Common Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
Formerly Coleus blumei, Calchas scutellarioides, Coleus atropurpureus
Give common coleus bright, indirect light indoors and water in the medium-to-wet range. It is an evergreen shrub that grows at a moderate rate and reaches 0.5 to 3 ft (0.15–0.91 m) tall. No pet toxicity position for cats or dogs is documented for this plant on this page.
Photo: colorishappiness from New York, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Quick facts
| Light: | Bright, indirect light11 source |
|---|---|
| Water: | Medium to wet11 source |
| Soil: | Well drained and moist; pH 6–721 |
| Size: | 0.5–3 ft (0.15–0.91 m) × 1–3 ft (0.3–0.91 m)42 |
| Growth rate: | Moderate43 |
| Bloom: | Blue, purple and white14 |
| Cats: | Not documented by major sources |
| Dogs: | Not documented by major sources |
| Native range: | BIS, BOR, CBD, CHS, JAW, LAO, LSI, MLY, MOL, MYA, NNS, NTA, NWG, PHI, QLD, SOL, SUL, SUM, TAI, THA, VAN, VIE, WAU6 |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
How much light does a Common Coleus need?
Indoors, common coleus does best in bright, indirect light. A coleus grown as a houseplant requires bright light.
Outdoors, the range is wider: part shade, full shade and full sun, with part shade preferred. It grows best in part shade and even tolerates full shade. Plants may wilt in full sun. Depending on the cultivar, the site might need full shade, partial shade or full sun.
- Light: Bright, indirect light1
How often to water a Common Coleus
Water needs for common coleus fall between medium and wet. It grows best in moist, rich, loose soil. That moist soil goes with part shade, and the plant even tolerates full shade.
Its soil must also be well drained. Medium marks the lower end of the range and wet marks the upper end. Maintenance for this plant is rated low.
- Water: Medium to wet1
Best soil for a Common Coleus
Coleus prefers soil with a pH of 6 to 7 and a high organic matter content. The soil must be well drained. It also grows best in moist, rich, loose soil.
Both well drained and moist are listed for its soil. Part shade with moist, rich, loose soil is where it grows best, and it even tolerates full shade. Rich, loose soil and good drainage are the two soil traits to look for.
Pruning a Common Coleus
Frequent pinching of the growing shoots is the advice for young coleus plants. Pinching encourages branching and keeps the foliage dense. The pruning type listed for this plant is light shaping.
Coleus is erect and mounding, and it reaches 0.5 to 3 ft (0.15–0.91 m) tall. Overall maintenance is rated low.
- Pruning: Light shaping3
How to propagate a Common Coleus
Seed and stem cuttings are the two propagation methods for common coleus. It can be started from seed or from cuttings.
Whichever method you use, mature plants reach 0.5 to 3 ft (0.15–0.91 m) in height and 1 to 3 ft (0.3–0.91 m) in spread. Pinch the growing shoots of young plants frequently as they develop.
Common problems
Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, scale and mealybugs are the pests listed for coleus. Aphids, whiteflies and spider mites are noted especially on indoor plants. Minor pest issues include mites, scale, mealybugs and whitefly.
No diseases of major concern are listed for this plant. Deer seldom damage it.
| Problem | Kind |
|---|---|
| Aphids | Pest |
| Whiteflies | Pest |
| Spider mites | Pest |
| Scale insects | Pest |
| Mealybugs | Pest |
Is Common Coleus toxic to cats and dogs?
Recommended supplies
- Light: bright, indirect light, such as near an east window; a full-spectrum grow light substitutes where no window does.
- Soil: a free-draining mix, and a pot with a drainage hole.
Questions and answers
- How much light does common coleus need indoors?
- Indoors, common coleus does best in bright, indirect light. Outdoors it grows best in part shade and even tolerates full shade, though plants may wilt in full sun. Depending on the cultivar, the site might need full shade, partial shade or full sun.
- Which USDA zones suit common coleus outdoors?
- The listed USDA hardiness zones are 10a through 11b. Coleus is described as an annual or tender perennial with a rounded growth form. It is also a broadleaf evergreen.
- Is common coleus native to the United States?
- Common coleus is listed as introduced in the lower 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Its native range is recorded as 23 region codes, among them THA, VIE and PHI.
Sources
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coleus-scutellarioides/. Accessed 14 October 2026.
- University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/yard-and-garden/gardening-in-minnesota/coleus. Accessed 14 October 2026.
- Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/coleus/. Accessed 14 October 2026.
- University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS). https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP136. Accessed 14 October 2026.
- University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS). https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/fp136. Accessed 14 October 2026.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (World Checklist of Vascular Plants). https://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/wcvp.zip. Accessed 4 June 2026.
How this page was made
- Written with AI assistance from the sources listed on this page. AI is never the source of a fact.