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Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides), whole plant
  • Coleus — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Coleus — seasonal appearance
  • Coleus in a garden setting

Coleus

Coleus scutellarioides

Easy · Beginner friendly

About Coleus

Coleus is a tropical Southeast Asian tender perennial grown as an annual across the US, beloved not for flowers but for spectacular multicolored foliage in near-infinite combinations of lime, burgundy, red, pink, yellow, orange, and near-black. Growing 10 to 36 inches tall depending on cultivar, modern sun-tolerant varieties have transformed American shade and sun container gardening since the 2000s.

  • Shade-tolerant
  • Low-maintenance
  • Container-friendly
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Part shade
2–4 hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to 30°F (-1°C)
USDA hardiness zones 10–11

How to care for Coleus

Watering

  • Springevery 3 days
  • Summerevery 2 days
  • Fallevery 5 days
  • Winterevery 7 days

Soil · Well-draining

  • Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
  • Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
  • DrainageLECA / gravel20%

Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 14 days
  • Summerevery 14 days
  • Fallevery 30 days
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At a Glance

  • NativeEast Asia
  • Height1–3 ft (0.3–0.9 m)
  • Spread1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m)
  • Flower colorBlue, Purple, White
  • Foliage colorGreen, Red, Purple, Yellow
  • SoilRich, Loamy, Well-drained
  • LocationsYard · Balcony

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Grown for foliage; flower spikes pinched to prolong leaf quality

Fragrance

LIGHT FRAGRANCE

Mild minty scent when leaves crushed.

Toxicity

Humans Slight · Pets Moderate

essential oils and diterpenoids

Slight

  • Leaf
  • Stem
  • Ingestion
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Eating leaves and stems. Touching leaves and stems.

EFFECT Foliage may cause mild dermatitis and GI upset.

NOTE Documented concern for humans: Foliage may cause mild dermatitis and GI upset.

Moderate

  • Leaf
  • Stem
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating leaves and stems.

EFFECT ASPCA: vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia and skin irritation possible.

NOTE ASPCA lists Coleus as toxic to dogs and cats.

Moderate

  • Leaf
  • Stem
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating leaves and stems.

EFFECT ASPCA: vomiting, diarrhea, depression, anorexia and skin irritation possible.

NOTE ASPCA lists Coleus as toxic to dogs and cats.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Coleus · Native
  • Native
  • Introduced
  • East Asia

History

Illustrated historical scene for Coleus

Coleus scutellarioides, long cultivated as Solenostemon scutellarioides or Plectranthus scutellarioides, is a tender perennial in the mint family native to Southeast Asia from India through Indonesia and into northern Australia. Dutch gardeners introduced the plant to Europe from Java in 1851, triggering Britain's Coleus Mania of the 1860s and 1870s, during which nurseries marketed hundreds of named leaf forms. The plant's riotous combinations of green, yellow, pink, red, orange, and purple on leaves of every shape returned to horticultural favor with Ball FloraPlant's ColorBlaze series, Proven Winners' Under the Sea selections, and the Main Street, FlameThrower, and Great Falls programs.

Modern breeding also delivered sun-tolerance, restraining the old shade-only reputation and expanding coleus into full-sun bedding across North America. Cultivated in Southeast Asia for centuries, introduced to Victorian American gardens as a greenhouse bedding plant in the 1860s.

The Victorian 'coleus craze' produced thousands of cultivars. Modern sun-tolerant hybrids like 'ColorBlaze' and 'Sun Coleus' revolutionized American container gardening in the 2000s.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Coleus is living pattern. Each leaf carries splashes, veins, and borders that made Victorian bedding schemes look almost upholstered in color. Modern gardeners keep it for the same reason, though with looser rules: the plant turns shade and containers into a gallery of foliage rather than a wait for flowers.

  • Living art — each leaf a natural painting
  • Victorian opulence — signature plant of the bedding-out craze

Where the Name Comes From

'scutellarioides' means resembling Scutellaria (skullcap); long known as Coleus, briefly moved to Plectranthus and Solenostemon, now back to Coleus.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Vivid foliage fills shaded patio pots and window boxes
  • Brilliant leaf colors prized for shade bedding displays

Related plants

More Coleus plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Coleus?

In summer, water about every 2 days; in winter, about every 7 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Coleus need?

Part shade: 2–4 hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Coleus toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Moderate (Dogs Moderate · Cats Moderate) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Coleus easy to grow?

Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.

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