
- Herbaceous perennial grown as an annual, upright and bushy growth form, reaching heights and spreads of 1 to 3 feet with a moderate to fast growth rate
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect sunlight to maintain vibrant leaf coloration, water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and use a well-draining potting mix. Feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright indirect light to partial shade, about 4 to 6 hours per day
Watering
Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; allow the top layer to dry out slightly between waterings
Soil
Rich, organic, well-draining potting soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.0
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 10 to 11 when grown as a perennial, commonly cultivated as an annual in cooler regions
Growth habit
Herbaceous perennial grown as an annual, upright and bushy growth form, reaching heights and spreads of 1 to 3 feet with a moderate to fast growth rate
Bloom season
Summer; produces small, insignificant tubular spikes of blue or white flowers that are often pinched off to encourage bushier foliage growth
Propagation
Easily propagated via stem cuttings placed in water or moist soil during the spring or summer months
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies; root rot can occur if the soil remains excessively wet or poorly draining
Similar species
Other cultivars within the Lamiaceae family such as certain Plectranthus species, distinguished primarily by distinct leaf margins, variegation patterns, and stem shapes