Coleus plants are a type of flowering plant that is native to tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. They are known for their bright and vibrant foliage, with leaves that range in color from shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, and green. Coleus plants are easy to care for and can be grown indoors or outdoors, making them a popular choice for gardeners. They require moderate amounts of water and bright, indirect sunlight, and are usually propagated through stem cuttings.
Planning Your Garden With Coleus
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Coleus is an annual. |
| USDA Zone | Coleus is hardy IN USDA Zones 6-11. |
| Cold Tolerance | Coleus is a tropical plant, so it is not very cold-tolerant. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 28 for short periods of time. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest coleus is usually around 8-10 weeks. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown coleus plant is 12 to 24 inches in height and 12 to 18 inches in width. |
| Spacing requirements | Coleus plants typically thrive in warm, humid conditions with bright, indirect light and moist, well-draining soil. When planting multiple coleus plants, space them at least 12 inches apart to give them enough room to grow. |
| Sun tolerance | Coleus is a shade-loving plant and does not tolerate full sun. It will burn if exposed to direct sunlight for too long. It prefers partial shade or filtered sunlight for best growth. |
| Shade tolerance | Coleus is a shade-tolerant plant, able to thrive in partial shade to full shade. It can tolerate some direct sun, but it is best to keep it in an area that receives no more than 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. |
| Water requirements | Coleus prefers moist soil, but should not be allowed to sit in water. Water your coleus when the top inch of soil is dry. If you are growing coleus in a pot, check the soil daily and water when the top inch of soil is dry. Make sure to water the soil, not the leaves. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing coleus depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the age of the plant. Generally, young plants should be fertilized every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Mature plants should be fertilized every four to six weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to one-quarter strength. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing coleus is 6.0 to 6.5. |
Why Coleus is Popular
People like to grow coleus because of its vibrant and colorful foliage. Coleus is easy to grow and can thrive in a variety of light and soil conditions. It also adds a splash of color to gardens and containers and can be used in a variety of ways, from edging to mass planting.
Companion Plants For Coleus
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for coleus include:
Common Pests For Coleus
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow coleus, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- leaf miners
- aphids
- whiteflies
- spider mites
- mealybugs
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
