I Might Have Been Wrong About The Coleus - September 2026

Back at the beginning of August, I posted about the front yard Island Bed annuals.  And, talked about how I should have planted more Vinca and was underwhelmed by the coleus.  At that time,  I wrote this:

The coleus in this bed have (also) been a disappointment. But, that's for a separate post so I can learn from the experience.

The coleus that I have up there is named Wizard Sun Velvet Red Coleus.  Here's the post when I bought them.  And, the description:

Compact, mid-sized foliage plant with upright habit is ideal for mixed containers, planters, baskets and landscapes. Easy-care plants are late flowering, extending their landscape value.

Emphasis, mine.

Compact.  Compact!  That was the 'bug' back earlier this Summer.  Last year, the coleus that I grew were LARGER and fuller.  But, they also swallowed up everything behind them.  The Spring Grove Ginkgo.  The Greenlee Sesleria were nowhere to be seen.  

Now....move a month ahead to late August.  And, here's what things look like right now:

Can I say something?

I'm pretty sure that I mis-judged these Wizard Sun Velvet Red Coleus.   

The fact that they're compact.  And upright is NOT a bug.  It is a feature.  Also, they have flowered, but I've stayed ahead of those by pinching them off.  

The problem isn't the plant.  It is the number that I planted.  Just like with the Vinca. 

And, the color?  THE COLOR?!?!  

It is shockingly vibrant.  The photos above barely do the color justice that you see when you are on the sidewalk.

I think I've found my front yard coleus.  And, it turns out there are other Wizard varieties.  At the bottom of the Wizard Sun Velvet Red Coleus listing page, Ball Seeds has this listing for other Wizard Coleus:  

Note to Spring 2027 Jake:  Buy Wizard coleus for the Island Bed.  But, buy more than 16 of them.  And, think about repeating these on the other side of the driveway.  

Can I say that I'm a full-out coleus fan, now?  I think so.