How to Add this Vibrant Foliage Favorite to Your Life

Did you know the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is home to one of the largest coleus collections in North America, featuring nearly 400 different varieties?

Coleus is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to bring bold color into shaded and partially shaded garden spaces. From lime green and magenta to deep burgundy and near-black, these striking foliage plants create vibrant displays that last all season long.

Why Coleus Stands Out

Unlike many garden plants, coleus is grown primarily for its foliage rather than its flowers—which means the color show lasts far longer than a typical bloom cycle.

Coleus leaves come in:

• Solid colors
• Bicolor combinations
• Multicolored patterns
• Ruffled, scalloped, or serrated textures

With shades ranging from pink and yellow to plum, maroon, green, and nearly black, coleus offers gardeners an endless palette for creativity.

Some varieties stay compact while others grow tall and dramatic, making coleus ideal for:

• Container gardens
• Patio planters
• Mixed borders
• Shaded garden beds

How to Use Coleus in Garden Design

Coleus works best when planted intentionally and generously.

Plant in Groups: Repeated color creates stronger visual impact than scattering single plants throughout the garden.

Brighten Dark Corners: Use lime and yellow varieties to illuminate shady spaces naturally.

Create Contrast: Pair deep burgundy or chocolate-colored coleus with pale flowers, pink tones, or light-colored containers for dramatic contrast.

Use as a “Bridge Plant”: Coleus helps connect neighboring colors and textures in mixed beds, creating a cohesive, layered look instead of visual clutter.

Whether planted in bold masses, tucked into borders, or featured in containers, coleus adds a painterly, painterly energetic effect to the garden.

Easy Coleus Growing Tips

Coleus is beginner-friendly and easy to grow with a few simple care basics:

• Most varieties thrive in part shade to full shade
• Some newer selections tolerate more sun if kept evenly moist
• Water consistently and avoid letting soil dry out completely
• Pinch back growing tips to encourage fuller, bushier plants
• Remove flower spikes if you want the plant to focus on foliage

In Iowa, coleus is typically grown as a seasonal annual, though plants can be brought indoors before frost for continued color.

Container Gardening with Coleus

Coleus shines in pots, urns, and mixed planters because its foliage delivers instant color—even when flowers aren’t blooming.

Try this simple container formula:

• One bold coleus variety
• One trailing plant
• One upright accent plant

Mix solid colors with variegated foliage for even more visual depth and movement.

Create a Rainbow Coleus Planter for Pride Month

From soft lime to saturated plum, coleus proves foliage can be just as colorful—and often longer lasting—than flowers.

Celebrate Pride Month this June by creating a rainbow-inspired container garden filled with vibrant coleus varieties. With proper care, your display can stay colorful all summer long.

See the Kaleidoscope of Coleus at the Botanical Garden

This June, explore the Kaleidoscope of Coleus display inside the Gardeners Show House at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

Guests can:

• View rotating, spinnable coleus displays
• Use mini camera kaleidoscopes to create colorful visual patterns
• Experience the stuffing coleus tree through interactive viewing lenses

It’s a playful, immersive celebration of color and foliage design.

Celebrate Pride Night at the Botanical Garden

Join us for Pride Night Extended Summer Evenings
June 9 | 5-7:30 PM

Celebrate Pride in the East Village with music, vibrant gardens, and seasonal refreshments—including the featured Rainbow Smash, available as both a cocktail and mocktail.

“The Rainbow Smash is meant to feel bright, celebratory and welcoming,” said Sarah Sontag, restaurant manager at Flora within the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. “The blueberry and rosemary bring a fresh, garden-inspired flavor, while the sparkling finish keeps it fun and refreshing for those golden hours in the Garden during Extended Summer Evenings.”

Plan Your Visit

Admission is always complimentary to members.

Not a member yet? Learn how your membership supports this urban oasis while giving you year-round access to beauty, inspiration, and discovery.