Trailing shade-loving coleus varieties are low-maintenance and do well in containers, window boxes, or hanging baskets placed in shady spots or indoors. They thrive in a shade garden; place them at the front of a garden bed, where their colorful leaves add vibrant foliage to the landscape. Formerly members of the Solenostemon genus, these trailing plants are now members of the Coleus genus.
Trailing Coleus (Shade-Loving) Overview
Where to Plant Trailing Coleus (Shade-Loving)
Coleus doesn’t handle frost well, so it is grown as an annual in most areas of the United States. The plants are cold-hardy only in USDA Zones 10-11. Plant coleus in rich, well-draining garden soil that has been amended with compost. Position them where the foliage can be admired—along shady garden paths and fences or in hanging baskets. They add color to containers from spring until fall with little care. Additionally, trailing coleus is an excellent houseplant that can thrive indoors where bright light is often at a premium.
How and When to Plant Trailing Coleus
These tender plants do best if you wait until the temperature remains above 55°F to set them out in spring. When growing coleus as a houseplant, use a high-quality potting mix in a container with drainage holes.
In the garden, dig a hole as deep as the nursery container and one-and-a-half to two times as wide. Removed the plant from the pot and place in the hole. Backfill with soil and firm around the stem. Water deeply and regularly until established.
Space multiple plants about 12 inches apart.
Trailing Coleus Care Tips
Coleus is an easy-to-grow plant when its basic needs are met.
Light
Originally, coleus were all shade plants, but that changed with introductions that include coleus that thrive in sunny spots. Although most shade-loving trailing coleus plants can handle some sun exposure in the morning, they still prefer shady spots outdoors most of the day. A shade-loving coleus grown as a houseplant handles the low light found inside many homes well, but the foliage will be even more colorful if the plant receives some bright light (no direct sun) daily. Add a grow light in dim locations to prevent the houseplant from growing leggy.
Soil and Water
Whether grown outdoors or indoors, coleus plants need rich, well-draining soil. To improve garden soil, dig in compost before planting. For houseplants, use high-quality potting soil.
Consistently moist soil is best for coleus. Water the plants when the top inch of soil feels dry and during extended dry spells.
Temperature and Humidity
Coleus plants love warm, humid weather. Wait until the temperature stays above 55°F consistently before setting the plant outdoors. They are happiest when the temperature is 70°F or warmer.
Keep trailing coleus grown indoors away from drafts and air conditioners. If the home is dry, add a plant humidifier.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer isn’t necessary when coleus is planted in rich soil. If not, add a slow-release fertilizer when you set out the plants. Indoor coleus can benefit from a monthly application of a liquid fertilizer. When fertilizing, follow the instructions of the product manufacturer.
Pruning
Pinching out the tips of the plants when the stems reach 5-6 inches tall produces a more compact plant that does not become leggy.
Potting and Repotting Trailing Coleus
Trailing coleus are outstanding in hanging baskets or in containers that allow their brilliantly colored foliage to spill over the sides. Use high-quality potting soil and water as needed. Because coleus are usually grown as annuals, repotting is unnecessary.
Pests and Problems
Coleus plants attract the usual garden suspects. Be vigilant and watch for aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and whiteflies. All of these can be removed with a spray of water from a garden hose or a treatment with neem oil.
Coleus plants are susceptible to root rot when they are not grown in well-draining soil. Overwatering and underwatering can also cause problems.
How to Propagate Trailing Coleus
Coleus is best propagated by stem cuttings.
- Use sterilized pruners or scissors to take 4- to 6-inch cuttings from the tips of stems, cutting beneath a leaf node.
- Remove the foliage from the bottom half of each cutting, leaving leaves at the top.
- Dip the ends of the cuttings in rooting hormone.
- Fill small pots with moistened seed-starting mix or good-quality potting soil.
- With a pencil or similar device, make a hole in the center of each pot and insert a cutting into the hole, firming the planting medium around it.
- Cover each pot with plastic, tenting it with supports if needed so the plastic doesn’t touch the leaves.
- Put the pots in a warm location with bright light. Keep the soil consistently moist.
- In about three weeks, the cuttings will have begun to root. Remove the plastic and continue growing the plants in a warm, bright location.
Types of Trailing Coleus
Trailing coleus plants tend to be wide rather than tall and are perfect for cascading over the sides of planters, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Many trailing coleus have smaller leaves than upright growers.
‘India Frills’ Coleus
Coleus scutellaroides ‘India Frills’ has deeply lobed narrow leaves with a chartreuse margin and maroon, magenta, and purple center splash. It grows 6 to 8 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide in part or full shade, and it trails to 1 foot.
‘Telltale Heart’ Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides ‘Telltale Heart’ has heart-shaped leaves with scalloped green edges and a deep purple-maroon center. It is slow to flower and needs little pinching or pruning to maintain its trailing shape. It thrives in shade or part sun outside in the summer, growing about 16 inches tall and 24 inches wide. It trails to 18 inches.
‘Dark Heart’ Coleus
Coleus scutellarioides ‘Dark Heart’ has beautiful burgundy, heart-shaped leaves with yellow-green margins in shade and sun. Maroon veins create a netted appearance to the green edges. It grows to 24 inches tall and 15 inches wide and trails to 16 inches.
Trailing Coleus Companion Plants
Shade-loving annuals, such as impatiens, browallia, and lobelia, are excellent companion plants for trailing coleus.
Impatiens
Impatiens are classic shade garden annuals that are popular because of their bloom power and wide variety of colors. They produce nonstop flowers for an entire growing season and don’t need deadheading. They flourish in shade or part sun.
Browallia
Browallia is a heat-loving plant shade plant that blooms continuously throughout the growing season without deadheading. Most commonly found with sapphire blue flowers, browallia varieties also come with bright purple or pristine white blossoms.
Lobelia
Lobelia comes in blue- and violet-blooming mounding types suitable for the front of beds and borders and along pathways, and some trailing lobelias add pink and white blooms to window boxes and hanging baskets. It grows in shade and part sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Should I let my coleus flower?The small white flowers of coleus are insignificant. It is best to pinch them off to encourage more foliage and stem growth. If you leave the small flowers on the plant, it might lose vitality.
The small white flowers of coleus are insignificant. It is best to pinch them off to encourage more foliage and stem growth. If you leave the small flowers on the plant, it might lose vitality.
- How do you take care of a coleus hanging basket?Monitor the soil in your hanging basket regularly. Maintaining moist—not wet—soil is essential in hanging baskets containing coleus. Judicious pruning of large leaves, when many smaller leaves are growing underneath, is helpful for the plant’s appearance. Don’t trim the trailing leaves unless they become damaged.
Monitor the soil in your hanging basket regularly. Maintaining moist—not wet—soil is essential in hanging baskets containing coleus. Judicious pruning of large leaves, when many smaller leaves are growing underneath, is helpful for the plant’s appearance. Don’t trim the trailing leaves unless they become damaged.