Coleus Coleus scutellarioides
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Coleus:
Previously known as:
- Coleus blumei
- Coleus pumilus
- Coleus x hybridus
- Plectranthus scutellarioides
- Solenostemon pumilus
- Solenostemon scutellarioides
- Phonetic Spelling
- KO-lee-us skew-te-lair-ee-OY-deez
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Coleus is an upright annual or herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Its native range is tropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia. The species name resembles the genus Scutellaria, which comes from the Latin word scutella, meaning a small dish or bowl, referring to the shape of the calyx that persists after the flowers fade. Coleus forms a mound up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
This plant grows best in moist, rich, loose soil in part shade, even tolerating full shade. Plants may wilt in full sun. Full shade may lead to leggy growth. Pinching the stem tips can make the plant bushier, if desired. Cuttings are easily rooted in water or clean potting soil.
Many Solenostemon and Plectranthus species have been moved to the genus Coleus. Technically, Coleus pumilus and Solenostemon x scutellarioides now fall under Coleus scutellarioides.
Coleus has attractive foliage, succulent stems, and comes in many colors, providing year-round interest. It may be used as a tender annual outdoors in a bed, a border, a hanging basket or container. If grown as a houseplant, it requires bright light.
Quick ID
- Various multicolored leaves with crenate to incise margins
- Opposite leaves on square-angled stems and twigs
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, especially on indoor plants.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Collector’s Garden Plant Walls and Hedges Container Gardens Shady Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alabama Sunset'
- ‘Bonfire’
- 'Buttercream'
- 'Camellia'
- 'Carnival' (Sun)
- 'Color Blaze Dark Star'
- 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade'
- 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch'
2nd Place in the 2019 NC State Annual Color Trials (in ground plantings) - 'Compact Red'
- 'Coral Sunrise'
- 'Dark Heart'
- 'Defiance'
- ‘Dipt in Wine’
- 'Dragon's Claw'
- 'Eclipse'
- ‘El Brighto’
- 'Fairway Mix'
- 'Fancy Rose' (Sun)
- 'Flare'
- 'Florida Sunrise'
- 'Fright'
- 'Henna'
- 'Indian Summer'
- 'Mint Mocha'
- 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun)
- 'Pinata'
- 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun)
- 'Pineapple' (Sun)
- 'Pineapplette' (Sun)
- 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade)
- 'Red Head'
- 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun)
- 'Sibila' (Sun)
- 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha'
- 'Sunset' (Sun)
- 'Sun Wasabi'
- 'Tell Tale Heart'
- 'Trailing Red'
- 'Trailing Rose'
- 'Trusty Rusty'
- 'Versa Crimson Gold'
- 'Versa Lime'
- 'Versa Redhead'
- 'Versa Watermelon'
- 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- 'Alabama Sunset'
- 'Alabama Sunset', ‘Bonfire’, 'Buttercream', 'Camellia', 'Carnival' (Sun), 'Color Blaze Dark Star', 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade', 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch', 'Compact Red', 'Coral Sunrise', 'Dark Heart', 'Defiance', ‘Dipt in Wine’, 'Dragon's Claw', 'Eclipse', ‘El Brighto’, 'Fairway Mix', 'Fancy Rose' (Sun), 'Flare', 'Florida Sunrise', 'Fright', 'Henna', 'Indian Summer', 'Mint Mocha', 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun), 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun), 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun), 'Pinata', 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun), 'Pineapple' (Sun), 'Pineapplette' (Sun), 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade), 'Red Head', 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun), 'Sibila' (Sun), 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha', 'Sunset' (Sun), 'Sun Wasabi', 'Tell Tale Heart', 'Trailing Red', 'Trailing Rose', 'Trusty Rusty', 'Versa Crimson Gold', 'Versa Lime', 'Versa Redhead', 'Versa Watermelon', 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alabama Sunset'
- ‘Bonfire’
- 'Buttercream'
- 'Camellia'
- 'Carnival' (Sun)
- 'Color Blaze Dark Star'
- 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade'
- 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch'
2nd Place in the 2019 NC State Annual Color Trials (in ground plantings) - 'Compact Red'
- 'Coral Sunrise'
- 'Dark Heart'
- 'Defiance'
- ‘Dipt in Wine’
- 'Dragon's Claw'
- 'Eclipse'
- ‘El Brighto’
- 'Fairway Mix'
- 'Fancy Rose' (Sun)
- 'Flare'
- 'Florida Sunrise'
- 'Fright'
- 'Henna'
- 'Indian Summer'
- 'Mint Mocha'
- 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun)
- 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun)
- 'Pinata'
- 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun)
- 'Pineapple' (Sun)
- 'Pineapplette' (Sun)
- 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade)
- 'Red Head'
- 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun)
- 'Sibila' (Sun)
- 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha'
- 'Sunset' (Sun)
- 'Sun Wasabi'
- 'Tell Tale Heart'
- 'Trailing Red'
- 'Trailing Rose'
- 'Trusty Rusty'
- 'Versa Crimson Gold'
- 'Versa Lime'
- 'Versa Redhead'
- 'Versa Watermelon'
- 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- 'Alabama Sunset'
- 'Alabama Sunset', ‘Bonfire’, 'Buttercream', 'Camellia', 'Carnival' (Sun), 'Color Blaze Dark Star', 'Color Blaze Royal Glissade', 'Color Blaze Wicked Witch', 'Compact Red', 'Coral Sunrise', 'Dark Heart', 'Defiance', ‘Dipt in Wine’, 'Dragon's Claw', 'Eclipse', ‘El Brighto’, 'Fairway Mix', 'Fancy Rose' (Sun), 'Flare', 'Florida Sunrise', 'Fright', 'Henna', 'Indian Summer', 'Mint Mocha', 'Mosaik Burgundy Velvet' (Sun), 'Mosaik Rose Blast' (Sun), 'Mosaik Thin Mint' (Sun), 'Pinata', 'Pineapple Splash' (Sun), 'Pineapple' (Sun), 'Pineapplette' (Sun), 'Rebel Rouser' (Shade), 'Red Head', 'Red Hot Rio' (Sun), 'Sibila' (Sun), 'Sun Lancelot Velvet Mocha', 'Sunset' (Sun), 'Sun Wasabi', 'Tell Tale Heart', 'Trailing Red', 'Trailing Rose', 'Trusty Rusty', 'Versa Crimson Gold', 'Versa Lime', 'Versa Redhead', 'Versa Watermelon', 'Yellow Ruffles' (Sun)
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Coleus
- Species:
- scutellarioides
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Asia and Malaysia; Asia and tropical Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Nutlet
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are small, blue-violet, in slender, terminal clusters, and irregularly shaped. Blue-white two lipped nettle-like flowers appear in racemes, early summer to fall but are not showy and can distract from the leaves. The flowers are insignificant. The calyx of the flower is persistent and resembles a saucer hence the Latin name "scutella."
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are ovate to oblong toothed and frequently feature a mixture of colors and patterns including red, burgundy, and pink. This plant is grown for its multi-colored foliage. This plant has opposite, simple leaves on 4-angled stems. They are often blotched with various colors and patterns.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Stems can be semi-succulent and light green, making them stand out from the leaves. This plant has 4-angled stems.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
