Houseplant · Lamiaceae
Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
With its bold, painted leaves, coleus brings cheerful color to a shady corner or a sunny bed, and it asks very little of you in return.
Bright indirect
USDA 10–11
0–3 ft · 0.2–0.9 m
Overview
If you are nervous about keeping a plant happy, coleus is a kind place to start. It is grown for its leaves, and those leaves are a joy, washed in greens, reds, purples, and gold in patterns no flower could match. A member of the mint family, it comes from the tropics of Southeast Asia and northern Australia, and although it only winters over outdoors in the warmest zones, it settles in happily as a houseplant or a container plant almost anywhere you live.
Part of what makes coleus so reassuring is how fast and forgiving it is. Pinch the tips here and there and it answers by growing full and bushy rather than tall and bare, and small slips are easy to recover from. Older types prefer a shadier spot and can fade in hot sun, while newer ones like Wasabi and Pineapple keep their color in full sun, so finding the right place is mostly a matter of knowing which one you brought home.
Think of coleus as a tender perennial that most people simply enjoy as an annual, since the first frost brings it to a close. Here is the comforting part: cuttings root so readily that you can keep a plant going all winter on a windowsill and set it out again come spring. The one small job worth remembering is pinching off the bloom spikes, because letting it flower tires it out and dims the leaves you grew it for.
Care
The short version: start by learning whether your coleus is a sun type or a shade type, then give it bright indirect light indoors or its matching sun-shade balance outside, keep the soil lightly moist without letting it dry out or stay soggy, and pinch the tips often so it fills out into a full, happy plant.
Light
Indoors, coleus is happiest in bright indirect light, and outdoors the right spot simply depends on your cultivar. The shade-preferring types are content in part shade to full shade and tend to bleach in hot sun, while the sun-tolerant ones keep their color out in full sun. Give any of them too little light and they grow leggy and washed out, so a brighter home usually helps.
Water
Aim to keep the soil lightly moist at all times, never bone dry but never soggy either, and you will both be content. Water once the top inch of soil feels dry, and remember that potted plants drink faster and will want it a bit more often. Try not to overwater, since that stunts growth and marks the leaves, so just let any extra drain away.
Soil
Coleus thrives in moist, rich, loose soil that drains well, and mixing in plenty of organic matter sets it up nicely. That kind of blend holds the steady moisture the plant loves while still letting water move through, which keeps the roots from sitting wet and rotting.
Temperature
This is a warm-natured tropical that likes to stay above 50°F (10°C), and it simply has no patience for cold. The first frost will end it, so be kind to your plant and bring containers indoors in good time before the season turns chilly.
Humidity
Ordinary household humidity suits coleus just fine, so there is no number you need to fuss over. What matters more is good airflow, since still, damp air around crowded plants is what invites downy mildew and other leaf troubles, and a little breathing room goes a long way.
Feeding
Feed it through the growing season, from spring into summer, with a balanced bedding-plant fertilizer, and your coleus will reward you. A foliage formula such as 24-8-16 works better than a high-phosphorus bloom feed, which only coaxes the plant to stretch and turn leggy.
Pruning
Do not be shy about pinching the stem tips often, since that is what coaxes branching and keeps the plant bushy and compact. Snip off the flower spikes as soon as they show in late summer, because letting it bloom and set seed tires coleus out and sends it into decline.
Repotting
Repot whenever it seems ready, whether you keep coleus as a houseplant or in a container, and gently pot up rooted cuttings as they take hold. Watch for roots circling or peeking out of the drainage holes, water rushing straight through, and growth that slows, all friendly signs it is time for a bigger pot.
Size & spacing
Coleus can reach anywhere from 6 to 36 inches (15 to 91 cm) tall, with a spread to match, depending on your cultivar and how often you pinch. Regular pinching keeps it fuller and more compact than it would be if you left it to its own devices, so you really are in control of its shape.
Troubleshooting
Take heart, because nearly every coleus hiccup comes back to one of two simple things: the light is wrong for the cultivar, or the watering has tipped too dry or too wet. The leaves and stems will quietly tell you what is going on, and a little attention now usually sets things right before they spread. Find your plant's symptom below and you will know just what to do.
