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How to Grow Coleus Wasabi

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Coleus Wasabi

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wasabi'

herb

Coleus Wasabi is a striking ornamental foliage plant prized for its vibrant lime-green and deep burgundy variegated leaves. This tender perennial is grown primarily for its decorative foliage rather than culinary use, despite its name reference. It thrives indoors and in warm outdoor gardens, making it popular for containers and garden displays.

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Example Coleus Wasabi timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Coleus Wasabi

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Coleus Wasabi

    Around May 17

    ≈ 30 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Coleus Wasabi dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Bright, indirect light or partial shade; 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight daily. Too much direct sun can fade vibrant colors; too little light causes leggy growth.
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Reduce watering in winter. Humidity-loving; mist leaves occasionally.
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Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 30-45 days to reach decorative size
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Planting depth: Plant seeds 1/8 inch deep or plant transplants at the same depth as their nursery container

Soil

Type: Well-draining potting soil or loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost Peat moss or coco coir Perlite for drainage Balanced fertilizer

Growing Zones

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Zones 10-11; grown as an annual or indoor plant in colder zones

10a 10b 11a 11b

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with first true leaves appearing; delicate and pale

Keep soil moist, maintain warmth (70-75°F), provide bright indirect light, ensure good air circulation to prevent damping off

2

Young Vegetative

3-4 weeks

Plants develop true leaves with emerging color patterns; begins showing variegation

Maintain consistent moisture and humidity, fertilize weekly with diluted balanced fertilizer, pinch growing tips to encourage bushiness

3

Mature Vegetative

Ongoing (6-12 weeks to full size)

Full, bushy plant with completely developed variegated foliage displaying lime-green and burgundy colors

Pinch flower spikes regularly to direct energy to foliage, continue weekly fertilizing, maintain moist soil, increase humidity if indoors

4

Flowering

Periodic throughout growing season if not removed

Small purple or blue flower spikes appear at branch tips

Pinch off flowers to maintain foliage quality and bushiness; flowers are not the main feature of this cultivar

5

Decline/Overwintering

3-4 months

Plant growth slows in fall and winter; foliage may become less vibrant in low light

Reduce watering frequency, move indoors before frost, reduce fertilizing, provide bright indirect light, maintain 65-70°F temperature

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Caladium Begonia Impatiens Fuchsia Mandevilla Bromeliad Boston fern

Avoid planting near:

Allelopathic plants that inhibit growth Extremely dry-loving plants

Common Pests

  • Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; isolate affected plants; wipe leaves with rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs

  • Increase humidity, spray with water to wash off mites, use miticide or neem oil if severe

  • Use yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, maintain good air circulation

  • Spray with water to dislodge, use insecticidal soap, neem oil, or introduce ladybugs

  • Allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings, use sand layer on soil, yellow sticky traps, or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench

Uses

🏠

Ornamental Container Plant

Household

Coleus Wasabi is exceptionally popular for decorative indoor and outdoor containers, hanging baskets, and mixed plantings. Its striking lime-green and burgundy variegated foliage adds dramatic color and visual interest to patios, windowsills, and garden displays. [source]

🎨

Leaf Pressing and Art

Craft

The distinctive two-toned leaves are ideal for pressing and drying for botanical art projects, scrapbooking, and herbarium preservation. The contrast between colors remains visible even when dried. [source]

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Interior Houseplant

Household

Excellent as a low-maintenance houseplant for bright windowsills and indirect light areas. Regular pinching keeps it compact and suitable for shelves, desks, and living spaces. [source]

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Pollinator Garden Addition

Wildlife

When allowed to flower, Coleus produces attractive blooms that attract bees and hummingbirds, providing nectar and supporting pollinator populations in gardens. [source]

Harvest Tips

Coleus Wasabi is primarily a foliage plant, not harvested for culinary purposes. Pinch off the top 1-2 inches of stems regularly (every 2-3 weeks) to encourage bushier, more compact growth and remove flower spikes. These pinched stems can be propagated in water to create new plants. Discard or compost pinched material unless propagating.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Despite its name suggesting the spicy Asian wasabi plant, Coleus Wasabi has no culinary connection to actual wasabi and is not edible. The name refers solely to its color resemblance to wasabi's green and red/burgundy appearance.
  • 🌱 Coleus leaves exhibit a phenomenon called anthocyanin pigmentation, where the striking burgundy colors intensify with bright indirect light and cooler temperatures, while insufficient light produces duller foliage.
  • 🌱 Coleus is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate; a single leaf or stem cutting placed in water will develop roots within 1-2 weeks, allowing gardeners to create dozens of new plants from a single parent plant.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Compost Cultivar Damping Off Partial Shade Perennial True Leaves
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