Coleus

Coleus can be grown as a house plant or used for a summer bedding scheme ouside

Coleus
Season
Winter & all year round
Name

Solenostemon scutellarioides

Common Name
Coleus
Description

Coleus has pretty coloured and patterned leaves.


Growing Tips

Growing conditions

Coleus likes a warm and slightly shady spot to grow.

When to grow

Coleus seed can be sown at any time of the year if you are growing it as a house plant.

What you need

  • A packet of coleus seeds
  • Seed tray
  • Seed compost
  • Polythene bag

How to grow

  1. Put the seed compost in the tray, leaving a 1cm gap at the top.
  2. Dampen the compost using a mister or by placing the tray in a larger tray with a little water in it so that the water soaks into the compost.
  3. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the compost and don’t cover them up.
  4. Place a polythene bag over the top of the tray until the seeds have begun to grow, this helps germination. Put the tray somewhere warm as the seeds will germinate at 20–25°C.
  5. When the seedlings are big enough to handle and have their true leaves you can transplant them into small pots. Enjoy their colourful leaves all year round.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.