Grow coleus in moist, well-drained soil at the light the tag names. Coleus is the shop name for this tender mint-family plant (catalog Solenostemon) — not Swedish ivy.
Give it moist, well-drained soil, and the light on the tag
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | The exposure on the tag. Many trial kinds take sun if the soil stays moist | Hot afternoon on a shade or lime leaf, or deep shade that stretches the stem |
| Soil | Moist ground that drains after rain, with compost worked in | A puddle around the stem, or heavy clay that stays wet |
| Water | Water when the top inch is dry. Water at the base | Letting the root ball dry hard, or soaking the leaves every evening |
| Frost | Treat it as a tender annual | Cold, wet soil at plant-out, or an uncovered frost |
Coleus is grown for the leaf, not the flower. Match the light to the plant you bought, then keep the soil evenly moist without standing water. [1] French Quarter and Redhead take sun or part shade if you do not let the mix go dry. A shade kind in hot afternoon sun bleaches. Deep shade makes a thin stem. [2] Pick the habit on Types of Coleus if the tag only says coleus.
How much sun does coleus need?
Read the tag. Many newer kinds take full sun if the soil stays moist. Shade kinds bleach in hot afternoon light. Deep shade makes leggy stems.
How often should I water coleus?
Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Water at the base. A plant in sun or in a pot dries faster than one in a shaded bed.
Pinch the tips, and pinch the flower spikes
A coleus stem that is never pinched grows one tall shoot, then flowers. Pinch or cut just above a pair of leaves so two side shoots grow. Pinch flower spikes as they form, or the plant puts energy into seed and the leaves decline. Henna wants the same pinch as Pineapple.
- When the plant is about 6 inches tall, pinch the top 2 inches just above a leaf pair. [3]
- Pinch again as shoots lengthen if you want a fuller mound.
- Pinch or shear flower spikes as they appear. New trial kinds flower later, so you may pinch less.
When do I pinch coleus?
Once the plant is about 6 inches tall, pinch the tip above a leaf pair. Pinch again as shoots lengthen.
Should I let coleus flower?
Usually no, if you want the leaves. Pinch the spikes. The flowers are small and blue-violet; leaving them makes the plant decline.
Plant after the soil is warmer than 60°F
Wait until nights stay warm and the soil is above about 60°F. Cold, wet ground stalls the plant for weeks. Set the root ball at the same depth it grew in the pot.
- Wait until frost is past and the soil has warmed. Evenings staying near 60°F are a safe floor. [4]
- Dig a hole as deep as the pot and a little wider. On heavy clay, work in compost so water moves away.
- Slide the plant out. Set it so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil. Do not bury the stem.
- Space about 12 inches apart, more for a large trial kind, so air moves between plants.
- Water to settle. Keep the root ball moist for the first week, then water when the top inch is dry.
When should I plant coleus outside?
After frost, when soil is warmer than about 60°F. Cold, wet ground stalls growth.
How far apart should I plant coleus?
About 12 inches for most kinds. Give a large trial plant more room. Do not jam them in a wet pocket.
Use a draining pot, and water it more often than a bed
A pot with a drain hole and a loose potting mix is the usual patio start. Water when the top inch is dry — often daily in heat. Empty the saucer. To keep the plant through winter, see How to Grow Coleus Indoors. To copy a named leaf before frost, take a cutting on How to Propagate Coleus.
Can I grow coleus in a pot?
Yes. Use a pot with a hole and a loose mix. Water more often than a bed plant.
If the plant is one tall flower spike, pinch back to a leaf pair — do not wait for seed.
FAQ
Does coleus come back next year?
Frost kills it in most of the country. It is a tender perennial only where frost is rare. Take cuttings in fall, or buy new plants in spring.
Is Swedish ivy the same plant?
No. Swedish ivy is Plectranthus verticillatus, a trailing houseplant with round scalloped leaves. Garden coleus is the painted foliage plant.
What is a scaredy-cat plant?
Coleus caninus is a different, strong-smelling plant sold to deter cats. It is not foliage coleus.
Will coleus hurt pets?
Leaves can irritate skin on some people after repeated contact. Keep pets from chewing the plant.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] University of Minnesota Extension -
https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-minnesota/coleus - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coleus-scutellarioides/ - [3] SDSU Extension -
https://extension.sdstate.edu/coleus-color-every-garden - [4] Old Farmer's Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/coleus
This note is part of Solenostemon Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors