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.
A warm season annual. Water to establish. Pinch back flowers to focus the plant’s energy on producing foliage. In addition, pinching back the growing tips during summer to prevent plants becoming leggy. Coleus will linger until autumn but won’t survive freezing weather.
A summer annual providing colorful foliage in bright shade.
