Folia Picasso Coleus on a white background.
Folia Picasso Coleus plants growing in the trial gardens at Baker Creek.
Folia Picasso Coleus plant in pot sitting on the front porch of the Baker Creek Seed Store.
Folia Picasso Coleus on a white background.
Folia Picasso Coleus plants growing in the trial gardens at Baker Creek.
Folia Picasso Coleus plant in pot sitting on the front porch of the Baker Creek Seed Store.

Coleus Seeds,
Folia Picasso

51 ReviewSKU: #FL657Min. seed count: 50
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Description

Marbling of lime green and hot pink makes this the most groovy coleus! These very colorful foliage plants are excellent for containers, window boxes, beds, borders, or anywhere in need of a vibrant splash of color.

Growing Tips: Start seeds indoors in early spring, covering lightly and keeping very warm. Prefers filtered shade in hot-summer area, full sun elsewhere. Pinch to encourage branching.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Coleus scutellarioides
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Requirement
Partial to full sun
Days to Germinate
10–20
Days to Maturity
70–98
Planting Depth
⅛ in.
Plant Spacing
6–8 in.
Ideal Temperature
70–95°F
Frost Hardy
No

When to Grow

Folia Picasso is grown for its leaves rather than its flowers, so the goal is a long warm season of foliage: start seed indoors 8-10 weeks before your region's last frost date and set plants out only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is quite warm. Direct sowing works under those same conditions, though an indoor start gets the lime-green and hot-pink marbling into the garden sooner. These plants are not frost hardy, and days to maturity run 70-98.

How to Sow and Plant

  • Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
  • Surface sow seeds and lightly cover with a thin layer of fine potting soil.
  • A humidity dome will help to keep seeds moist and warm until they germinate (dome is not necessary, just helpful).
  • Direct sow after all danger of frost has passed and soil is quite warm, or start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost and transplant out.
  • Ideal germination temperature is 70-78 F.

How to Grow

  • Plants prefer shade or part sun and rich, well-drained soil with plenty of moisture.
  • Space plants 12-18 inches apart.
  • Keep the small, inconspicuous flower spikes pinched back (like basil) to encourage healthy bushy foliar growth.
  • Plants easily propagate from cuttings.
  • Before first frost, take cuttings and root for indoor winter house plants. These super cold-sensitive plants will be killed even by light frost.

PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A number of soft-bodied insects may attack your coleus, from mealybugs to aphids and spider mites. Be sure to treat these infected plants regularly and thoroughly with organic approved horticulture soaps.

How to Save Seeds

Seed saving is possible with coleus, but be aware that there will always be a bit of genetic variation in plants grown from seed.

  • Allow flower spikes to mature on plant before harvesting seeds.
  • Store in a cool, dark, dry place.
  • It is also possible (and very easy) to propagate coleus from cutting; simply snip and root a few cuttings in late summer and keep indoors overwinter as a house plant. Propagate cuttings from this mother plant in spring and transplant rooted cuttings outdoors after frost.

FAQ

Where should I plant Folia Picasso for the best color?

Plants prefer shade or part sun and rich, well-drained soil with plenty of moisture; in hot-summer areas give them filtered shade. The marbling of lime green and hot pink reads strongest in containers and window boxes, or anywhere a bed or border needs a vibrant splash of color.

How do I keep Folia Picasso bushy instead of leggy?

Pinch out the small, inconspicuous flower spikes as they appear, the same way you would with basil. That keeps the plant putting its energy into the marbled foliage it is grown for rather than into bloom.

How far apart should Folia Picasso be spaced?

Set plants 6-8 inches apart. At that spacing the colorful foliage knits together into a solid block of color in beds and borders, while single plants still have room to fill a pot.
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