Get with the Coleus plan for colour and texture. Keep frost free this winter and enjoy vibrantly coloured leaves.

An astonishing range of brilliant foliage colours and forms are available from Coleus plants. The red leaved ‘Scarlet Poncho’ has a thin green outer edge or there is the Fiery Red of ‘Molten Lava’. Textured leaves are an added attraction.

Top Ten Tips for Great Coleus

• Sow from seed annually and plant outside when all frost has gone. Coleus are not hardy.
• For bold effects when planting look for Coleus varieties in separate colours but if you use a seed mix look out for a form and colour you like and want to keep.
• When plants are 5 inches high pinch out tips to encourage side branches to develop. Then pinch out again when branches reach a similar length.
• Coleus make good house plants like the specimen above and can be kept over winter. Cut plants back to half size to encourage new growth several weeks before potting up to bring indoors.
• Use Coleus to spice up a fern, conifer or green border with a blend of mixed dwarf Coleus. Ot green and yellow coleus can look good with pinks and whites of Bizzie Lizzie.
• For taller Coleus 20 inches high try Rainbow series or the slightly lower growing Wizard (they are Harry Potter class).
• I particularly like the strange formed leaves of ‘Fashion Parade’ series. They can be long and thin, fringed, ruffled or Oak shaped and add yet further interest.
• Plant in moist rich soil in full sun and they can grow 2 feet high and wide  making colourful ground cover. Feed every few weeks with a high nitrogen fertilizer.
• If buying plants in early spring look for compact plants with lots of side shoots. Avoid leggy, wilting or flowering plants.
• Unless you want to collect seed snip out the flowering heads to encourage leaf growth.

Coleus from Cuttings

According to North Dakota University ‘Coleus propagation is usually accomplished via stem cutting 4 to 6 inches long just below a node and bearing at least two nodes. The basal end of the cutting is inserted in some rooting medium, and with care, roots will develop sufficiently in three weeks to support a new plant.
Cuttings will also root readily in plain water.
Sufficient root system development is the key to success in propagating with cuttings. Buds or areas where leaves arise on stem cuttings are the likeliest areas for good root development. Make the cuts about one-quarter inch below the last bud.’

What Are Coleus

Coleus or Solenostemon is a genus of perennial plants from Asia. They are not hardy in the UK.
These plants are grown for the variegated foliage and are available in a wide range of colours.
Coleus generally grow about a foot tall and are well behaved, compact plants.
Some flowers are quite respectable as blue spikes rising above the foliage.
Coleus make nice summer house plants or as edging plants in formal beds. You can often see them in public park plantings.

Grown from mixed seeds, you will get leaves in a range of yellows, pinks, lime greens, bottle greens reds, purples and other colours.
The best varieties can be kept and stock increased by stem cuttings.
Most leaves are standard but there are some ‘facinations’ of twisted shapes.

Shaped distorted and crinkled leaves are available.  Coleus are also known as Painted Nettles.

If you use seed, cuttings, plugs or purchased plants have fun with your Coleus.