rob, for the last few years, I've been growing Rainbow chard in containers for my back patio. It's the only edible that I grow in containers and is a gorgeous addition among the pots of flowers.

It's a perfect spot.....full sun until early afternoon, when shadows creep in for protection from the blazing Alabama sun.

Many edibles are not at all unattractive. Many "house plants" make great "annuals", and many "annuals" make great house plants (many of the ones that are only labeled annuals where sold because they are not hardy in that location.)

In looking @ the subject line again, I wonder if you just have not been exposed to any Coleus that love tons of sun?

Many Coleus thrive outside of cool, shady spots. 'Indian Summer'

Some have "sun" in the name, like 'Florida Sun Jade.'

This plant fades and loses its' red edges without TONS of sun.

A fair question :) Two things. First, I love eggplant flowers (I wish they were on top) and mini pumpkins for the foliage. Just as for instances. Edibles can be very pretty. Second, there is no coleus to withstand, much less flourish, in my very hot baking Southern, south facing heckstrip. It's one thing to tolerate less than ideal conditions, quite another to do well. Unfortunately, chia salvia wants to take over the world in it. I'm still pulling those seedlings out of my yard (even in the grass that gets cut regularly?!).

I really am thinking of how really cool those crinkly chard leaves would look with the vibrant stems. I'll have to consider edibles I haven't eaten a new challenge. Wonder what radishes look like ;)

I would like to see a pic of this spot. What state/zone are you in? It's pretty hot here in south AL. I can affirm that Coleus are fine with temps around 100. Some garden article sites don't talk about using Coleus in the shade at all.

https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/colorful-coleus

http://www.finegardening.com/sizing-coleus

http://www.costafarms.com/blog/get-big-color-in-sun-or-shade-with-coleus

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/sun-coleus-63249.html

If/when coleus is planted in full sun, it seems watering needs become intense. I'm lazy, so that doesn't work so well. That's why I prefer natives (low maint) if properly sited. I admit sun tolerating coleus is often spectacular if well grown.

Yes, I've found that to be the case also if using the 'Wizard' or 'Rainbow' type Coleus known to be at their best in the shade, but the ones in the sun, that are of the realm of those that do love being in the sun, do not wilt before anything else in the heat. Last summer it did not rain here for 3 months and Coleus were not at all the first plants to take a wilt when the soil started to get really dry after about 2 weeks.

Not sure knowing what the bed looks like will help, but here you go :) Even though I've gardened for thirty+ years, I've only been here for two years. I just extended the bed. It's still not ready for prime time. I still need to add peat moss and a lot more soil. I've only been growing annuals there. I planted the shrub autumn 2017. The little blobs are: one happy Penstemon (on the left), with Iberis sempervirens and I. gibraltarica in front of the Buddleia. Not a bed yet. Annuals only in 2016 (got here September 2015), and I experimented a lot in 2017. As of today.

Ooh, this is so nice! By hellstrip, I though you were gardening the strip between sidewalk & street. Compared to some of the places I put Coleus, this is a much nicer spot. With your back to the house, which way does this face?

It's almost true south. It's gonna be a fine spot for so much. In the back of the house some plants lean so much, they're begging for sun; they'll get moved here. Plants that need our much sought afternoon shade can stay. It's coming together. I'm ready for the perennials so I can change out the annuals year to year.

Three and a half months later... almost all seedlings. Annuals for this incredibly sunny bed are: tall marigolds, clasping coneflower, dwarf coreopsis, sanvitalia, French marigolds, Unwins dahlia, vinca, sulphur cosmos, borage, California bluebell, linaria, calendula (radio and pink surprise), nicotiana, Rubenza cosmos, nigella, burgundy cornflower, sweet peas, phlox, and larkspur. Don't see them? Everything is a seedling! There are even perennial seedlings too.

Fantastic! It will be gorgeous when it gets some color.