Sudden collapse and dark stems after frost
Coleus is a tender tropical, and sadly the first frost kills it outright, blackening the stems and toppling the whole plant. A frosted plant cannot be saved, so let it go without guilt. To keep a favorite with you, take stem cuttings or pot it up and bring it indoors before the cold arrives, since it only survives outdoors in USDA zones 10 to 11.
Fix:
- Take stem cuttings or dig and pot favorite plants before frost to overwinter indoors
- Move containers indoors before cold weather
- Discard frost-killed plants
Stunted growth and rot from soggy soil
Coleus loves steady moisture, but soil that stays waterlogged can lead to root and stem rot, which is one of the few things that truly sets it back. You will notice roots turning brown and mushy, the base of the stems going soft, and growth stalling. Easing off the watering, making sure the pot or bed drains freely, and keeping the soil lightly moist rather than soaked will usually turn things around.
Fix:
- Reduce watering and let excess drain away
- Ensure pots and beds have excellent drainage
- Avoid wetting foliage when watering
Brown angular patches with dropping leaves and stunting
If you see yellowing, angular brown blotches, curling leaves, and dropped foliage, the likely culprit is downy mildew. Turn a leaf over and look for white, purple, or gray fuzz on the underside only, which sometimes takes a hand lens to spot. It favors temperatures between 60°F and 80°F (16°C to 27°C) once humidity climbs above 85%, so bag and bin the infected leaves, open the plant up for airflow, and water at the base to keep the foliage dry.
Fix:
- Remove and discard infected material in the trash, not compost
- Improve air circulation by spacing, thinning, and pruning
- Water at the base with drip irrigation rather than overhead, and keep foliage dry
Bloom spikes appearing while vigor slips
Since coleus is grown for its leaves, those slim spikes of small blue-violet flowers are really a gentle warning rather than a treat. Once a plant flowers and sets seed in late summer, the foliage display starts to slip and the plant loses some of its vigor. There is nothing to worry about, though: pinch the spikes off the moment you spot them, and keep at it so all that energy flows back into the leaves.
Fix:
- Pinch or cut off flower spikes as soon as they appear
- Continue pinching to redirect energy into foliage
Wilting, drooping leaves
Coleus tends to wilt quickly when the soil dries out, and a plant in a pot will droop soonest of all, so check the soil before you fret. A thirsty plant usually perks right back up within hours of a good drink, which is wonderfully reassuring. A shade-loving type can also flag in too much afternoon sun, so if the soil is fine, simply move it somewhere with a break from the heat.
Fix:
- Water thoroughly and keep soil lightly moist
- Increase watering frequency for containers
- Provide afternoon shade for non-sun-tolerant cultivars
Sticky residue, misshapen leaves, and insects showing
Indoor coleus can attract a few sap-feeders, and you may notice soft white cottony mealybugs, little clusters of aphids, or clouds of tiny whiteflies. In warm, dry rooms, spider mites can join in with fine webbing and stippled leaves. Do not panic: rinse the plant off, set it apart from your others, and treat it with insecticidal soap, repeating until the bugs have moved on.
Fix:
- Treat with insecticidal soap
- Rinse plants and isolate affected specimens
- Repeat treatments as needed for indoor infestations
Long, bare stems and washed-out color
When the stems stretch out and the lower leaves thin to bare patches, you are looking at legginess, and it usually means the light is not quite right for your cultivar or the tips simply did not get pinched. A shade type will bleach in harsh sun while a sun type stretches and pales in deep shade, leaving those long gaps between leaves. The good news is it is an easy fix: move it into the light it wants, pinch the growing tips often, and cut the gangly stems back hard so it fills in dense and full again.
Fix:
- Move to the light level recommended for the cultivar (bright indirect light indoors; correct sun/shade outdoors)
- Pinch growing tips regularly to force branching
- Cut back leggy stems to encourage dense regrowth
Leaves fading or burning under hot sun
Most of the older coleus are shade-preferring, so when hot direct sun washes the color from the leaves and leaves them wilting, the plant is simply telling you it has had too much. The kindest fix is to move it into part shade or dappled light where it can recover. If you have your heart set on a bright, sunny spot, just reach for a sun-tolerant cultivar like Wasabi or Pineapple, which holds its color happily in full sun.
