by Paula S. Thompson

Created on: December 08, 2011   Last Updated: December 11, 2011

Coleus plants are becoming quite popular in gardening, whether they’re used in garden plots or containers. Native to Africa and Southeast Asia, coleus is a heat-loving plant, but is considered an annual in North America, as no growing zones here are temperate enough to allow coleus to last through the winter. Coleus has tiny flowers that grow from a spike, but they are most often grown and used for their colorful foliage, which can range from shades of green and yellow to deeper tones like red, purple and brown.

There are different types of coleus plants for different gardening situations. Many coleus are actually sun-tolerant to a point: as a tropical plant by nature, they will grow best in full morning sun with indirect or “dappled” light in the afternoon. At the same time, however, these varieties may not be suited for full sun all day as the sun can change their foliage colors and patterns.

There are some varieties that need protection from the harshest sun, mostly due to the thinness of their leaves: those with paper-thin leaves will need the most protection, or they will suffer from “scalding.” It should be noted that coleus will not do well in deep shade, as they need some bright light in order to maintain their colors; they may also become long and lanky as the plant will stretch toward any available light.

Another way to differentiate coleus types is by their growth patterns. Trailing coleus are very popular in container plantings: they act as “spillers” over the sides of containers, window boxes and hanging baskets. Trailing coleus can also be used in gardens as ground covers, and will weave themselves in amongst other plants.

Mounding coleus are more dense in their growth pattern, and are excellent choices for both gardens and containers, often used as “fillers.” They tend to need more “training” to stay neat, so pinching them back will be a necessity.

Upright coleus can be used in large containers or garden plots as “thrillers:” tall, showy plants that lend drama to a container or an area. Due to their height, they are not a good choice for hanging baskets or window boxes, but are well-suited for large containers (at least 12” diameter).

Giant coleus hold that name not only because of their height, but also because of their huge leaves – an example would be the popular “Kong” variety of coleus often found in garden centers.

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