11 Full Sun Coleus Varieties For Sunny Gardens

Coleus is often celebrated as the queen of the shade, brightening dark corners and adding pops of color to otherwise uniform green spaces. However, newer coleus varieties are bred to handle sunny conditions as well.

It is important to remember that you cannot plant coleus in direct sun without some consideration. Think about the sun’s orientation in your garden and the times of day your plants will receive the most intense light.

The good news is that many coleus varieties tolerate full sun well when these factors are taken into account. In fact, their colors can even become more vibrant with full sun. It may be time to bring coleus out of the shade and into brighter spots where its delicate foliage can truly shine.

Coleus Sunlight Requirements

We already know that coleus does not like the cold, but it also does not love extreme heat or intense sunlight. You cannot take a coleus and place it in baking sun and expect it to live a normal lifespan. There are a few important considerations if you want your coleus to perform well, and not burn, in a sunny spot.

Watering becomes even more important. Coleus can handle more sun as long as they receive plenty of water. They will let you know when they need a drink by drooping. Do not wait when this happens. Coleus can go from droopy to crispy very quickly. Light, fluffy soil that absorbs and drains well is essential for keeping coleus healthy.

If you are growing coleus in a container, choose a larger pot that can hold more water. You can use a small container, but you may end up watering two or three times a day during very hot weather. Always use potting soil in containers, since it offers the right balance of moisture retention and drainage.

Even coleus planted in full sun will appreciate some dappled afternoon shade. This could come from another plant in the pot or from a nearby tree that casts shade during the hottest part of the day. If you notice leaves bleaching or turning crispy, the plant is getting too much sun.

Sun and Coleus Color

The amount of sun a coleus receives will change the colors in its foliage. I will talk about this for each variety individually, but here is how it works in general. More sun brings out the darker, more intense tones in the leaves, such as burgundy, magenta, and bright golden yellow.

In lower light, the colors become softer and more subdued, shifting toward greens, creams, and pale yellows. This is important to consider when choosing a coleus for a specific location.

For example, if you love the golden yellow leaves and bright red veining of Colorblaze® ‘Golden Dreams’, keep it in partial sun. It performs well in full sun, but the center will fill in with solid bright red and the veining effect will disappear. In too much shade, it will lose its bold golden color and turn a more greenish tone with only a hint of red in the veins.

Bright red varieties become a more vivid red with increased sun exposure and will appear more like a faded rust color in shade. It all comes down to personal preference and the look you want.

Keep in mind: sun creates sharp, bold color, while shade softens it. If your plant looks dull or washed out, move it into more sun and it will brighten. If a bold color has taken over too much, shift it into more shade to tone it down. Coleus colors are not fixed and can be adjusted by changing the light conditions.

Full Sun Coleus Varieties

Now, without further ado, here are 11 coleus varieties that thrive in sunny conditions. While most of these cultivars grow very well with plenty of light, they should still have some protection from intense, direct sun during the hottest part of the day. Add them to your sunny pots and garden beds for a beautiful pop of foliage.

ColorBlaze® Golden Dreams™

	height 36″ tall, 24″ spread

I have to mention this one first because it is one of my favorites. It has bright golden leaves with red in the center and running through the veins. As mentioned earlier, the red becomes more prominent in full sun, often filling in to create a solid red center. Even with that change, the contrast is still striking.

This variety grows large and looks wonderful paired with a red phormium or planted beside a pure red coleus such as ‘Rediculous’.

ColorBlaze® Sedona Sunset®

	height 36″ tall, 36″ spread

You will notice quite a few on this list come from the ColorBlaze® series. This series was bred for sunny conditions. I love the rusty orange color of ‘Sedona’. It is easy to pair with other plants in a container to create interesting, eye-catching combinations. For example, pair ‘Sedona Sunset’ with purple petunias or raven ipomoea to bring out the rich rusty tones.

Wasabi

	height 30″ tall, 34″ spread

‘Wasabi’ is one of the best green full sun coleus varieties. Its fringed texture and bright chartreuse color add a bold pop to pots and garden beds. This variety handles a range of conditions, including full sun, where it develops a more intense golden green tone.

Place ‘Wasabi’ next to dark red or purple plants for strong contrast, or pair its loose, fringed foliage with a more structured plant like a cordyline dracaena for a dramatic textural effect.

Inferno

	height 36″ tall, 24″ spread

‘Inferno’ lives up to its name with blazing hot red foliage when exposed to regular sun. It has large, bright red leaves with serrated edges. This intense red pairs beautifully with purple flowers and chartreuse foliage. It looks stunning in containers and makes a bold, eye-catching garden border.

Redhead

	height 48″ tall, 24″ spread

‘Redhead’ coleus is a vibrant red variety that becomes an even brighter, more intense shade of red when grown in regular sun. It has smaller, pointed leaves with serrated edges. It looks fantastic next to chartreuse foliage. Try growing it in full sun alongside ‘Wasabi’ for a striking contrast.

Electric Lime®

	height 24″ tall, 24″ spread

‘Electric Lime’ is a very versatile coleus. It has medium green leaves with lemon yellow running through the veins like a jolt of electricity. The colors intensify in the sun and contrast beautifully with darker foliage and flowers.

ColorBlaze® Newly Noir™

	height 36″ tall, 24″ spread

‘Newly Noir’ has deep burgundy wine colored leaves that intensify in the sun. I love pairing this rich color with soft baby pink blooms, like ‘Pink Lemonade’ petunias. Add some chartreuse foliage, such as a lime green ipomoea, and you get a stunning, unexpected combination with full sun coleus varieties.

Main Street Rodeo Drive

	height 24″ tall, 18″ spread

This is one of the full sun coleus varieties that has incredibly striking foliage. The leaves are deeply ruffled and chartreuse, speckled and outlined along the margins with deep burgundy. More sun will intensify the burgundy even further.

Pair it with other burgundy-toned plants, such as raven ipomoea or purple fountain grass, to make the speckling really stand out.

Wicked Witch™

	height 36″ tall, 24″ spread

This is another of my personal favorite full sun coleus varieties. In full sun, the center leaves turn a deep red wine color with a thin margin of medium green that perfectly frames each ruffled leaf. It would look stunning in a pot with ‘Wasabi’ coleus. The contrast of chartreuse against the green margins and dark red foliage creates perfect garden harmony.

Saturn

	height 36″ tall, 24″ spread

‘Saturn’ coleus has intense lime green leaves with a bold ring of burgundy swirling around the margins, making it worthy of its planetary name. Speckles and spots scatter through the burgundy edges, echoing the delicate details of Saturn’s rings.

It pairs beautifully with other full sun coleus varieties in similar tones, with ‘Wasabi’ or ‘Golden Dreams’ coming to mind. But it is so intricate and striking that ‘Saturn’ can easily stand alone in a pot or garden bed.

Pink Chaos

	height 18″ tall, 18″ spread

‘Pink Chaos’ coleus has a bright magenta center that shifts to burgundy, ending in a thin green margin. In lower light, it can also develop touches of white. The leaves are elongated and pointed, giving it a distinctive shape.

In full sun, ‘Pink Chaos’ becomes a vibrant explosion of pink and burgundy with just a hint of green. It is beautiful in pots and garden beds, and you hardly need flowers when the foliage is this bold and sensational.