Excellent Crops for Pots Alongside Pathways

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This various and thrilling plant group looks as if it appeared in a single day, with new varieties rising day-after-day. Solar or shade, upright or trailing, dwarf or huge—there’s a coleus for almost each container software. Their seductive coloration spectrum ranges from vivid chartreuse to just about pitch-black. Coleus can and needs to be used because the exclamation level in a container. They will supply a deeper saturation of the colours discovered within the surrounding border and can work onerous to convey consideration away from the cruel edges of lifeless patios and walkways. I usually embrace a particular selection in my containers after which repeat that very same coleus in a close-by part of border to tie all of it collectively.

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My checklist of favorites has developed through the years as new breeding efforts and improved genetics proceed to rock the coleus world. Some favorites have remained fixed, nonetheless, and I think many of those will likely be recurring characters in your containers, as nicely. As a basic rule, most fashionable coleus have their greatest coloration in full morning solar with afternoon shade, though they’re tolerant of full-day solar and shade.

Coleus enliven hard-to-reach areas

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides cvs.)

Zone: 11

Situations: Full solar to full shade, relying on the cultivar

Care: Pinch coleus to encourage full vegetation. Water often to forestall wilting, although coleus are resilient and can bounce again from an occasional dry spell.

‘Burgundy Marriage ceremony Practice’ coleus

This hardworking cultivar will get alongside nicely with neighboring vegetation because it tends to fill in gaps between different members in a combo. The plant has a semi-trailing behavior and can develop vigorously in solar or shade.

‘Sedona’ coleus

Named after the Sedona Mountains, this coleus’s one-of-a-kind coloration palette mimics the colours of the Southwest. Anticipate to see the perfect coloration in full solar to partial shade, although ‘Sedona’ may even carry out nicely in vivid shade.

‘Fishnet Stockings’ coleus

Deep purple–lined veins make this coleus stand out amongst all others. Pair this upright coleus with a plant that has smaller dark-leaved foliage or with a fine-textured grass to supply a profitable match. It’s gorgeous in morning solar or shade.

‘Kingswood Torch’ coleus

This flaming magenta coleus produces fairly the scene, even from a distance. Its massive leaves want not less than partial solar to indicate their greatest coloration.

‘Homosexual’s Delight’ coleus

This reliable, upright coleus produces compact, stocky vegetation. It reveals implausible solar tolerance, though it appears equally content material in shade.

‘Rustic Orange’ coleus

I’m a sucker for orange-leaved vegetation, and ‘Rustic Orange’ is likely one of the greatest. An excessive amount of afternoon solar could trigger leaf scorch, so discover a house for this coleus the place it will possibly take pleasure in morning solar and afternoon shade.

‘Spiritual Radish’ coleus

Religious Radish coleus — *Photograph: Kathryn Geruntho Frank*

I just like the delicate class of this upright, deep crimson coleus. ‘Spiritual Radish’ demonstrates vigor and good coloration in both solar or vivid shade.

‘Freckles’ coleus

The noticed relative of the extra in style ‘Sedona’, ‘Freckles’ provides some pizzazz to container combos. This coleus does greatest in morning solar, as it’s going to scorch with the depth of afternoon solar.

‘Kiwi Fern’ coleus

This distinctive, stocky coleus produces upright vegetation with an total texture that’s finer than different coleus varieties. ‘Kiwi Fern’ may have its greatest coloration in full solar to partial shade however will tolerate extra shade.

Not loopy about coleus?

If coleus simply aren’t your factor, there are different implausible vegetation that supply related attributes. Specialty geraniums, akin to ‘Crystal Palace Gem’ (Pelargonium ‘Crystal Palace Gem’, annual), will serve you nicely in sunny spots, whereas rex begonias (Begonia cvs., Zone 11) and polka-dot vegetation (Hypoestes phyllostachya and cvs., Zones 10–11) are worthy candidates for the shadiest areas. If area is an element, Zinfandel™ oxalis (Oxalis vulcanicola Zinfandel™, Zones 9–11) or threadleaf alternanthera (Alternanthera ficoidea cvs., Zone 11) will slot in simply tremendous.