Coleus, A Rainbow Of Possibilities
There are few things that can match the magnificence of a rainbow after a summer storm but if you plant Coleus in your garden you’ll be coming pretty close to capturing that beauty. There are hundreds of varieties of Coleus, which is a plant that is grown for its striking foliage as opposed to its flowers. The leaves come in solid as well as variegated color combinations many of which are quite stunning and dramatic. Coleus can truly provide a rainbow of possibilities for your garden.
Coleus are members of the mint family and are native to Indonesia. They are grown as an annual plant as they are only truly hardy in garden zones 11 and 12. It has always been known as a plant that does well in the shade but the last decade has seen the introduction of varieties that are much more tolerant of sunny conditions. My first encounter with this new type of Coleus was on a golf course where a variety known as Redhead was planted on an island in the middle of a lake and encircled by the silver leaves of Dusty Miller and boy did that get my attention!
The ability to tolerate the sun is only one of the characteristics of newer Coleus varieties. Typically these plants grow up to 2 feet tall but there are also now trailing varieties which are great choices for window boxes and hanging baskets. There are also varieties which are smaller and more compact which make them a good choice for larger containers or as an edging plant in flower beds. This means that there is a Coleus for pretty much any situation you can think of which makes this one versatile and valuable plant!
Not only is the color of the foliage quite beautiful but the leaves have a velvet-like feel to them. They also come in different shapes and sizes and there are varieties with scalloped edges too. Coleus prefers fertile soil that drains well; too much moisture will kill the plants. Taller varieties can benefit from pinching to keep their bushy shape as well as to help minimize the impact of damaging winds. Coleus should be fertilized at least monthly and older varieties will start to produce small blue flowers later in the season. The flowers won’t hurt the plant but they are not really all that impressive and most gardeners choose to remove them.
Coleus can be grown from seed but they do take a long time to sprout and grow to a size that you can successfully plant in the garden. They are readily available in garden centers but if you decide to try to grow them from seed you’ll need to start them at least 10 weeks before the final frost occurs in your area. Be sure you don’t cover the seed when you plant it as light is required for germination. Another nice feature of Coleus is that cuttings from the plant root easily in a glass of water. It takes about 2 weeks for the roots to grow and if you take the cuttings in August they will root in time for you to have a nice houseplant for rooms that don’t get a lot of light in the winter.
Coleus is a very adaptable plant which demonstrates that foliage does matter and it’s not always about the flowers!
