PlantFiles: Coleus, Flame Nettle, Painted Nettle
Solenostemon scutellarioides

This plant is very happy in my zone, 9a. I have easily rooted
cuttings in water, and in soil, with rooting hormone. My
first plant is over 4ft tall, and 4ft wide.

I purchased several varieties of coleus that were about 8" tall and planted them in clusters in small plastic pots, having no idea how much they would grow. They are about three feet tall now and absolutely beautiful. I've mixed them with salvia, which is an attractive combination. I plan to separate and replant the coleus soon and bring them inside for the winter, since I live in Zone 7b. They do require heavy watering here, but are worth the effort, since the leaves provide rich, continuous color.

These plants are wonderful! They don't have blooms but the foilage they produce are always a surprise. My Mama always had them, she called them "Joseph Coats" because their colors were so varied. They are great for containers inside and when put in a bed outside, they put on quite a show. I like to have them in pots so that I can move them around. I live in the Florida Panhandle so I can pretty much have them all year.When I do plant them outside, if the temp. drops below 45 for very long I cover them but the sunlight the next day is all they need. No two are exactly alike. That is their beauty. You can start them by seed in a couple of weeks or pinch a leaf with enough stem to stick in a pot of soil and give it a several days and you've got a Coleus.

I loves these plants. They are realy pretty. I also hear some people get high off them. Weird huh?

I'm embarrassed to admit that before this year I've thought Coleus were somewhat plebeian shade plants. After visiting some wonderful gardens this Summer, I see how perfect Coleus are for weaving color echoes, transforming plant combinations from humdrum to incredible. Some cultivars are amazingly sun tolerant, even in my hot Southeastern Zone 8 garden. Easily overwintered indoors, Coleus are a snap to propagate.

I love this plant. It is incredibly easy to care for and look amazing. If the plant gets too tall and spindly, jut pinch it back about 6-8 inches, pinch off the bottom leaves and stick it in water. In about 2-4 weeks it will have enough roots on it to be planted back into the soil. This plant is great for wintering over, just by propagating it as such.

--Docgreenthumb

Another beautiful plant I've seen all my life, but I only started growing them a few years ago. They look good in large plastic containers that will hold water longer than clay pots, and I especially like to grow them with colorful, ornamental sweet potato vines hanging out of the pots, either the purple-black or chartreuse colored ones, depending on which color contrasts better with the colors of the coleus. The sweet potato vines will have to be trimmed back frequently, but the trimmings can be rooted in water.

Coleus can be grown permanently in the ground in the Tropical South, zones 9b and higher, as they are a tropical perennial. I've read that the more red pigment in the plant, the more sun tolerant it is, but most like filtered shade. They can be cut back by a third in mid-summer (the cuttings will root in water) to keep their rampant growth in bounds, and keeping the flower spikes pinched off will help keep the leaves fresh looking.

In pots I've treated them like house plants, fertilizing with liquid houseplant fertilizer, like Miracle Gro. If grown outdoors, the pots have to be watered every day in the Summer here in the Southern US due to our intense Summer heat.

I was recently given a very large packet of "mixed colors" seed, so I'll be trying to grow these beautiful foliage plants from seed next Spring, both in pots and as fast growing annual fillers in flower beds. Then I'll try to overwinter cuttings from the most attractive ones.

The small oak leafed varieties tend to overwinter better and don't send out flower spikes as often. This kind also works well as a hanging basket variety.

Great plant, and the colors are striking. I'm growing it with Persian Shield; they both get the same part shade, fertilizer, watering, and easy care.
Both plants were started from cuttings last year, this year they are HUGE! Very easy to care for and insects have never bothered mine at all.
I bring mine in for the winter. Then cut them back before they go back outside.

Started a colorful variety from seed and planted them under a bush and near a big tree. They provide a spectacular burst of bright color in the shade! I wish they were perennial.

The colors are pretty, and vary from coral to white, through red, purple and pink. It grows and reproduce easily. If you are only interested in the foliage, it´d be necessary to watch over for flowers. Remove the young inflorescence, because blooming redirects the plant´s energy from leaves to flowers, so the leaves become small and the plant loses its form.

The plants leaves (foliage) is used as a drug (brewed as tea). Be aware of this if you have children that may eat parts of plants. Keep out of reach !

Buying established 1-2 ft plants was key. Mine over grew it's welcome in a hanging plant. I planted it in the landscaping and it grew almost 4 foot high and 3 foot in diameter. Was definately awesome to see.