Excellent Vegetation for Pots Alongside Pathways

This various and thrilling plant group looks as if it appeared in a single day, with new varieties rising on daily basis. Solar or shade, upright or trailing, dwarf or large—there’s a coleus for almost each container software. Their seductive shade spectrum ranges from brilliant chartreuse to almost pitch-black. Coleus can and needs to be used because the exclamation level in a container. They’ll supply a deeper saturation of the colours discovered within the surrounding border and can work laborious to convey consideration away from the cruel edges of lifeless patios and walkways. I typically 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.

My checklist of favorites has developed over time as new breeding efforts and improved genetics proceed to rock the coleus world. Some favorites have remained fixed, nevertheless, and I believe many of those shall be recurring characters in your containers, as properly. As a normal rule, most trendy coleus have their finest coloration in full morning solar with afternoon shade, though they’re tolerant of full-day solar and shade.

Coleus brighten up 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 stop wilting, although coleus are resilient and can bounce again from an occasional dry spell.

‘Burgundy Wedding ceremony Practice’ coleus

This hardworking cultivar will get alongside properly 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 shade palette mimics the colours of the Southwest. Anticipate to see the perfect shade in full solar to partial shade, regardless that ‘Sedona’ may even carry out properly in brilliant 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 successful 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 giant leaves want at the least partial solar to point out their finest shade.

‘Homosexual’s Delight’ coleus

This reliable, upright coleus produces compact, stocky vegetation. It displays incredible 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 finest. An excessive amount of afternoon solar might trigger leaf scorch, so discover a house for this coleus the place it may possibly take pleasure in morning solar and afternoon shade.

‘Spiritual Radish’ coleus

Religious Radish coleus — *Photograph: Kathryn Geruntho Frank*

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

‘Freckles’ coleus

The noticed relative of the extra widespread ‘Sedona’, ‘Freckles’ provides some pizzazz to container mixtures. This coleus does finest 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’ can have its finest shade 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 incredible vegetation that supply related attributes. Specialty geraniums, similar to ‘Crystal Palace Gem’ (Pelargonium ‘Crystal Palace Gem’, annual), will serve you properly 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 house is an element, Zinfandel™ oxalis (Oxalis vulcanicola Zinfandel™, Zones 9–11) or threadleaf alternanthera (Alternanthera ficoidea cvs., Zone 11) will slot in simply effective.