How to Plant and Grow Coleus in Sunny Gardens

Coleus adds texture, color and drama to flower gardens, borders, containers and hanging baskets. Often grown in shaded areas, many coleus perform well in sunny garden spots.

It is important to choose a plant that will tolerate temperatures found in the local area. A plant grown in a northern state will thrive with more sun than one in the extreme heat of the south. Local nursery staff can help with the selection that is best for the location.

Although coleus is sun tolerant, that will mean only morning or late afternoon sun in many areas of the country. Sun and water requirements vary with climate, type of soil, and size of the plant. Larger plants can have a deeper root system that will hold more water and lessen wilting in the summer sun.

The amount of sun the coleus will tolerate can be tested by first planting it in a container. The container can be moved until the proper conditions are attained and then the coleus can be transferred into the ground.

Examples of Sun-Tolerant Coleus

• Alabama Sunset Coleus is a “recently developed sun-tolerant coleus that bears glowing chartreuse leaves that slowly deepen to amber and copper-red when exposed to full sun, adding variety and drama to the sunny to partly-shady border,” according to MarthaStewart.com.
• Burgundy Sun is described by the Clemson Cooperative Extension as a sun-tolerant coleus from Texas that “has large, oval to heart-shaped leaves that are deep, rich burgundy in color. It grows 2 to 2½ feet tall and is slow to flower.” They point out that varieties that are not sun-tolerant will bleach and discolor in full sun.
• Plum Parfait has purplish ruffled leaves with pink margins and tolerates heat well. This plant was developed at Texas A&M to stand up to Texas heat.
• Henna Coleus is chartreuse and copper with burgundy underneath. Southern Living Magazine point out that “full sun gives the brightest colors”. They recommend the gardener “provide moist, fertile, well-drained soil” and “feed every three weeks with a liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer.”

History of Coleus

“Coleus, which was highly prized by Victorians, is enjoying a renewal in popularity, “according to MarthaStewart.com. “In the mid- to late-19th century, coleus was used extensively along with other flamboyantly colored foliage plants to create great swaths of color.”

In 1995, researchers working at Texas A&M, wanted to establish a coleus that would stand up to the Texas temperatures. “For the first time, traditionally shade-loving coleus plants venture out of the shadows this spring with the introduction of the new SuperSun varieties which truly tolerate our hot Texas sun,” the report states.

Texas A&M’s coleus field trials, the largest of their type ever undertaken in this region of the U.S., were a cooperative effort between Extension specialists and horticulture researchers across the state working closely with the Texas Association of Nurserymen, according to the report.

Since the Texas A&M trials in the 1990s, more sun-tolerant varieties have been introduced. Coleus are easy-to-grow plants that will thrive in a variety of conditions, however, not all coleus will grow in all conditions. It is important to know the type that works best for local conditions to obtain the best results.