Coleus
Seed # 70
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 70
- Seed Name
- Coleus
- Variety
- Rainbow Mix
- Category
- Flower
- Plant Family
- Lamiaceae
- Plant Type
- Ornamental coleus foliage mix (Coleus scutellarioides)
- Planting Method
- Transplant
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Mar 10
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jun 1
- Plantable Months
- March, April, May, June
- Indoor Start
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Direct Sow
- Not Recommended
- Transplant
- May 19 – Jun 1
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- 8 weeks
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- 2 weeks
- Germination Days
- 10–15 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- Not recorded
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- 70-75°F
- Planting Depth
- Surface sow; light required
- Plant Spacing
- 8-12 in
- Row Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- Not recorded
- Sun Requirements
- Partial shade to shade; protect from intense afternoon sun
- Water Needs
- 1-2 in/week; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged
- Soil Preference
- Rich, loose, well-drained soil with consistent moisture
- Minimum Container Size
- 18+ in container for mixed planting
- Plant Height
- 10-15 in
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Annual
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- No
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Pollinator Seed SavingCompanion Planting
No companion relationships recorded.
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Start indoors; transplant after frost
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: May 20 – Jun 20
Days to Harvest / Bloom: Foliage display all season
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Ornamental
Perennial?: Tender perennial; overwinter cuttings indoors
Succession / Reusable Notes: Great for containers/shady spots.
Zone 6B Notes: Pinch tips for bushier plants.
Companion Plants: Impatiens, begonias, shade herbs, containers, ornamental borders
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Hard frost/full harsh sun for some varieties
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Coleus is frost-sensitive and is grown as an annual outdoors in Zone 6B. Start seed indoors and wait until nights are reliably warm before transplanting.
Germination: Seed is tiny and requires light. Press onto moist seed-starting mix without burying deeply and maintain warm conditions.
Seed Saving: Rainbow Mix contains genetically variable plants. Seed collected from individual plants will not reliably reproduce the original foliage colors or mixture.
Special Care: Pinch growing tips to promote bushier plants. Remove flower spikes if maximum foliage growth is desired.
Research Source: Ferry-Morse — https://ferrymorse.com/products/coleus-rainbow-mixed-colors — Rainbow Mixed Colors identity, 10-15 day germination, partial shade/shade, container size, height and water needs
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]