Merlot Coleus

Coleus ‘Merlot’ is a dark-leaved selection with compact wine-colored foliage and a faint green edge that shows as leaves mature. An exact-name profile reports a height range of 10–18 inches, width of 12–15 inches, purple to nearly black foliage, summer flowers, sun-to-shade exposure, and even-moisture preference; the American Horticultural Society separately notes a height of about 12–14 inches. [Plant Lust’s Merlot profile](https://plantlust.com/plants/20307/coleus-scutellarioides-merlot/) and [the American Horticultural Society’s cultivar note](https://ahsgardening.org/wp-content/pdfs/2012-03r.pdf) provide selection-level details. ## Growing and placement Use Merlot as a foliage accent in borders or containers. It is listed for USDA zones 10–11 and may be grown as a seasonal annual in colder regions. Provide consistent moisture without leaving roots in standing water. ## Maintenance Pinch growing tips to keep the plant compact, and remove flower spikes if foliage is the main feature. Protect it from frost and refresh plantings each season in cold-winter climates.