The Coleus plant (Plectranthus scutellarioides) is celebrated for its low-maintenance nature and striking foliage that offers season-long color interest. Unlike many ornamental plants prized for their blooms, the appeal of Coleus lies in its velvety leaves, which come in a vast array of colors, including vibrant combinations of red, pink, yellow, maroon, and green. This ease of growth and impressive color diversity has made it a popular choice for both indoor houseplant enthusiasts and outdoor container or garden bedding displays. Finding healthy specimens requires knowing where to look and what signs of quality to check for, whether you prefer a local purchase or the expanded selection of an online order.
Finding Coleus at Local Retailers
Local retailers provide the immediate advantage of physical inspection, allowing buyers to assess plant health before purchase. Independent garden centers typically offer a wider selection of cultivars and often feature higher quality, well-established plants. The staff at these specialized centers can also provide tailored advice for your specific growing conditions, helping you select the best variety for sun or shade exposure.
Big-box stores and large chain retailers also carry Coleus, especially during the peak planting season of late spring and early summer. These locations usually offer plants at a lower price point, making them suitable for mass planting projects. However, the variety is often limited to the most common types like the ‘Wizard’ or ‘Kong’ series, and they may receive less specialized care than plants from a dedicated nursery.
Community growers, often found at local markets or farmer’s markets, can be a source for unique, locally adapted cuttings or less common varieties. Coleus is a tender perennial, primarily grown as an annual in most climates, and local stock will generally not appear until the risk of cold temperatures has passed. Waiting until outside temperatures are consistently above 60°F ensures the plants are ready for outdoor transition.
Purchasing Coleus from Online Nurseries
Online nurseries and specialized mail-order growers offer a significantly expanded catalog of Coleus varieties that local centers often cannot stock. This digital market is the primary source for rare, heirloom, or newly developed cultivars with unique leaf shapes or color patterns. The logistical trade-off for this vast selection is the need to carefully vet the seller and understand their shipping practices.
Specialized Coleus growers often ship young starter plants or plugs with well-formed root systems. These small plants require immediate potting and a sheltered location to develop a robust root system before outdoor exposure. Reputable online nurseries offer a live arrival guarantee and provide clear policies for damaged or delayed shipments.
Researching seller reviews regarding the quality of the packaging and the plant’s condition upon arrival is a crucial step. Understanding the shipping schedule is also important, as many specialized nurseries only ship during a specific window in the spring to ensure optimal planting time. Access to hundreds of varieties warrants this additional due diligence compared to local shopping.
Essential Checks Before Buying
A healthy Coleus plant should exhibit specific physical traits, whether you are picking it up locally or unpacking a shipment. The foliage should be vibrant, firm, and free from any signs of wilting or drooping, which indicates dehydration or root stress. Inspecting the underside of the leaves is necessary to check for common garden pests, such as whiteflies, aphids, or mealybugs.
The soil should be consistently moist but not waterlogged or soggy, which can lead to root rot. If possible, gently check the roots by sliding the plant out of its pot; healthy roots are firm and white, while mushy, brown roots indicate a serious problem. Avoid plants with brown spots or crispy edges on the leaves, as these are signs of disease or previous environmental stress.
Finally, confirm the plant label’s cultivar name matches the physical appearance, especially when seeking a specific color or growth habit. Coleus foliage color can intensify or dull depending on the light exposure it receives, so slight variations are normal, but the basic pattern should align with the label description. Selecting a plant that has not yet started to flower is also beneficial, as flowering diverts energy away from foliage production.