FlowerColeus
Rainbow Mixture Coleus
Rainbow Mixture Coleus brings tropical drama to shaded gardens with its spectacular blend of magenta, green, yellow, and red foliage. This annual cultivar of Plectranthus scutellarioides reaches 12 inches tall and matures in 80 to 89 days, making it a quick way to add vibrant color to beds and containers. Hardy in zones 9 through 11, it thrives in partial shade where its jewel-toned leaves glow brightest, creating a living tapestry that dazzles throughout the growing season.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
9-11
Sunlight
Partial Shade
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Organic Matter Preferred
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
Spacing
10
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Partial Shade
Water
High
Zones
9-11
Size
12in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The true magic lies in the unpredictability of Rainbow Mixture; each seedling expresses a different combination of tropical magentas, greens, yellows, and reds, so no two plants look quite the same. Grown for its foliage rather than flowers, this cultivar delivers consistent, reliable color from mid-summer through frost. The compact 12-inch height and rapid maturation make it accessible to gardeners everywhere, whether you're filling a small border or stocking a container collection.
Common Uses
Rainbow Mixture Coleus is grown primarily as an ornamental foliage plant for garden beds, borders, and containers. Its vibrant leaves create striking color contrasts throughout the season, and it pairs naturally with other shade-tolerant plants like lavenders and similar blooming companions to extend visual interest beyond its own leaf display.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Scatter seeds on moist seed-starting mix and press gently; coleus seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover them. Keep soil consistently moist at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings emerge within 1 to 2 weeks.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors once soil has warmed and all frost danger has passed, typically in late spring. Space plants 10 inches apart in partial shade locations. Handle seedlings gently as they are tender at this stage.
Pruning
Pinch growing tips when seedlings reach 4 to 6 inches tall to encourage bushier, fuller growth. Removing the top inch or two of stems promotes branching and a more compact plant rather than tall, leggy growth. Deadhead flower spikes as they appear if you prefer maximum foliage impact, since the ornamental value lies in the leaves, not the blooms.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Coleus