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robert567

Coleus varieties

3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

Have any interesting types? I've been fascinated with coleus lately, trying different types. Coleus are good "space fillers" for difficult spots. I find their variations, and how they change with sunlight interesting.


'Saturn', reverse green centers


'Morning After' unique


'Coleosaurus' ... favorite name


'Kiwi Fern'


'Gay's Delight' or 'Happy Line'... silly names, radioactive color


'Red Elephant' .... groovy psychedelic colors


'Apocalypse'


'Tickled Yellow'


'Red Frenzy'


unknown... it's green, purple, yellow, and a little red. Changes radically with the amount of sun.


'Sorcerer' .... tall and dark


maybe 'Dipt in Wine'. I like the variations in color.


'Chipotle'


'Scarlet' in the shade

Comments (66)

  • 3 years ago

    Very nice combo! You could trim a few of the leaves from the Coleus on that side. And Begonias don't mind leaning down the side to get some sun if they need to.

  • 3 years ago

    Some clearance Coleus I found yesteray.




    And an Alternanthera, just as colorful as Coleus. (Not clearance.)




  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Two classics not here : Inky Fingers and Fishnet Stockings.

    I loved "Henna" which I saw for one season only. Never saw it for

    sale again, though "Redhead" & "campfire" showed up on the market. They were NOT the same! They are monochromatic.

    If I ever found Henna again I'd buy it take cuttings.

  • 3 years ago

    just googled it.

    It was as beautiful as I remembered. ITs gotten some recognition so I just don't understand why my local retailers dropped it.

    What explains that?

    WFF carried it this year. $11! for a single annual. I don't know if I'll eat my words next spring. I'll never remember to look for unless I put it in my google calendar.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago


    Under the Sea 'Gold Anemone' looks cool with some sunlight


    'Saturn' that seems stunted and much more chartreuse than normal. Maybe I'll save cuttings and see if it is a mutation, but it probably is just growing weird.



    'Tickled Scarlet'


    sold as 'Chipotle', seems different from my other one...fairly common, grows in sun or shade. I really like that green color, but grows rather wimpy


    'Le Freak' is a little redder, but often looks very similar to 'Chipotle'

  • 3 years ago





  • 3 years ago

    I started growing coleus for the first time summer 2020. I am hooked!! Even though its an annual its pretty easy getting more the next year by seed or bringing them in for the winter..

  • 3 years ago

    @ Tiffany/ I bet you got those cleareance coleus at tractor supply? I bought one too but a differnt variety. I may go back and see if they have any of that one left.. I got mine 75% off

  • 3 years ago

    Do you let them flower and collect the seed?

  • 3 years ago

    You can let them flower. I cut them sometimes as soon as they flower OR I will let them flower and cut them when they turn brown and put them in a sandwich baggie and write the name on it. Next spring they will be ready to reseed again


    Would anybody be interested in coieus seed trading?

  • 3 years ago

    I got my last ones @ L's, but they probably get them from the same grower.


    I remember having 'Inky Fingers' and 'Henna' in the past. If I end up collecting any seeds, I'll get involved in the trade discussion at that time. I'm too plant-impulsive to pre-commit. If I fail to run the hose in the morning, I may have dead plants.

  • 3 years ago

    Henna is probably the only patented coleus I ever bought bc i just couldnt help myself. In a big quart branded pot too. Last year for Mother's Day I ordered 5 plants @ $6 each from Rosy Dawn Gardens; they specify clearly which are free to propagate which is important for us because we are steady cloning coleus as houseplants and in the beds. These pictures are great!

  • 3 years ago

    Just checked rosy dawn gardens and it looks like they are sold out of everything. But thanks for the store name. Ill be defantly be ordering from them in the future,

  • 3 years ago

    Oh yes sorry for the goose chase. They open the catalog in December I think for pre orders.

  • 3 years ago

    @karoliberty Wow! That garden place looks awesome. They sure have a nice coleus variety. I grow just what I can get at big box stores but I will try to remember that place in December and try to get a few different ones that I can not find locally. Thanks for the suggestion. I have all shade in my front yard so I love to make the shade flowers pop with coleus mixed in. I can get a few "new to me" type of plants. I winter sowed them and they were slow to come up. I had a very low germination rate but the ones I kept alive are quiet large now.

