Coleus is a genus of plants prized for striking foliage ranging from variegated hot pink and lime green to deep, velvety burgundy.
They are low-maintenance, tender perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11 and annuals elsewhere.
At season’s end, slender inflorescences of lavender-blue blossoms typically rise above the leafy mounds and are often removed to extend the growing season.
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Our guide to coleus cultivation has all you need to grow and care for plants at your house.
This roundup presents 21 of the best coleus varieties for your outdoor living space.
Here’s what’s in store:
The Coleus genus contains numerous species and was reclassified to absorb two former genera, Solenostemon and Plectranthus.
When shopping, you may see diverse botanical genera and species nomenclature along with descriptive cultivar names.
While these may vary, all are coleus varieties suited to the home garden or for growing in containers.
Also, many of the newer hybrids tolerate full sun provided there is adequate ambient and ground moisture to prevent leaf scorch in warmer zones.
And now for our favorites. Let’s discuss the highlights of each.
1. Black Dragon
The leaves of ‘’Black Dragon’ are furry and lifelike with magenta-red centers and deep purple-black, lobed margins that pucker as they mature for a texturally rich display.
Grow in partial to deep shade. Mature dimensions are 12 to 14 inches tall and 10 to 12 wide for a compact profile.
Seeds are available from True Leaf Market.
2. Chocolate Covered Cherry
A sweet confection, two-tone Premium Sun® series ‘Chocolate Covered Cherry’ is inviting with magenta-red leaves and a thick, softly serrated mahogany brown margin edged ever so slightly in lime green.
Grow in full sun or partial to deep shade. Mature dimensions are 12 to 14 inches tall and 10 to 12 wide for a petite presentation.
Seeds are available from Garden Trends via Amazon.
3. Chocolate Drop
‘Chocolate Drop’ is a sweetheart with strawberry-like leaves that blush deep burgundy at the center, graduating to lime green with burgundy veining and lime green serrated margins.
This type prefers full sun or partial to full shade. It reaches a low profile of eight to 12 inches tall with a spread of 12 to 18 inches.
Unlike most coleus types, it has a trailing growth habit instead of an upright, mounding one. Plants are available from Nature Hills Nursery.
4. Chocolate Mint
Like a smooth and creamy candy bar, ‘Chocolate Mint’ has rich purple-brown centers and cool, crisp lime green stippling at the margins.
This option is suited to partial and deep shade. It has a compact form, measuring 12 to 16 inches tall and wide for a uniform showing.
Seeds and four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
5. Copperhead
‘Copperhead’ offers rust-red foliage with a toothsome serrated margin of lime green, suggesting a colorful but menacing snake in the grass.
Cultivate in full sun or partial to deep shade. Mature dimensions are a substantial 14 to 26 inches tall and 14 to 16 wide.
Four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
6. Coral Candy
Compact and graceful, ‘Coral Candy’ boasts narrow, deeply serrated leaves with a jagged and drooping appearance. The centers are coral, gradually shading to green.
This type is unique for its ability to grow in partial shade or full sun, in locations where the climate is humid enough to keep the leaves moist and scorch-free.
Mature heights are 10 to 16 inches with a spread of 12 to 14 inches.
Four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
7. Coral Sunrise
Wizard® series gem ‘Coral Sunrise’ infuses the landscape understory with light as soft as the promise of a new day. Pastel coral centers yield gradually to irregular green scalloped margins.
This type prefers partial to deep shade. It has mid-sized leaves, a compact form, and mature dimensions of 12 to 14 inches tall and 10 to 12 wide.
Seeds are available from True Leaf Market.
8. Dipt in Wine
ColorBlaze® series ‘Dipt in Wine’ has large leaves of bright burgundy-red accented by pinkish veins and a burst of gold at the base, like a mellow merlot with a wedge of gouda.
Cultivate in full sun or partial to full shade. Mature dimensions are a well-balanced 12 to 18 inches tall and 15 to 18 wide.
Plants are available from Nature Hills Nursery.
9. Electric Lime
‘Electric Lime’ is as refreshing as a cocktail on a summer afternoon with its lime green scalloped leaves and chartreuse veins.
Plants prefer full sun or partial to deep shade. They reach a robust height of 14 to 28 inches with a spread of 16 to 24.
Four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
10. Fire and Spice
The deeply serrated, elongated foliage of Mixmaster™ series ‘Fire and Spice’ is a two-tone extravaganza that blends chartreuse and chartreuse-edged burgundy leaves.
