Coleus ( Plectranthus scutellarioides ), a popular ornamental plant, is widely appreciated for its vibrant and diverse foliage. These plants are often grown for their striking leaf colors and patterns, which can range through shades of green, red, pink, purple, yellow, and orange. While coleus are primarily known for their leaves, they do produce flowers, a fact that often comes as a surprise to those new to growing them.
What Are Coleus Blooms?
Coleus blooms typically appear as slender, upright spikes emerging from the top of the plant. These spikes bear small, tubular flowers, often in shades of blue or purple, though sometimes white. The flowers are generally inconspicuous and not the main ornamental feature compared to the vibrant foliage. Their natural purpose is to produce seeds. Coleus plants begin to flower from summer into early fall, often triggered by shorter days and cooler temperatures.
Why Gardeners Manage Coleus Blooms
Gardeners remove coleus blooms to maintain the plant’s desired appearance. A primary reason is that the plant expends energy producing flowers and seeds. This energy diversion reduces resources for foliage development, the coleus’s main attraction.
Allowing coleus to bloom can lead to undesirable outcomes for its ornamental appeal. The plant may develop a leggy or rangy appearance, with stems becoming elongated and less leafy. Additionally, leaf size can diminish, and the vibrant colors of the foliage may become duller. Blooming can result in a decline in the plant’s vigor and its full, bushy habit.
How to Manage Coleus Blooms
Managing coleus blooms involves “pinching” or “deadheading.” This practice promotes bushier growth and redirects the plant’s energy to more vibrant foliage. To pinch off flower spikes, use your fingernails or clean pruning shears to remove the bloom stalk as soon as it appears. The cut should be made just above a set of leaves or a leaf node.
Removing these flower spikes encourages the plant to produce new side branches from the nodes below the cut, leading to a denser, more compact plant. This practice also maintains the plant’s vigor and extends its ornamental display throughout the growing season. Regularly inspecting your coleus plants for emerging flower spikes and promptly pinching them off will ensure continuous, lush foliage. While some newer coleus varieties flower later or less frequently, consistent bloom management remains beneficial for plant shape and leaf quality.