Black coleus

Black coleus plants are among the most sought-after of all coleus, and it is easy to see why. Deep dark leaves make a dramatic contrast against everything green and colorful around them. Here are the varieties that come closest to black and how to get them as dark as possible.

Do completely black coleus plants exist?

No, completely black leaves do not exist in the plant kingdom. What looks black is actually very dark wine-red, brown or purple. The pigments are so saturated that the eye reads the leaf as black. In practice it makes no difference. From a couple of meters away the darkest varieties simply look black.

The darkest varieties

• Black Dragon – our darkest variety. Purple-black leaves with a ruby-red center and a velvety surface.
• Premium Sun Dark Chocolate – chocolate-dark leaves on a variety that takes sun as well.

You will find more dark varieties in stock under chocolate in the shop.

How to get the leaves as black as possible

The blackness appears when the dark pigment covers the green in the leaf. In deep shade the green takes over, and in blazing sun the red or purple takes over instead of black. The leaves are therefore at their darkest in partial shade, where the plant gets a bit of each.

Care is exactly the same as for all coleus, and you will find the whole guide in Coleus care.

Plant dark against light

Black coleus plants look their best next to something light. Neighbors in lime, silver or pale pink make the dark leaves look even deeper. A classic combination is Black Dragon next to a lime-green variety like Wizard Golden. You will find more ideas for color combinations in Coleus varieties.

Frequently asked questions

Do black coleus plants exist?

Completely black leaves do not exist, but several varieties are such a deep wine-red, brown or purple that they look black. Black Dragon is the darkest variety in our shop and is available as true to type seeds.

Why is my black coleus no longer black?

The color is controlled by the light. If the plant is in too dark a spot, the green takes over, and if it is in too sunny a spot, the red or purple takes over. Move it to partial shade and the leaves will darken again.

Can you grow black coleus from seed?

Yes. Black Dragon and the dark Premium Sun varieties have true to type seeds, so the plants get the same dark color as the parent variety.