Coleus

Coleus scutellarioides 'Le Freak'Sold out

Coleus scutellarioides 'Main Street Abbey Road' leaf detail on white background.

Coleus scutellarioides 'Main Street Abbey Road'Sold out

Close-up of Coleus 'MS River Walk' leaves.

Coleus scutellarioides 'Main Street River Walk'Sold out

Coleus ‘Stained Glassworks Spacecake’ foliage viewed from above, with magenta centres, yellow-green bands and dark green edges.

Coleus scutellarioides 'Stained Glassworks Spacecake'Sold out

Coleus ‘Alligator Alley’ leaves showing dark burgundy centres framed by bright green edges.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Alligator Alley’

€12,75

Coleus ‘Bourbon Street’ foliage with broad burgundy leaves and fine lime-green edges.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Bourbon Street’

€12,75

Coleus ‘Franklin Street’ new growth with magenta markings and fine lime-green margins.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Franklin Street’

€12,75

Coleus ‘Park Avenue’ leaf cluster showing bright pink markings and green margins.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Main Street Park Avenue’

€12,75

Close-up of a Coleus Pink Diamond plant with variegated leaves showing dark burgundy-purple margins, bright green edges, and vivid pink centers on a white background.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Pink Diamond’Sold out

Coleus ‘Magnificent Mile’ leaves with bright coral markings and lime-green margins.

Coleus scutellarioides ‘Stained Glassworks Magnificent Mile’Sold out

Coleus Spectrum Set with four colourful Coleus plants grouped in nursery pots

Coleus Spectrum SetSold out

Crazy Coleus Babies plant set with three colourful Coleus plants lined up in black nursery pots

Plant Set: Crazy Coleus BabiesSold out

Lamiaceae

Coleus

Coleus is an accepted genus in Lamiaceae native across the tropical and subtropical Old World. Most ornamental indoor forms are cultivars of Coleus scutellarioides, an accepted species native from Indo-China to Nansei-shotō and northern Australia.

Botanical Profile

Details & Care

Coleus colour, branching and regular renewal

Coleus produces soft leaves in lime, burgundy, red, pink, cream and deep purple, with margins that may be serrated, lobed or ruffled. Cultivars differ in leaf size and branching speed, so some form compact mounds while others quickly become tall and multi-stemmed.

Pinching a shoot tip activates buds below the cut and keeps the canopy branched. Warm conditions and strong filtered light support quick renewal, short gaps between leaves and clear pigment on fresh tips. Because Coleus belongs among fast-growing houseplants, regular shaping is more useful than choosing only by the plant’s present height. Healthy stem tips can be reused through stem propagation.

The guide to coloured foliage plants explains how pigment differs from variegation and why light responses remain cultivar-specific. Coleus scutellarioides is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten and may irritate sensitive skin. Keep cut material away from pets and wash hands after pruning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Coleus

Are Coleus grown for flowers or foliage?

Mostly for foliage. Indoor coleus are grown for leaf colour and contrast far more than for flowers, which is why flower spikes are often pinched out if the goal is a fuller, leafier plant.

What light do Coleus need indoors?

Bright light is usually best indoors. Many coleus handle some gentler direct sun, but weak light quickly makes them leggy and dull, while harsh midday sun can scorch softer growth.

How should I water Coleus?

Water when roughly the top 10–20% of the pot has dried. In weaker light or cooler conditions, let closer to the top 20–30% dry before watering again. Coleus likes an even rhythm, not a saturated pot.

Why is my Coleus getting leggy?

Usually because the light is too weak, the stems have not been pinched, or the plant has started putting energy into flowering instead of leafy growth. If you want to troubleshoot stretched growth more precisely, you can read more in this Guide.

Should I pinch Coleus tips and flower spikes?

Usually yes. Pinching the tips helps keep the plant bushier, and removing flower spikes can keep growth fuller and more foliage-focused instead of lankier over time.

Worth reading:

Fast-growing houseplants in hanging pots, including pothos, asparagus fern and philodendron

10 Fast-Growing Houseplants – Indoor Plants That Grow Quickly and Look Stunning

Houseplant stem cuttings arranged for propagation on a work surface

How to Propagate Houseplants | Cuttings, Corms & Aftercare

Peperomia plant in bright indirect light

So how Much Light is 'Plenty of Bright, Indirect Light'

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