Coleus (Solenostemon)
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Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Lamiaceae Family
 

About Coleuses

It can be hard to find a bright pop of color for that tricky shady spot in your garden, but Coleus is always happy to steal the (albeit kind of dim) spotlight.

This low-maintenance, high-impact annual prefers moist, rich, loose soil and part-shade, and can even tolerate full shade (but may get leggy while she searches for a little more sun).

Coleus’s gem-toned, highly contrasted foliage can mound to 3’ high and 3’ wide, making her a dramatic addition to the part-shade garden.

Pros

Low maintenance, high contrast

Adds great color to your part-shade garden

Easily propagated from cuttings in water or potting soil

Cons

Can wilt in full sun - she can do it sometimes with extra love (more water)

Can get leggy in full-shade

Prefers moist soil and is not drought-tolerant
 

Plant Data

Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Deciduous, Filler, Good for Beginners, Good for Cut Flowers, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Insignificant Flowers, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Gryphon Begonia, Buzz Velvet Butterfly Bush, Boxwood, Canna, Leapfrog Foamy Bells, Holly, Rockapulco White Impatiens, Rockapulco Wisteria Impatiens, Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple Sweet Potato, Lantana, Supertunia Black Cherry, Otto Von Bismark Colorado Spruce, Black & Bloom Salvia, New Look Dusty Miller, ColorBlaze Lime Time Coleus, Electric Lime Coleus, Arborvitae, Emerald Green Arborvitae, Zahara XL Fire Zinnia,
 

Coleus Available Now

Vino Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Vino')
From $44.25

Indian Summer Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Indian Summer')
From $4.19

Kong Red Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Red')
From $58.50

Redhead Coleus
(Solenostemon x hybridus 'Redhead')
From $4.19

Wasabi Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Wasabi')
From $58.50

ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine')
From $33.75

Alabama Sunset Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Alabama Sunset')
From $44.25

Fishnet Stockings Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Fishnet Stockings')
From $33.75

Electric Lime Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Electric Lime')
From $4.19

ColorBlaze Chocolate Drop Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Chocolate Drop')
From $60.30

Coleus 'Watermelon'
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Watermelon')
From $44.25

Inky Fingers Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Inky Fingers')
From $44.25

Kong Jr. Rose Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Jr. Rose')
From $44.25

Charged Up Campfire Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Charged Up Campfire')
From $44.25

Coleosaurus Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Coleosaurus')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Velveteen Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Velveteen')
From $33.75

FlameThrower Chili Pepper Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Chili Pepper')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Lime Time Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Lime Time')
From $33.75

Kong Rose Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Rose')
From $58.50

Kong Salmon Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Salmon')
From $58.50

Inferno Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Inferno')
From $58.50

Wedding Train Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Wedding Train')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Rediculous Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Rediculous')
From $33.75

Colorblaze Sedona Sunset Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Colorblaze Sedona Sunset')
From $60.30

ColorBlaze Torchlight Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Torchlight')
From $33.75

Colorblaze Golden Dreams Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Colorblaze Golden Dreams')
From $33.75

Chocolate Covered Cherry Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Chocolate Covered Cherry')
From $32.16

Gay's Delight Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Gay's Delight')
From $44.25

Under the Sea Bone Fish Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Bonefish' )
From $44.25

Under the Sea Copper Coral Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Copper Coral')
From $44.25

Under the Sea Lime Shrimp Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Lime Shrimp')
From $44.25

Under the Sea Pink Reef Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Pink Reef')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop')
From $60.30

ColorBlaze Wicked Witch Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Wicked Witch')
From $60.30

Heartbreaker Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Heartbreaker')
From $44.25

Party Punch Starburst Elephant Ear
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Party Time Ruby Punch')
From $44.25

FlameThrower Cajun Spice Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Cajun Spice')
From $44.25

Under The Sea Barracuda Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under The Sea Barracuda')
From $44.25

Under The Sea Electric Eel' Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under The Sea Electric Eel')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Royale Pineapple Brandy Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Royale Pineapple Brandy')
From $60.30

FlameThrower Serrano Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Serrano')
From $44.25

Great Falls Iguazu Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Great Falls Iguazu')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze El Brighto Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze El Brighto')
From $33.75
ColorBlaze Royale Apple Brandy Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Royale Apple Brandy')
From $60.30
Kong Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong')
From $45.00

ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon' )
From $60.30

Main Street Chartres Street Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Main Street Chartres Street')
From $44.25

Trailblazer Road Trip Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Trailblazer Road Trip')
From $44.25

Sun Coral Candy Coleus
(Solenostemon 'Sun Coral Candy')
From $44.25

Talavera Sienna Coleus
(Solenostemon 'Talavera Sienna')
From $44.25