Many plants are grown for their eye-catching and fragrant flowers, but coleus takes a different route with stunningly unusual leaves. The colors and patterns on this plant make it an interesting addition to either your garden or collection of houseplants.

Coleus, also known by such nicknames as painted nettle or flame nettle, is native to the island of Java. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says the coarse foliage can take a wide variety of hues, including orange, red, yellow, pink, purple, and white.

This range of colors—coupled with patterns ranging from veins to splotches to streaks—allow coleus to be put to creative use when grown on a large scale. According to the seed company Burpee, there are even references to the Boston Public Gardens making a mosaic image of George Washington using coleus plants.

The National Gardening Association says coleus can be compact or trailing, and that it can reach a height of up to three feet. The plant can be grown in a container, or planted directly in a partially shaded part of the garden; this shading will help make the foliage colors more intense. The Gardener's Supply Company says dark varieties are more tolerant of sunlight.

The soil should be well-drained. Coleus can tolerate poor soils, but can benefit when organic material is worked into the plot. When planting outside, wait until the frost danger is over before planting; ideally, the evening soil temperature should be 50 to 60 degrees when you first start the plant.

The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says you can use either seed or cuttings to cultivate the plant. Seeds need light to germinate, so they should not be covered. It is best to start them indoors, about six to eight weeks before the last spring frost.

When using cuttings, choose ones that are younger and do not have woody stems. Taking cuttings in the late summer will allow you to start coleus indoors for the winter, while cuttings taken in the late winter or early spring are best for starting a plant outside.

The soil should be kept moist, but not soggy enough to cause the plant to be waterlogged. Natural rainfall may be enough to supplement coleus, but you may need to add water during dry periods.

Coleus can benefit from some fertilizer applications during the growing period. White Flower Farm, a business in Litchfield, says a balanced water-soluble fertilizer can be added every other week for plants grown in containers. Applying fertilizer once a month is sufficient for coleus grown in the garden.

The National Gardening Association recommends pinching off the tips of the plant once it reaches a height of about six inches. Remove the flowers as well to allow more energy to be directed to the leaves. This maintenance will help keep the plant more compact and bushy. If it starts to get too leggy, you can cut it back by as much as half.

Coleus is relatively easy to grow, and is not susceptible to too many pests or diseases. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says it may be affected by aphids, leaf spot, mealybugs, or scale.

Other plants can easily be paired with coleus. The Gardener's Supply Company says you might grow them alongside plants with similar colors. Burpee says they can also be grown beside vegetables, with cooler colors complementing crops such as eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes.

Coleus is an annual, although you can try to perpetuate growth by transferring cuttings between your garden and indoor containers. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says the plant will likely be one of the first ones to die off once frost arrives in the autumn.