Fix:
- Move shade-type cultivars to part shade or dappled light
- Choose sun-tolerant cultivars (e.g., 'Wasabi', 'Pineapple') for full-sun sites
Toxicity
Coleus is mildly toxic to pets, so it is worth a gentle word of care. The essential oils in the leaves can bring on vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation in cats and dogs, and the ASPCA lists it as toxic to horses as well. People are essentially safe, though the sap can irritate skin, so simply keep it out of reach of curious pets and wash your hands once you have finished pruning.
Toxic to
Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds · People
Cats Mild
The essential oils in the leaves are mildly toxic to cats. A cat that chews them usually drools and gets an upset stomach with some vomiting or diarrhea, and the sap can leave a little mouth or skin irritation, so it is best kept where they cannot reach.
Dogs Mild
A dog that nibbles the foliage tends to vomit, pass loose stools, and go off its food for a day or so. The reaction stays mild, though the sap can also redden the skin and mouth, which is reason enough to set the plant somewhere safe.
Horses Mild
The ASPCA lists coleus as toxic to horses as well, with the same oils bringing on stomach upset and a dull, off-feed mood. It is wise to keep grazing animals away from planted beds so they are not tempted.
Rabbits Caution
The aromatic oils that bother cats and dogs make coleus a poor choice around rabbits, so keep it well out of reach rather than risk an upset gut.
Livestock Caution
Cattle, goats, and sheep are not well documented with coleus, but the same irritant oils call for care, so it is sensible to fence it off from anything that grazes.
Birds Caution
There is little firm data on birds, and pet species can be sensitive to plant oils, so the safe choice is to treat coleus as off-limits and keep it away from cages and aviaries.
People Caution
Coleus is essentially safe for people, though the sap can irritate the skin. Repeated, frequent handling sometimes brings on an allergic rash, so slip on gloves and wash up after pruning and you will be fine.
Wear gloves or wash hands after handling or pruning; repeated, frequent skin contact can cause allergic dermatitis
Helpline numbers
United States
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (fee applies)
Poison Control: (800) 222-1222
Canada
Poison Centres: 1-844-764-7669
Varieties
There are hundreds of coleus to choose from, which sounds daunting but really is not, because they fall into two friendly groups: the shade-preferring kinds and the newer sun-tolerant ones. Here are the names you will run across most often as you shop.
'Wizard' series
A well-loved seed-grown series of compact, shade-preferring coleus that is easy to find and quick to fill out for you.
'Kong' series
A shade lover prized for its oversized leaves, which run far larger than those of most other coleus.
'Wasabi'
A sun-tolerant pick with bright chartreuse-green foliage that keeps its color happily in a full-sun spot.
'Pineapple'
A dependable sun-tolerant selection from the Pineapple group, a friend wherever the light is strong.
'Alabama Sunset'
A sun-tolerant cultivar that takes bright light in stride without bleaching the way the older shade types do.
How to propagate
Few plants are as rewarding to multiply as coleus, and you truly cannot go wrong, whether you root a free cutting in a glass of water or sow a tray from seed.
Stem cuttingsEasy
Spring through summer · Roots in about 2 weeks (often in water)
Coleus roots so willingly that a simple tip cutting set in a plain glass of water strikes roots in about two weeks, which feels almost like magic the first time. Take cuttings any time from spring through summer. It is the easiest way to carry a favorite plant safely through winter, since the parent will not survive frost outdoors.
SeedEasy
Spring · Germinates in 10-15 days at 70-75°F
Many of the named series start from seed, and it is a forgiving way to begin. Sow in spring and keep the tray warm, around 70°F to 75°F (21°C to 24°C), and your seedlings will pop up in 10 to 15 days. Cuttings give you an exact copy of a plant, but seed is the simple route to a whole tray at once.
Myths
Coleus is grown for its flowers.
Coleus truly earns its place with its bold, multicolored leaves rather than its bloom. The small blue-violet flowers are slight, and once they appear the plant tends to coast and lose vigor. Pinch the spikes off and the foliage stays at its very best.
Coleus is harmless to pets.
The ASPCA lists coleus as toxic to cats, dogs, and horses because of the essential oils in its leaves. A pet that chews it may drool, vomit, and run loose stools, and the sap can irritate skin. The reaction is mild, but it is still kindest to keep it out of reach.
All coleus must be grown in shade.
The older cultivars do prefer part shade and can bleach in hot sun, which is where this idea began. Plenty of newer selections, though, are bred to hold their color out in full sun. The right light really depends on the particular cultivar you have.