  • 3 years ago

    'Alabama Sunset' above, 'Dipt in Wine' below. With Ipomoea batatas 'Tricolor, and Schefflera 'Trinette.'


  • 3 years ago

    What is a good source for seeds. I carelessly tossed some dollar tree seeds in an old planter. Weeks later I gave up. Well they showed me. Plus a Portulaca that had a sleepover from last year

    Would live to plant some of the beautiful versions you all are sharing



  • 3 years ago

    Nice looking pot! From seed, there is not as much variety available. Wizard & Rainbow are the usual ones.


    The ones with specific names are propagated by cuttings, buying plants is the only way to get those. That is why I work so hard to save as much as possible over winter. The next year, you may or may not see the same one(s) you loved again. There are thousands of Coleus cultivars.

  • 3 years ago

    @ Tiffany if I have a rare one and it seeds and i collect them and re sew next spring theres a chance it wont be the same one?

  • 3 years ago

    Right, it will resemble something you'd see in a mixed 6-pack @ WM or L's. It might be interesting but it won't look like this year's named cultivar plant.

  • 3 years ago

    Wow thats discouraging. I started coleus 2 summers ago. I ordred cherry coleus seeds from park seed and colected the seeds after the put out seed heads the following summer and re sew them for 2 seasons now and they always come out the same everytime. I have 3 more plnats that I bought this year from home depot and tractor supply and gonna collect the seeds on them and see how they turn out..Its a solid burg, a lime green and a green and red one. Of course ive only done this for one variety( will be 4 after I get seed heads for the other 3)

  • 3 years ago

    I think my best variety was in 2012:


    The tallest plants all across the back here are Perilla 'Magilla' The big one just right of the middle is 'Kong' red or rose.


    I lost track of the name of this, but it's similar to 'Stormy Weather'


    'India Frills' This was so cute! The leaves were only about 1" long. I had it for a few yrs but lost it in drought a few yrs ago. Also odd because the stems were round.






    'Florida SUn Jade'








    'Indian Summer'




  • 3 years ago

    I'm glad there are more stable types of seeds available. Most of the seedlings I've gotten have unusually large leaves, as big as a 'Kong' or bigger.

  • 3 years ago

    If there's one you like by name in particular, absolutely check to see if there are seeds available. My information is old, I admit, like me. It also sounds like seeds are more amenable to sprouting @ your house than mine. I have zero luck getting plants from packs of Coleus seeds on a seed rack.

  • 3 years ago

    Tiffany, Get an aerogarden. Thats what I use to start them.. I can get the cherry colues seeds I have to sprout in januray inside. I really like your florida sun jade and the one simular to stormy weather..

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I have seed for this kind and they always come out the same every time(this is my second season. If you have some seed would u like to trade? I am in north georgia




  • 3 years ago

    That's very pretty!! I can't say about seeds yet. Just starting to see some blooms. Thank you for asking! If I gather some seeds, I'll let you know.

  • 3 years ago

    Just saw your comment about aerogarden. TY for the suggestion!

  • 3 years ago

    Wait for a sale. I got the AG harvest for like $40 3 yrs ago after coupons and sale price. I dont think they will ever be that low again though

  • 3 years ago

    Just happened on a pic of a Coleus 'Might Mosaic' that looks like the twin of my unnamed yellow-with-red-blotches one above. So frustrated about losing so many great plants in 2018...!

  • 3 years ago


    Some coleus has gotten large by August. 5 coleus plants in there.

  • 3 years ago

    @robert, IS mine the same as your crimson/burg one?


  • 3 years ago

    The burg/yellow one in ypur pic is called saturn, correct?

  • 3 years ago

    In the pic above, the large dark burgundy/ black one is called 'Red Frenzy', more variable than your red one I think. Mine actually looks like a wizard red seedling coleus, except it is huge with tough leaves.


