There are new hybrids called "Sun Coleus" that are advertised as having been selected especially for sun. Not sure if any of mine are that type. This is my first year with Coleus and all in containers which I've moved around a bit...most don't seem to mind a bit of early or filtered sun even here in GA but I keep well watered. "Golda' is chartreuse in shade and lemony in full sun. 'Amazon' is chartreuse which takes sun well and grows 32" tall. Most of the others are darker shades of burgundy to black. If any of them start to fade out a bit I move to a shadier spot.
I've tucked cuttings in small containers, brought inside to a north window and they have rooted, are growing and maintaining color well with much less light than outside. All this just to say you just have to experiment I guess...lol. But aren't they fun plants! josh

The new sun coleus types can take full sun -- and I mean we're talking 10 hours full blast California summer sun! It's amazing, the colors get even more vivid.

now, THIS might seem like a dumb question but....HOW do you KNOW it's a SUN variety? Were these new hybrids given names? My nursery gave them to me for being a (heh,heh) frequent buyer and they were tagless. Is there an ID library out there to help me ID whether or not it's a sun variety? Although, since I moved them to a more sunny spot, they DO look better.

:)

I've read that the USDA found these in SE Asia and developed them...so they may be getting new names tacked on them from different vendors. Here's the nursery I ordered from...they have a wide selection of sizes and colors and the descriptions as to growth/sizes I found to be accurate. Good photos too...maybe you can id yours. josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Singing Springs Nursery

As Always,

THANKS JOSH! :))

I think it's an APALOOSA and a DADA DADDY. I couldn't find that second one at SS nursery, but I did find it at Glassworks site. Ok, HERE's a silly question: I'm building a kitchen greenhouse window for coleus (I'm thinking a showcase of 12 varieties) really cool specimens, that will color up the kitchen thru the winter. Is it possible to buy them, pot them and keep them inside all winter and keep them healthy that way? Is there a good method (what to pot in, what to put in the pot, light, etc.)

And, will I also be able to bring my two GIANT firefly coleus inside as well?

I think it would be SO COOL to have dragon claw, neon pumpkin, careless love, etc, etc...all just hanging out in the kitchen...turning the window into a stained glass panel. do you see that? wouldn't it be neat? :)))

gf

Your idea for a greenhouse window sounds great. What direction does it face? Any trees to shade it? It might be fine in PA in full winter sun...what about summer? I sure don't know how Coleus would do...this is my first year with them...plus my weather is so different. Everything I've read though tells me that Coleus have been grown as houseplants or at least "carried thru" for well over 100 years. I'm just going to experiment with sun or shade, cool and warmer rooms, etc.

I've a tall set of metal shelves in kitchen in front of floor to ceiling glass facing west. I fill it with plants (I leave a little room for kitchen needs...lol). Because of eaves and outside plants I need to supplement light with 2 of those clip-on lights but it -almost- makes me not mind being in kitchen. I'm thinking I'll fill it with Coleus in among the green plants...and hope all's well this winter. By the way, I've also read that Coleus can be carried over rooted in water...so may try that method for some of those huge big-leaved monsters. I don't have houseroom for those big pots. Too many of my other plants have reserved spaces!

Coleus for me (so far!)has been fun and easy..I put some cuttings in 4" plastic pots a few weeks back and all are getting top heavy with growth. I think just pinching back constantly is the key. Even in north window they are deeply colored. I just used potting soil. I'm thinking I might make combinations in a couple of larger (maybe 8") pots as the small pots dry out so rapidly.

You might get a kick out of this post...see link. josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Fun posting

i WANT him in my kitchen!!!!! he's soooo cute! :))

I LOVE Coleus! I've got 30 cuttings going right now. Got "freckles',"Pineapple", "Lifelime", Wizard "Red velvet" this year among "oompah" (a fave!) and a few others. Inside and out they are TONS of fun!

Tom

Someone posted this link on Annuals Forum which lists the Sun Coleus and tells which are vegetatively produced...in other words won't bloom or if they do won't come true from seed. And of course will do best in sun. josh

Here is a link that might be useful: Sun Coleus Fact Sheet