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Did you know there are many stunning coleus varieties for sun? These newer coleus varieties thrive in both sun OR shade! Some varieties will get HUGE, and others remain smaller. There are even beautiful trailing varieties! Keep reading to learn more about about these sun loving varieties, along with my coleus care tips at the end of this post, pictures of sun-loving coleus, and experiences from my own garden.
After growing ColorBlaze Golden Dreams, I’m totally hooked on the ColorBlaze coleus line from Proven Winners and I am growing more and more of them. Here is why I love this line of coleus, and I know you will too:
- The ColorBlaze line was trialed at the University of Florida in both all day sun AND also shade before being introduced, so they will grow literally anywhere you put them in your garden.
- They are VERY slow to go to flower. I didn’t get my first flower spike until late summer, so that greatly minimized any deadheading and maintenance, so that the plant can focus its energy on foliage growth. Read my article about deadheading coleus for more information.
- All the varieties are freely branching, so you never have to pinch your plants back to encourage bushiness.
For tips on growing gorgeous and gigantic coleus in pots, check out the very end of this post for information on fertilizing, watering, etc.
Table of Contents
COLEUS VARIETIES FOR SUN
1. ColorBlaze Golden Dreams
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
Golden Dreams is the first of the coleus varieties for sun that I’ve grown, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. I’ve grown these in full sun as well as partial shade.
One thing to remember about the color of coleus leaves is that it will vary depending on the light that you have them in.
Take a look at the comparison below. This is the same variety (Golden Dreams).
It looks like a different plant! There is much more chartreuse for those grown in the shade. In full sun, you’ll have a lot more red.
Another aspect of the ColorBlaze coleus line that I LOVE is that the plants will freely branch out on their own. In the photos above of Golden Dreams, I never trimmed any of those plants and I started off with small plants at the beginning of the season.
2. ColorBlaze Rediculous
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
The stunning red foliage on this plant is a delight! In the photo above, I placed my pot in front of a purplish Japanese maple to compliment the color. This variety should get as large as the Golden Dreams variety.
By mid-summer, look how beautiful and full the plant got.
3. ColorBlaze Chocolate Drop
Height Range: 14-20 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 2 feet
This is a trailing variety with small chartreuse leaves that have a luscious chocolatey center. This is the first of two dwarf coleus varieties. It will take a little time before they start to trail, so you can use this as a “spiller” in your pots.
By mid-summer, look how big and gorgeous the plant is:
4. ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop
Height Range: 14-20 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 2 feet
And just a couple months later, look how beautiful the plant got.
This is the second of the dwarf varieties, and is another trailing variety. Who can resist the dainty green and red leaves?
5. ColorBlaze Torchlight
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
By mid-summer, the plant really grew dramatically.
The tricolor foliage (fuschia, maroon and green) is just stunning! I can’t wait until this pot grows and gets huge.
6. ColorBlaze Wicked Witch
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
By mid-summer, look how big and lush the plant got.
This is a beautiful larger variety with purplish centers and yellowish edges on the foliage. The ruffled edges on the foliages adds a nice touch.
7. ColorBlaze El Brighto
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
The foliage on this variety is red, yellow and orange and the leaves are a bit narrower than the varieties I previously showed.
8. ColorBlaze Dipt in Wine
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 20 inches to 2 feet
The wine and chartreuse colored foliage on this variety is stunning.
9. ColorBlaze Royale Apple Brandy
Height Range: 20 inches to 2 feet 6 inches
Spread: 12-16 inches
Apple Brandy is the variety right in the middle of the photo above with narrower burgundy and chartreuse foliage.
10. ColorBlaze Royale Alligator Tears
Height Range: 12-20 inches
Spread: 10-18 inches
The narrow, bicolor foliage is green and yellow in this variety.
11. ColorBlaze Newly Noir
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
If you’re a fan on dark colored foliage, you will love Newly Noir. The deep purple to almost black foliage is so unique!
12. ColorBlaze Wicked Hot
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
What is there not to love in this variety that has orange foliage and ruffled edges?
13. ColorBlaze Sedona Sunset
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 3 feet
A coppery orange color makes this coleus quite a standout!
14. ColorBlaze Royale Cherry Brandy
Height Range: 20 inches to 2 feet & 6 inches
Spread: 16 inches to 2 feet
This variety has lovely red foliage.
15. ColorBlaze Lime Time
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 18 inches to 2 feet & 6 inches
The shocking chartreuse foliage of this variety make it standout in any garden.
16. ColorBlaze Royale Pineapple Brandy
Height Range: 20 inches to 2 feet & 6 inches
Spread: 12-16 inches
This beautiful variety has chartreuse leaves with burgundy accents.