    The lower left burgundy/ chartreuse is 'Saturn', with a 'Coleosaurus' getting covered in the middle.

  • 3 years ago

    Some pics from this morning. 'Burgundy Wedding Train'



    'La Rambla' This plant is in direct sun from dawn until about 2-3 PM.



    A volunteer, spontaneous sprout. In fact, the only Coleus sprouts I've ever had, even though I've bought many seed packs over the years, are volunteers. This sprouted last spring, growing in a hole at the bottom of this tree, and last winter was so mild, the roots survived and it is back. Because the tree is limbed-up to where the lowest foliage is about 9 ft. off the ground, this spot facing SE is in the sun most of the day.



    Has anyone else noticed that some Coleus inflorescences are green and some are reddish?

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago





    The top ones (giant lime and palisandra) I grew by winter sowing and the others I bought. I never let them flower until the end of Summer. I have never saved the seeds but you are having luck with yours.


    This last one I did for my 86 yr old mom. They are the wizard type with a big begonia and she loves them. I usually do impatiens here but decided this year to try coleus here. They are wild! This shot my sister sent from the porch. The ones you all are seeing are great! I hope to see more.

  • 3 years ago

    These are all beautiful. I never let mine fower until the end of Summer. I have winter sowed some but never collected seed. The sown were slow to start but grew nice. I had a low germination rate. We had a horrible Spring. I love them all but these new varieties are great!

  • 3 years ago

    I see bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visiting the blooms so I don't disturb them. Most of my nectar plants are not in the same category of attractiveness as a Coleus. It's interesting how some Coleus start to bloom so early and some don't start until much later.

  • 3 years ago

    It is very interesting how they do bloom differently. I will stop pinching the at the end of the month and let them go wild with flowers. If I pinch off the flowers they get bigger and wider. I have many nectar plants for the visitors. I hope to remember the place to purchase a few new ones for next year. I just love the variety they had.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago


    'Gay's Delight', 'Morning After', 'Coleosaurus'


    'Beaujolais Nouveau', 'Red Frenzy', 'Coleosaurus', 'Saturn' with Japanese Forest grass


    'Beaujolais Nouveau', 'Red Frenzy', unknown green and yellow coleus in back, Hosta plantaginea hiding below


    'Coleosaurus'


    'Le Freak'


    Rodeo Drive' with purple inflorescence


    'Tickled Scarlet'


    'Apocalypse' with 'Saturn' behind, Thujoposis dolobrata in back

  • 3 years ago

    Rosy Dawn.....what a treasure. I look forward to ordering from them.

    Does anyone recognize 'rosy dawn' from the odessey? Someting like "the fingers of rosy dawn' Nearly every chapter begins with that image. Just a bit off topic......

  • 3 years ago

    Unsolicited seedlings that just showed up, noticed today.


    'Spiced Curry'


  • 3 years ago

    That why I like starting from seeds. Its so easy and gives me something to play around with in late winter inside. I do have a small aerogarden but plan on getting a bigger grow light and up my game a little lol

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I posted this "Golden Dreams" specimen awhile back but if you will allow me to post its picture one last time, before heavy rains or even an early Fall frost does it in...I am so impressed with this particular plant...a great coleus if you have the space:



  • 3 years ago

    Beautiful, Rogue!

  • 3 years ago


    Native bees love the late season coleus flowers.


    I've got some mystery volunteers as well, wonder what they would look like if they could grow big.



  • 3 years ago

    If you're curious, you could snip them and bring them in. The middle one looks especially interesting.

  • last year
    last modified: last year


    'Gold Anemone'


    'Tickled Pickle'


    'Roaring Fire'



    'Lord Voldemont'


    'Morning After'


    'Japanese Giant'



    unnamed



    'Felix'



    'Tickled Red'



    Baker's Creek Pinto seedling



    Baker's Creek Pinto seedling



    unknown

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Wizard Black Dragon Coleus might be the ", unknown" frilly one you shared above.

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Flamethrower Coleus comes in many variations such as Chipotle, Chilli Pepper, Serrano etc. etc