Melinda Myers

Coleus

Botanical Name

Solenostemon scutellarioides

Hardiness

Zones 10 to 11, grown as annual elsewhere

Height

6 to 24 inches

Width

12 inches

Flowers

Grown for foliage, remove flowers as soon as they appear

Light

Full to part shade (sun)

Soil

Moist, organic

Planting & Care

• Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart
• Remove flowers as soon as they appear. This will encourage new branches to form, giving you a fuller, more compact plant.
• Coleus can be overwintered indoors. Take 3 to 4” cuttings and root in moist vermiculite or a well-drained potting mix. I find setting the pot in a plastic bag left open increases the humidity to encourage rooting without leading to rot. Once rooted, they can be moved to their permanent container, placed in a sunny location and grow as a houseplant.
• You can also bring the whole plant indoors and raise it like a houseplant. Grow in a bright, sunny window or under artificial lights and keep the soil moist. Don't be alarmed if the plant drops most of its leaves. It will soon send out new leaves more suited for its indoor location.

Problems

None serious, mealybug, mites, aphids, scorch, can become leggy

Varieties

• Solar Sunrise, Cranberry Salad, Hurricane Series - sun lovers
• Kong - big leafed
• Saber - long leaves
• India Frills - small leaves and compact
• Fiji Series - fringed leaves