Coleus - Coleus scutellarioides

Plant Overview

Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides, also known as Plectranthus scutellarioides) is grown not for flowers but for its riotously colourful, patterned foliage that ranges from deep burgundy and lime green to speckled pink and cream. Grown in a healthy 4-inch nursery pot, this fast, easy-care plant is a favourite for adding instant colour to both indoor spaces and outdoor containers around Vancouver homes.

• Live Plant
• Healthy Nursery Grown
• 4-Inch Pot
• Easy Care
• Indoor Plant

Botanical Information

Coleus belongs to the Lamiaceae, or mint, family and is native to Southeast Asia. The plant has gone through several botanical reclassifications, having previously been known as Solenostemon scutellarioides and Plectranthus scutellarioides before settling into its current classification as Coleus scutellarioides, though all of these names still appear in the horticulture trade.

Why You'll Love This Plant

Coleus offers some of the most dramatic foliage colour and pattern variety of any easy-care plant, with countless cultivars available in shades and combinations that rival flowering plants for visual impact. It's fast-growing, quick to fill out a pot, and simple to propagate, making it ideal for both new and experienced plant growers.

Specifications

Plant Features

Soft, textured leaves grow in a bushy, mounding habit, often featuring bold combinations of green, red, burgundy, pink, orange, or cream in patterns that vary widely between cultivars. Small, insignificant blue or purple flower spikes can appear but are usually pinched off to keep the plant's energy focused on foliage.

Plant Care Guide

Light Requirements

Bright indirect light produces the best foliage colour indoors, while outdoor plants tolerate morning sun with afternoon shade in warmer weather. Direct, intense afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, especially on more delicate cultivars.

Water Requirements

Keep soil consistently moist, watering as soon as the top inch begins to feel dry. Coleus wilts dramatically when thirsty but typically bounces back quickly once watered, similar to other soft-stemmed tropicals.

Humidity

Average to above-average humidity suits Coleus well. In very dry indoor air, leaf edges may become slightly crispy, so a humidifier or regular misting can help during winter months.

Temperature

Keep this plant in warm conditions between 16 and 27 degrees Celsius. Coleus is sensitive to cold and should be kept well away from drafts, and it has no frost tolerance outdoors.

Soil

A rich, well-draining potting mix supports Coleus's fast growth rate, with organic matter helping to retain enough moisture between waterings.

Fertilizer

Feed every two to four weeks with a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season to fuel vigorous, colourful new growth, tapering off in fall and winter.

Repotting

Repot as needed when roots fill the current pot, which can happen fairly quickly given this plant's fast growth rate, typically every year for actively growing specimens.

Pruning

Pinch growing tips regularly to encourage a fuller, bushier shape, and remove flower spikes as they appear to keep the plant's energy directed toward foliage production.

Propagation

Coleus is one of the easiest plants to propagate, rooting readily from stem cuttings placed in water within a week or two, making it simple to share or multiply your collection.

Growth Rate

This is a fast-growing plant, capable of filling out a pot within a single growing season.

Mature Size

Depending on the cultivar and pinching frequency, Coleus typically reaches 30 to 60 centimetres in height and spread as a container plant.

Indoor Care

Coleus can be grown indoors year-round in a bright spot, though it tends to produce its most vivid colour with a period outdoors during the warmer months, weather permitting.

Outdoor Care

In the Vancouver area, Coleus thrives outdoors as a container or bedding plant from late spring through early fall, in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. It must be brought indoors or treated as an annual once temperatures drop in fall, as it has no frost tolerance.

Flowering Information

Coleus produces small spikes of blue or purple flowers, typically in late summer, though most growers pinch these off since they are not the plant's main ornamental feature and flowering can reduce foliage vigour.

Fragrance

As a member of the mint family, Coleus foliage can release a mild, herbaceous scent when the leaves are bruised or crushed, though it is not grown or marketed as a fragrant plant.

Pet Safety

Coleus is considered toxic to cats and dogs; the essential oils in its foliage can cause mouth and stomach irritation, vomiting, or diarrhea if chewed or ingested. Keep this plant out of reach of curious pets.

Common Problems

Faded or washed-out colour usually indicates too much direct sun, while leggy, sparse growth points to insufficient light or infrequent pinching. Wilting is a common but usually reversible sign of underwatering.

Pest Management

Aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies can occasionally appear, especially on soft new growth. Inspect regularly and treat promptly with insecticidal soap to prevent a larger infestation.

Styling Ideas

Coleus's bold colour combinations make it a natural choice for mixed container plantings, adding foliage contrast alongside flowering annuals, or as a standalone statement plant on a bright windowsill.

Perfect For

Colour lovers, mixed planters, and anyone browsing our indoor plants and beginner-friendly plants collections for fast, rewarding growth.

Seasonal Care

Growth is fastest in spring and summer, when regular watering, feeding, and pinching keep the plant full and colourful. In fall and winter, growth slows considerably, and watering and feeding should be reduced accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Coleus losing its colour? Too much direct sun can wash out the vivid pigmentation in the leaves.

Is Coleus toxic to pets? Yes, it is considered toxic to cats and dogs and should be kept out of reach.

Can Coleus grow indoors year-round? Yes, in a bright spot, though it often colours up best with some time outdoors in summer.

How do I keep Coleus bushy? Pinch growing tips regularly and remove flower spikes as they appear.

How do I propagate Coleus? Stem cuttings root quickly and easily in water.

Why is my Coleus wilting? This is usually a sign of underwatering and typically resolves after a thorough watering.

Can Coleus survive outdoors in winter in BC? No, it has no frost tolerance and is typically grown as a summer annual outdoors.

How big does Coleus get? Usually 30 to 60 centimetres in height and spread as a container plant.

Does Coleus need a lot of light? It prefers bright indirect light indoors, or morning sun with afternoon shade outdoors.

What pests affect Coleus? Aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies are the most common.

Why Buy From Us

Each Coleus plant we sell is nursery-grown and inspected for healthy colour and strong roots before it ships. Our Vancouver-based team is happy to help you choose care tips suited to your specific cultivar.

Order Yours Today

Bring instant, vivid colour into your home or garden with a Coleus plant, shipped fresh across Canada.