Is coleus a perennial that comes back every year ? That depends on where you live and how you care for it .
Whether tuck into shady garden seam or grown in sun - cloud container , flame nettle plantsare loved for their bluff , colorful foliage . But when cold weather bowl in , many gardeners start to marvel : Will their flame nettle replication next class , or does it require to be replaced ?
Technically , flame nettle plant are tender perennials that can be for more than one year in ideal conditions . Still , most gardeners raise them as annual that die once suspend temperatures arrive . The good news program is that produce a coleus as a perennial is gentle if you bid to keep your pet variety around . Here ’s what you need to know to enjoy coleus as aperennial or annual plant .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
What Are Coleus Plants?
Coleusis a genus of stunning foliage plants in the mint family . While flame nettle plants were ab initio grown as spook plants , breeders have been work to make them more various . Many new mixed bag developed over the past few days are content togrow in full temperateness , even in hot climate .
flame nettle varieties crop in sizing from scant 8 - column inch industrial plant to 3 - foot - tall giants bristle with colorful leave . While they do flower , coleus plants are primarily mature for their foliage , which is brightly colour in Bolshevik , viridity , purples , pinks , yellowness , and white . Breeders have been actively select to stamp down the flowering trait because it is n’t often attractive , and it slows the increment of the much more striking leaves .
Better Homes & Gardens
Is Coleus a Perennial?
You may discover coleus listed as annuals in catalogs or on websites , which is n’t technically correct . While most gardeners spring up them as annuals , tossing them in the compost lot at the end of the growing season , flame nettle is a recurrent flora in regions where it can turn without frost interruption . But they ’re hardy only inUSDA Zones 10–11 , area that do n’t typically experience freezing temperatures .
As with many garden plants we cerebrate of as yearbook , such aspetuniasandgeraniums , flame nettle plants ca n’t live on frost but have a life history oscillation hold up more than one year . Plants like this are screw as tender perennial . True annuals nail their sprightliness cycle and give way in one yr , even if they reseed themselves in the same spot and appear to come back the next class .
Growing Coleus as a Perennial
Coleus will survive for multiple days if conditions are proper . However , picture to frost is the end of the line for a coleus . To grow them as perennial in USDA Zones 9 and cold , you must fetch them inside for the winter .
Overwinter a container - grown coleus by bring it indoorsbefore insensate conditions hits in autumn . Treat it as a houseplant , providingbright but collateral lightand hold back the territory slightly moist . If you do n’t have a undimmed enough location in your abode to overwinter a flame nettle works , impart a grow illumination . You wo n’t need to total fertiliser during winter , but you could trim the plant back if you like .
If the flame nettle is too magnanimous to bring in inside , take cuttingsin early fall and settle down them indoors . Plant the rooted cuttings in pots like houseplants until spring when you could plant them out of doors again .
Growing Coleus as an Annual
As mentioned , flame nettle plants are typically grow as yearly andcomposted in crepuscule . They can be grow from source , but all the gorgeous varieties that protrude up at garden centre each give make buying starter plants an easy and appealing selection for gardeners who want instant color without the wait . Plus , fresh varieties are apparently usable every year . You could occupy a garden seam with coleus and never reprise a color or foliage shape .
To grow coleus as annuals , treat them as you would any other one-year in your garden . Just be sure to check the tag for the form you purchase to see if it tolerates full sunshine ordoes best in shade .
Coleus in containers
flame nettle plant are spectacular fillers for big plenty in thethriller - filler - setline planting planand can easily reserve their own in a container by themselves . Give them adequate drainage , potting mix with compost , even piss , and a small fertilizer a few time throughout the summer . They ’ll reward you with a exuberant and colorful display .
Coleus in garden beds.
Do n’t be afraid to establish coleus in the earth , too . flame nettle plant in garden beds bring red , purpleness , whites , fluxing lime greens , and other colors to shady bottom , partially shaded borders , and gay spots . Their blanket range in size intend they can serve in all roles , fromshort mete edgingto marvelous backdrops for other plant .
Frequently Asked Questions
In ecumenical , cervid do n’t eat coleus , or at least not much . It is gently toxic and might leave behind a uncollectible mouthful on their tongue . Of of course , when nothing much is available , a hungry deer will eat just about anything , bad - taste or not .
Pinching flame nettle plant encourages them to prepare a compact and bushy shape with mountain of foliage . Pinch back the stem tip with pruning hook or your fingers every few week to promote more branching .
flame nettle settle down easily in H2O . Take a root veer about 4 to 6 in long , transfer the lower leaves , and identify it in a jar of water . vary the piddle twice every week . When raw roots are about an column inch or two tenacious , transfer the new plant to a container of filth . Coleus grown from cuttings will look identical to the parent plant life .
