How to Grow Coleus with Impatiens
Wikimedia Commons
Coleus with Impatiens
Plectranthus scutellarioides + Impatiens walleriana
flowerThis is a classic shade-garden pairing combining two tender perennials prized for their foliage and flowers. Coleus offers dramatic, colorful leaves in endless patterns and hues, while impatiens provides delicate, jewel-toned flowers that bloom continuously in shade. Together, they create a vibrant, layered display that thrives in similar growing conditions.
When should you plant Coleus with Impatiens in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Coleus with Impatiens timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Coleus with Impatiens
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Coleus with Impatiens blooms
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Coleus with Impatiens dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10-11 year-round; zones 3-9 as annuals (replant yearly)
Sign up free to see if Coleus with Impatiens grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Coleus with Impatiens timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
2-3 weeksYoung transplants are small with emerging leaves (coleus) and flower buds (impatiens). Root systems are developing.
Water gently and consistently. Provide bright, indirect light. Pinch coleus tips to encourage branching. Avoid fertilizing heavily at first.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksBoth plants develop fuller foliage. Coleus leaves expand and show their full color patterns. Impatiens produce multiple flower buds.
Continue pinching coleus for bushiness. Water regularly and maintain high humidity. Feed with balanced or foliage-focused fertilizer every 2 weeks.
Flowering
6-12 weeks or moreImpatiens produce abundant delicate flowers in reds, pinks, oranges, purples, or white. Coleus foliage reaches peak coloration.
Deadhead spent impatiens flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Maintain consistent moisture. Both plants begin to show their full character.
Peak Display
4-8 weeksBoth plants reach full size with coleus forming striking foliage mounds (12-24 inches tall) and impatiens smothered in blooms.
Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer or flower-boosting formula (slightly higher phosphorus). Pinch coleus occasionally to maintain shape. Keep deadheading impatiens.
Late Season/Decline
Variable, until frost or season endAs temperatures cool (or frost approaches in cool zones), growth slows. In zones 3-9, prepare for end-of-season decline.
In cold zones, take cuttings of coleus in fall to overwinter indoors. Impatiens are frost-tender; remove before first frost. In zones 10-11, plants may persist but slow dramatically.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly. Isolate heavily infested plants. Inspect new plants before adding to collection.
-
Increase humidity (mist regularly). Spray with water to dislodge. Use neem oil or miticide if severe. Avoid hot, dry conditions.
-
Yellow sticky traps. Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Improve air circulation.
-
and
Hand-pick in early morning or evening. Use copper tape or barriers. Beer traps. Remove debris where they hide.
-
Allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps. Improve drainage. Avoid overwatering.
Uses
Shade Container Display & Landscaping
HouseholdThis pairing creates a stunning mixed container or garden bed for shaded patios, porches, and woodland gardens. The combination of colorful coleus foliage with impatiens' delicate, continuous flowers provides months of color without requiring full sun. [source]
Indoor Houseplant Combination
HouseholdBoth plants thrive indoors near east- or north-facing windows with bright, indirect light. Coleus can be grown year-round as a houseplant for its striking foliage, and impatiens makes an excellent indoor flowering plant. [source]
Coleus Leaf Culinary Use
CulinarySome coleus varieties (especially those with minty or citrus-scented foliage) have been used in Southeast Asian cuisine for flavoring dishes and teas. Check variety descriptions for edible types before consuming. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalColeus has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. Impatiens species have mild medicinal properties in some traditional systems. Always consult a healthcare provider before medicinal use. [source]
Propagation and Plant Swaps
CraftBoth plants propagate easily from cuttings, making them ideal for sharing with fellow gardeners or creating new plants for expanded displays. Coleus cuttings root in water within 1-2 weeks. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
This is an ornamental pairing grown for display rather than harvest. Pinch coleus stems to encourage bushiness and shape; these pinched leaves can be rooted as cuttings or composted. Deadhead impatiens flowers regularly (2-3 times weekly) to promote continuous blooming. In fall (zones 3-9), take 4-6 inch stem cuttings of coleus, root in water indoors, and grow as houseplants over winter. Impatiens seeds can be saved from mature seed pods in late season if desired.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Coleus leaves display one of the widest spectrums of color combinations in the plant world—ranging from deep burgundy and black to lime green, coral, pink, and cream, often with intricate patterns and veining. Each plant can show different color intensities depending on light levels.
- 🌱 Impatiens 'walleriana' is native to East Africa and was named for its seed pods, which 'impatient-ly' burst open when touched, flinging seeds several feet away—a mechanism called ballistic seed dispersal.
- 🌱 Coleus produces delicate purple or blue flower spikes, but the flowers are often considered less ornamental than the foliage, so gardeners frequently pinch off flower buds to keep the plant more compact and focused on leaf production.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Coleus with Impatiens planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Coleus with Impatiens seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Coleus with Impatiens timeline →