Future Plants by Randy Stewart: Coleus

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Coleus

Tropical perennials, hardy zones 10 to 12, that are often also grown as annuals in cooler temperate climates. They are variable in size, with the largest reaching up to 6.5 x 3 feet ( most under 3 x 3 feet in size when grown as an annual ).
The colorful, oval or ovate leaves vary from 1.6 to 8 inches in length, depending on the variety. The foliage is varies considerably in color to include nearly every possible color except orange and blue.
The flowers are usually removed and are not very showy anyway.
They prefer partial shade on moist, fertile, well drained soil.
Seedlings are usually pinched back to encourage bushiness.
They are usually grown from cuttings.

* photos taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 in Washington, D.C.

* photos taken on July 13 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 31 2011 in Hyde Park, NY

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Aug 4 2012 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photos taken on July 17 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 3 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photos taken on Sep 21 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photos taken on July 15 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 25 2015 @ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

* photos taken on Aug 11 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 27 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 16 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 24 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 11 2016 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Aug 12 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 9 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 20 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 29 2019 in Laurel, MD

* photos taken on July 27 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 19 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 7 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 21 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 17 2021 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photos taken on Aug 2 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 26 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 12 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 18 2021 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken on Aug 30 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on July 17 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 2 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 10 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Oct 10 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 4 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 26 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 20 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 17 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 28 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 13 2022 in Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Sep 14 2024 in Columbia, MD

Black Patent Leather Coleus

* photos taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

King Coleus

This is the Coleus on steroids with giant, eye catching, attractive foliage. The plant forms a bushy clump up to 20 x 18 inches and is fast growing and easy to grow. It prefers shade to partial sun and is hardy to 40 F. Used as an annual; it must be planted after the final spring frost. Pruning is not needed much except to removed old tattered foliage