Coleus

Sun or shade; annual. Grown for vivid foliage, generally in shades of pink, purple, green and maroon. The small purple blooms are not showy. Coleus are most useful for quickly livening up a shady area with summer color. Many can handle some sun, but in south-central Texas they perform much better with indirect light or shade, which deepens their color.

Although planted as a warm-season annual, coleus can easily rot if over-watered. They grow quickly to 2 feet or more, and benefit from having their growing tips periodically pinched back, to avoid becoming too leggy. Suggested spacing is 16-20 inches, considering their eventual size.

The name “coleus” is used to refer to many cultivars and hybrids of this species and others.