17. ColorBlaze Velveteen
Height Range: 2 feet to 3 feet & 4 inches
Spread: 12-16 inches
This stunning variety has fuchsia and burgundy foliage and is truly eye-catching! Velveteen is shown above in the pot on the left, on the right side of the pot.
18. ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon
Height Range: 12-20 inches
Spread: 10-18 inches
This one will be hard to miss with its electric watermelon color and yellow highlights! This is a wonderful smaller growing Coleus for small spaces.
It still is naturally well-branched and perfect for sun or shade like any of the other coleus plants in this post. In the photo above, I planted 3 plants at the beginning of the season.
To check for availability and pricing on the ColorBlaze coleus line, check out the Proven Winners ColorBlaze page.
GROWING COLEUS IN POTS OUTDOORS
Although you can grow coleus indoors, they truly shine outdoors and express their greatest potential, especially in pots where you can control the soil mix and moisture requirements better.
Here are some tips that I used to grow my Coleus plants in pots (though you can certainly plant them in the ground as well).
LIGHT
All of the varieties on this page do well in full sun to full shade. If you live in a particularly hot and sunny location, your plants may benefit from a little shade.
Otherwise, feel free to place them in full sun to full shade. Be aware though that the coloration in the leaves won’t be as intense in the shade.
WATER
Keep your plants fairly moist and water abundantly, particularly in hot weather. As soon as the surface of the soil feels dry, I water.
You will know if your soil has dried out too much because the entire plant will quickly wilt. If you see this and your soil is bone dry, immediately give your plant a good, thorough watering and it will recover.
Please note that if you are growing your plants in sunny locations, they will dry out more quickly so you’ll have to be more attentive to them.
SOIL
For my outdoor pots, I simply use with Miracle Gro potting mix or ProMix. Lately I’ve been buying bales of ProMix since I do so many outdoor pots. Either one will work very well for your coleus.
FERTILIZER
At the time of planting, I make an application of Osmocote Plus. After a month, I make another application of Osmocote Plus.
Then after that, I like to water with Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer weekly. This will result in giant, gorgeous plants. And don’t worry, you will not get any fertilizer burn with this method.
TEMPERATURE
Coleus prefer warm to hot temperatures. I normally wait until temperatures are bare minimum 50°F before planting mine for the season. You will not be gaining much extra time if you plant them while temperatures are still cold.
Once temperatures heat up, they will quickly make up for lost time.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post on coleus varieties for sun. They are no longer shade plants anymore, and these newer varieties can add a lot of spice to your garden. With brilliant color, fast growth and ease of care, what more can you ask for in a garden plant?
For more blog posts on Coleus, check out:
Linda
Tuesday 9th of January 2024
Been growing coleus in pots for about 10 years, and I am still learning. Finally learned that they grow wonderfully in SUN (I have little shade). I love and promote them by giving them as gifts to my friends. I had two last summer that got as big as yours, and I was thrilled. Your plants are beautiful! Next summer, I will try your fertilizing method! Cannot wait until spring.
Raffaele
Wednesday 10th of January 2024
I'm glad you enjoyed the post Linda! So many just think of them as shade plants, but they are much more versatile! Good luck with your coleus plants :-)
Linda
Monday 23rd of October 2023
Can u blaze coleus in seed & where from
Raffaele
Tuesday 24th of October 2023
I don't think they will come true from seed unfortunately.
Fannie Ellis
Wednesday 4th of October 2023
Can I get coleus in short version?
Raffaele
Wednesday 4th of October 2023
They come in all sorts of sizes. Just pay attention to the height and spread that is indicated on the label from the grower.
Mommy Bobby
Wednesday 13th of September 2023
Oh my goodness, I still am not sure exactly what I have but after seeing this post I am so excited. I told my neighbor I was excited to start my first garden and she gifted me a baby brother Coleus to her much larger plant. Mine is so small that I’m not exactly sure what I have but your plants are my dream to come true. Thanks so much for sharing. I can’t wait to find out exactly what I have petaling here.
Raffaele
Thursday 14th of September 2023
So happy that you enjoyed the post! Good luck with your coleus plant :-)
Porkchop
Thursday 1st of June 2023
What a wonderful post. I was drawn here looking for pics of the lime time coleus I just planted. First time trying proven winners colorblaze line and I’m really excited now. I looooove that you included before and after pictures. Those are my favorite!
Raffaele
Friday 2nd of June 2023
So glad you enjoyed the post! You won't be disappointed with the ColorBlaze line!