Coleus (Solenostemon)
[sol-en-oh-STEM-on]

Deciduous Perennial in the Lamiaceae Family
 

About Coleuses

It can be hard to find a bright pop of color for that tricky shady spot in your garden, but Coleus is always happy to steal the (albeit kind of dim) spotlight.

This low-maintenance, high-impact annual prefers moist, rich, loose soil and part-shade, and can even tolerate full shade (but may get leggy while she searches for a little more sun).

Coleus’s gem-toned, highly contrasted foliage can mound to 3’ high and 3’ wide, making her a dramatic addition to the part-shade garden.

Pros

Low maintenance, high contrast

Adds great color to your part-shade garden

Easily propagated from cuttings in water or potting soil

Cons

Can wilt in full sun - she can do it sometimes with extra love (more water)

Can get leggy in full-shade

Prefers moist soil and is not drought-tolerant
 

Plant Data

Tags Deciduous, Perennial
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Gryphon Begonia, Buzz Velvet Butterfly Bush, Boxwood, Canna, Leapfrog Foamy Bells, Holly, Rockapulco White Impatiens, Rockapulco Wisteria Impatiens, Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple Sweet Potato, Lantana, Supertunia Black Cherry, Otto Von Bismark Colorado Spruce, Black & Bloom Salvia, New Look Dusty Miller, ColorBlaze Lime Time Coleus, Electric Lime Coleus, Arborvitae, Emerald Green Arborvitae, Zahara XL Fire Zinnia,
 

Coleus Available Soon

Vino Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Vino')
From $44.25

Indian Summer Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Indian Summer')
From $45.75

Kong Red Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Red')
From $58.50

Redhead Coleus
(Solenostemon x hybridus 'Redhead')
From $44.25

Wasabi Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Wasabi')
From $58.50

ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine')
From $33.75

Alabama Sunset Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Alabama Sunset')
From $44.25

Fishnet Stockings Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Fishnet Stockings')
From $33.75

Electric Lime Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Electric Lime')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Chocolate Drop Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Chocolate Drop')
From $60.30

Coleus 'Watermelon'
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Watermelon')
From $44.25

Kong Jr. Scarlet Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Jr. Scarlet')
From $44.25

Inky Fingers Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Inky Fingers')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Kingswood Torch Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Kingswood Torch')
From $45.75

Kong Jr. Rose Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Jr. Rose')
From $44.25

Campfire Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Campfire')
From $44.25

Coleosaurus Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Coleosaurus')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Velveteen Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Velveteen')
From $33.75

FlameThrower Chili Pepper Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Chili Pepper')
From $44.25

Flamethrower Chipotle Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Flamethrower Chipotle')
From $72.00

Flamethrower Spiced Curry Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Flamethrower Spiced Curry')
From $72.00

ColorBlaze Lime Time Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Lime Time')
From $33.75

Kong Rose Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Rose')
From $58.50

Kong Salmon Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong Salmon')
From $58.50

Main Street Rodeo Drive Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Main Street Rodeo Drive')
From $72.00

Inferno Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Inferno')
From $45.75

Black Dragon Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Black Dragon')
From $21.08

Wizard Mix Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Wizard Mix')
From $21.08

Wedding Train Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Wedding Train')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Rediculous Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Rediculous')
From $33.75

Colorblaze Sedona Sunset Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Colorblaze Sedona Sunset')
From $60.30

ColorBlaze Torchlight Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Torchlight')
From $33.75

Colorblaze Golden Dreams Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Colorblaze Golden Dreams')
From $33.75

Chocolate Covered Cherry Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Chocolate Covered Cherry')
From $28.17

Gay's Delight Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Gay's Delight')
From $44.25

Great Falls Angel Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Great Falls Angel')
From $45.75
Great Falls Yosemite Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Great Falls Yosemite')
From $45.75
Under the Sea Bone Fish Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Bone Fish' )
From $44.25
Under the Sea Copper Coral Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Copper Coral')
From $44.25
Under the Sea Lime Shrimp Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Lime Shrimp')
From $44.25
Under the Sea Pink Reef Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under the Sea Pink Reef')
From $44.25
Abbey Road Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Abbey Road')
From $45.75
Main St. Beale Street Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Main Street Beale Street')
From $72.00
Great Falls Niagara Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Great Falls Niagara')
From $45.75
Stained Glassworks Tilt a Whirl Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Tilt a Whirl')
From $72.00

ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop')
From $60.30

Cerveza n' Lime Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Cerveza n' Lime')
From $59.25

ColorBlaze Wicked Witch Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Wicked Witch')
From $60.30
Flamethrower Salsa Verde Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Flamethrower Salsa Verde')
From $44.25

Wizard Red Velvet Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Wizard Red Velvet')
From $21.08

Heartbreaker Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Heartbreaker')
From $44.25
Flamethrower Salsa Roja Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Flamethrower Salsa Roja')
From $72.00
Florida Sun Rose Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Florida Sun Rose')
From $45.75
Burgundy Wedding Train Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Burgundy Wedding Train')
From $45.75

'Party Time Ruby Punch' Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Party Time Ruby Punch')
From $44.25
FlameThrower Cajun Spice Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Cajun Spice')
From $44.25
Under The Sea Barracuda Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under The Sea Barracuda')
From $44.25
Under The Sea Electric Eel' Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Under The Sea Electric Eel')
From $44.25

ColorBlaze Royale Pineapple Brandy Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Royale Pineapple Brandy')
From $60.30

FlameThrower Habanero Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Habanero')
From $72.00

FlameThrower Serrano Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'FlameThrower Serrano')
From $44.25
Great Falls Iguazu Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Great Falls Iguazu')
From $44.25
Ruby Slipper Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Ruby Slipper')
From $45.75
Main Street Ruby Road Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Main Street Ruby Road')
From $72.00

ColorBlaze El Brighto Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze El Brighto')
From $33.75
Copperhead Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Copperhead')
From $72.00
Dragon Heart Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Dragon Heart')
From $45.75

Limewire Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Limewire')
From $72.00
Vulcan Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Vulcan')
From $72.00
ColorBlaze Royale Apple Brandy Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Royale Apple Brandy')
From $60.30
Kong Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Kong')
From $42.75
Fairway Mix Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Fairway Mix')
From $21.08

ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon' )
From $60.30
Main Street Chartres Street Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Main Street Chartres Street')
From $44.25
Trailblazer Road Trip Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Trailblazer Road Trip')
From $44.25
Solar Flare Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides 'Solar Flare')
From $72.00
Sun Coral Candy Coleus
(Solenostemon 'Sun Coral Candy')
From $44.25
Talavera Sienna Coleus
(Solenostemon 'Talavera Sienna')
From $44.25