We're offering you a 15 Garden Ready Coleus Plants for £12.99, saving you up to 24% off Thompson and Morgan's's price of £16.99 (correct as of 12.06.2025).

Brightening Shady Spots

Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) offers a dazzling display of colour with its bold, serrated leaves in vibrant shades of red, purple, green, and yellow. Renowned for their intricate patterns and lush texture, these annual bedding plants are a favourite for brightening shaded corners and adding drama to sunny spots alike.

• Botanical Interest: Coleus is celebrated for its foliage rather than flowers. The leaves' unique veining and serrated edges create eye-catching interest throughout the growing season.
• Mature Size: Each plant typically reaches 45cm (18") in height and spread—perfect for compact spaces or massed displays.
• Growth Habit: Fast-growing with a multi-branching form that fills beds and containers quickly.

Growing Guide

• Light: Coleus thrives in partial shade but adapts well to full sun if kept moist. Too much direct sunlight may fade leaf colours.
• Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with moderate moisture. Tolerates a pH range from slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6–7).
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water more frequently during hot spells or when grown in containers.
• Hardiness: Grown as an annual in the UK; not frost hardy. Plant outdoors after the last frost (typically late May).

Planting & Care

• When to Plant: Late spring after risk of frost has passed.
• Pots & Beds: Space plants about 20–30cm apart for best coverage.
• Pest & Disease: Generally trouble-free; watch for slugs on young plants.
• Pinsching & Pruning: Pinch out growing tips to encourage bushier growth and remove any flower spikes to prolong foliage quality.
• Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every two weeks during the growing season for lushest colour.

Design Ideas & Companion Plants

• Create dramatic mixed containers with ferns, begonias, or impatiens—plants that share similar moisture and shade preferences.
• Coleus pairs well with trailing lobelia or sweet alyssum at the front of borders for layered texture.
• Add as bold accents to shady pathways or brighten conservatory displays year-round.

FAQs

• When is the best time to plant Coleus?
  The best time is after the last frost in late spring. Wait until nighttime temperatures stay above 10baC.
• How do I keep my Coleus looking its best?
  Pinch out growing tips regularly to promote bushy growth and remove any flower spikes promptly for continued foliage colour.
• Can Coleus be grown indoors?
  Yes! Coleus thrives as a houseplant in bright, indirect light. Keep soil evenly moist and avoid cold draughts for best results.