Cultivate in full sun or partial to full shade locations. Mature dimensions are moderate at 16 to 18 inches tall with a spread of 15 to 17 inches.
Four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
11. Fishnet Stocking
Heads will turn when you introduce ‘Fishnet Stocking’ to the garden with its voluptuous elliptical, finely serrated lime green leaves prominently veined in burgundy.
Grow it in full sun or partial to deep shade. Mature dimensions are evenly proportioned at 12 to 18 inches tall and wide.
Plants are available from Nature Hills.
12. Golden
The sunny light green to yellow hues of the finely serrated ‘Golden’ cultivar, part of the Wizard® series, make it a standout among variegated species.
Sow it in partial to deep shade where it grows to a modest 12 to 14 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide.
Seeds are available from True Leaf Market.
13. Inferno
‘Inferno’ is on fire with texturally rich, warm orange foliage with hints of magenta and gold.
This cultivar sometimes produces no flowers, requiring no deadheading to extend the growing season.
Grow it in full sun, or partial or deep shade. Mature dimensions are considerable at 14 to 28 inches tall and 12 to 24 wide.
Four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
14. Jade
The creamy centers and spring green margins of Wizard® series ‘Jade’ may remind you of another dependable low-light genus, Hosta.
Grow in partial to deep shade. Plants have medium-sized leaves and mature to a modest 12 to 14 inches tall and 10 to 12 wide.
Seeds are available from True Leaf Market.
15. Kingswood Torch
Regal ColorBlaze® series ‘Kingswood Torch’ is richly adorned in burgundy and magenta with orange overtones.
A touch of pale green highlights scalloped margins that come to a crisp point at the terminal ends.
Choose a location with full sun or partial to deep shade for this cultivar. Expect mature heights of 12 to 18 inches and a spread of 15 to 20 inches.
Plants are available from Nature Hills Nursery.
16. Rainbow Mix
Rainbow Mix brings an element of surprise with a potpourri of patterns for an eclectic shade garden exhibition.
Mature dimensions are 15 to 20 inches tall and 10 to 14 wide.
The leaves are medium-sized and heart-like, and vary from burgundy and pink to cream and green.
Seeds are available from Eden Brothers.
Seeds are also available from Burpee.
17. Redhead
Bright and rosy ‘Redhead’ stands out in a crowd with a single color scheme subtly accented by fine margin serration.
This cultivar prefers full sun to partial shade and grows to a spectacular 18 to 48 inches tall and 24 to 30 wide.
Seeds are available from Chuxay Garden via Amazon.
18. Sky Fire
The toothlike serration and slender pointed leaves of ‘Sky Fire’ increase the drama of deep burgundy and bright red centers bordered by lime green.
This cultivar does equally well in full sun as it does in partial or even deep shade. It reaches uniform dimensions of 12 to 18 inches with a spread of 15 to 18 inches.
Plants are available from Nature Hills.
19. Splish Splash
‘Splish Splash’ is a larger hybrid that sports burgundy leaves playfully splotched with gold.
Grow in full sun, partial shade, or full shade. Mature dimensions are 18 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 20 wide.
Plants are available from Nature Hills Nursery.
20. Wasabi
Bold and spicy ‘Wasabi’ displays prominently lobed leaves of chartreuse for a pungent color burst.
Grow it in full sun, or partial or deep shade. Expect substantial mature dimensions of 18 to 36 inches tall and 16 to 28 inches wide.
Four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
21. Watermelon
Festive as a summer picnic, ‘Watermelon’ sends up a cheer with watermelon pink centers and magenta veining that bleeds dramatically into the lime green margins.
This cultivar prefers partial to full shade and grows to an impressive height of 24 inches with a spread of 20 inches.
Seeds and four-plant bundles are available from Burpee.
Captivating Coleus
Whether you grow it as a perennial or an annual, coleus brings excitement to shade gardens with its bold, variegated foliage.
You now have 21 exciting choices before you. Are you ready to turn those humdrum dark recesses beneath deciduous trees and bordering north-facing patios into eye-catching focal points? Then it’s time to add coleus to your garden planner today!
Do you grow coleus at your house? What are your favorites?
If you enjoyed this coleus roundup and want to read about more colorful, shade-loving plants with striking foliage, we recommend the following:
