The illustrated growing guide
Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
Family Lamiaceae
Est. zones 2-11
Foliage that out-colors most flowers, zero deadheading, and infinite free plants from cuttings. Modern sun varieties killed the old 'shade only' rule.
Old types shade
Moderate water
Very Fast growthI
Overview
Will coleus suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what coleus actually needs.
Life cycleTender perennial, grown as an annualColeus at a glance
Common coleus problems
- Mealybugs (indoors)
- Slugs
- Downy Mildew
- Stem Rot
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow coleus: light, water & soil
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The year
What coleus asks for, month by month.
The coleus year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for coleus — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Coleus in the garden system
What coleus is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesToxic to dogs/cats (mild)
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of coleus, ruled as a catalogue.
Best coleus varieties & cultivars
'Kong' (dinner-plate shade leaves); 'Wasabi' (chartreuse sun); 'Redhead'; 'Inferno'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to coleusyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Coleus questions, answered straight.
Is coleus safe for kids and pets?
With care. Toxic to dogs/cats (mild) Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
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Elsewhere
Where coleus sits in the library.
Sunflower
Zinnia
Peony
Daylily