I too have trouble growing Coleus outdoors. Mine sat in a container all summer and hardly grew at all, and they were in good soil, getting afternoon sun. I think they didn't like the ups and downs in temperature - hot days and cool nights. The same variety in pots indoors (in the same soil, with the same amount of sun) grew like crazy and I had to keep pinching out the growing tips to stop them from becoming trees. Having said that, while I was on holiday in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I saw a wonderful outdoor planting of Coleus teamed with purple-leaved dahlias. Maybe certain varieties do outdoors better than others?
