Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides (syn. Plectranthus scutellarioides)
Coleus is grown for its spectacular leaves in combinations of lime, red, purple, pink, orange and near-black. It brightens shady beds and containers in summer and grows easily from cuttings.
Photo: Wilfredor · CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Partial sun, Bright indirect light
Watering
Moderate
Keep moist; it wilts quickly when dry but recovers.
Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
10–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed every two weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings, seed
Pinch tips and remove flower spikes to keep it bushy.
Coleus can cause vomiting and skin irritation in cats and dogs.
Top Cultivation Tips
Sun-tolerant varieties exist for bright beds.
Cuttings root in water within a week.
Overwinter cuttings indoors.
Plant after the last frost.
Common problems
Leggy growth
Long, thin, pale stems with widely spaced leaves, caused when a plant stretches toward light because it is not getting enough.
How to treat it →PestMealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestWhiteflies
Small white flying insects that gather under leaves, sucking sap, spreading viruses and leaving sticky honeydew.
How to treat it →
