Not sure if you will be able to buy it locally -

For most annuals, you either buy what the locals are offering or buy from a seed company and grow your own. The company below is offering the seed, but it is pretty expensive.

Here is a link that might be useful: coleus

$7.95 for 50 seeds, that is a little pricey!

It's not much cheaper on the wholesale, but think of it as having a plant you'd compare to the vegetative ones very, very cheaply. They're much too large to sell mature in a flat, so you'd get them retail sized in six inch or larger pots and the price would probably be similar to a kiwi fern i.e. three to six dollars a pop.

I just got a flyer from lowes and they are advertising this plant. I have to have one

I'm trying some from seed for the first time this year. They havent got very big yet, just one or two leaves so far. I'm hoping they will take off soon.
Duane

I heard on the radio that Bloomin Gardens in Kenwood has the Kong Colleus and Natorps also. But I haven't been to either one yet to check.

Baker's Acres in Alexandria has them. They are really into coleus there and it's a great road trip well worth your time. Are you near Columbus or down south?

Here is a link that might be useful: Baker's Acres Coleus Kong

I just saw the Kong coleus for the first time today. Wow are they gorgeous. Natorps in Cincinnati had them for $10 for a 6" pot. But luckily I didn't buy them because I found them later in the day for $3.95 for a 4" pot.

yes and bordines nursery has them if there is one in your area.

The Pooter !

Lowes in my area has them too. I think they are 3.50 or something like that. They had a couple of different ones. I got one and it has the most beautiful ivory, dk red and green leaves. The ivory color really sets it off.

Are they better looking in real life than they are in the catalogs? I had considered buying some, but didnt. Do they grow bigger than the Giant Exhibition varieties? I am growing Limelight and Palisandra this year. Monstrous huge leaves, compared to my other seed grown Coleus.

I finally broke down and bought a Kong coleus last weekend at a local nursery. It was a very nice plant in 4" pot for $5, with huge leaves. Does anyone know whether they require any special conditions compared to regular coleus? Do they need more or less sun? More water?

It's sitting in one my hosta beds right now, still in the pot. The leaves are as large or larger than many of my hostas.

Kongs don't tolerate sun as well as some coleus. They can/will get a foliar burn. They are exquisitely lovely. I am growing some this year on a trial run and am more than pleased with them. From what I have read and seen so far they are as large as the Palisandra Giant and I like the short internodes and leaf shape better.

I ended up buying some about a month ago from Wal Mart, I think it was like $3.50 for a 6 inch pot, which contained three plants. I separated the plants, so I only had to buy two pots.

I hate having to buy plants that I could have grown from seed!!

I planted my Kongs (mine has the rose tones in it) with my Limelights and Palisandras, and in front of these I used up some remaining violet, white and lavendar impatiens. The impatiens really bring out the rose color in the Kongs.

Hope to see more varieties of Kongs soon!!

I purchased several different Kong coleus at WallMart of all places. I also found them at several of our local smaller nurseries. Usually they are in a 3inch pot and up. Ranging from $2.99 to $9.98 for the larger versions. They are grand. I have one each in the middle with med sized coleus next and trailing on the edges with some lobelia, mixed colors. I saw this approach in Fine Gardening last month. Suzy