PlantCal

When to plant coleus

Short answer

Plant coleus about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22, starting seeds indoors about Feb 4. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.

Climate zoneStart indoorsPlant outsideHarvest
Zone 1Nov 6Jan 22Mar 23
Zone 2Dec 7Feb 22Apr 23
Zone 3Dec 30Mar 17May 16
Zone 4Jan 19Apr 6Jun 5
Zone 5Feb 4Apr 22Jun 21
Zone 6Feb 19May 7Jul 6
Zone 7Mar 6May 22Jul 21
Zone 8Mar 23Jun 8Aug 7

Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Coleus is a tender crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.

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Frequently asked questions

When should I plant coleus?

Plant coleus about 1 week after your last spring frost. That's around Apr 6 in zone 4 and May 7 in zone 6.

When do I start coleus seeds indoors?

Start coleus seeds indoors about 10 weeks before your last frost, then transplant after the frost passes. That's roughly Feb 19 in zone 6.

How long until coleus blooms?

About 60 days from planting until first bloom. In zone 6, coleus planted around May 7 is typically blooming near Jul 6.