# Coleus

Coleus plants are known for their vibrant and colorful leaves that come in various patterns. They are popular for adding beauty to gardens and indoor spaces.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Gardens, Indoor Spaces
- **Also known as:** Coleus Plant, Painted Nettle

![Coleus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plectranthus_decurrens_Bioko_Sur_201357.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plectranthus_decurrens_Bioko_Sur_201357.jpg)

## Appearance

The Coleus has incredibly vibrant, patterned leaves that come in a dazzling array of colors including red, green, yellow, purple, and pink. Its distinct square stems hold soft, often velvety leaves that are edged, speckled, or splashed with contrasting hues, making each plant a living artwork.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Family:** Lamiaceae
- **Genus:** Coleus

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Victorians loved Coleus so much, they called them 'painted nettles'!
- Its bright leaves aren't flowers! They're just super colorful foliage!
- Some Coleus plants can be grown as small trees, not just bushy plants!
- You can grow a brand new Coleus from just a small stem cutting!

## Special abilities

- **Chameleon Leaves:** Coleus can change the intensity and shade of its leaf colors depending on how much sunlight it receives, like a plant chameleon.
- **Endless Copies:** Coleus has the amazing ability to grow a whole new plant from just a small piece of stem, making it easy to share.
- **Shade Showstopper:** Coleus can thrive and display its bright colors even in shadier spots where many other colorful plants struggle to grow.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer, Fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits small flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects pollen and nectar
- **Eats:** beet armyworm (*Spodoptera exigua*) — larvae feed on foliage
- **Eats:** cotton aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — sucks sap from leaves

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Variegated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/variegated): Pertaining to plants with leaves or petals exhibiting different colors in patches or stripes.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Enjoy looking at coleus plants, but avoid touching or ingesting them as some varieties may cause mild skin irritation.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Coleus?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Coleus?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Coleus spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Coleus?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Coleus bloom?

Summer, Fall

### Is Coleus edible?

No

### Is Coleus toxic?

Mild

### What is Coleus's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Schlosspark Altenstein (Bad Liebenstein)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/altenstein-castle-park-bad-liebenstein) — Thüringen, DE · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Coleus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coleus)