Why I ♥ Coleus

flattie_2008

17 years ago

Hi all, don't get to GW that often, but wanted to share some shots of my coleus this year. Even with our cool and rainy weather this summer, I'm very happy with their progress.

Five reasons why I â¥ coleus, 2009 edition:

1. Coleus 'Fairway Red Velvet' - AKA the only (IMO) interesting coleus left that I could find to replace my pansies at the end of June. lol.

2. Coleus 'India Frills' - This is a semi-trailing variety that was planted @ mid-May. I was drawn to its foliage the minute I saw it, and so far it's been pinch free.

Foliage detail

3. Coleus 'Henna'

Planted early June to replace something that fizzled (I think it was a late tulip), wasn't quite sure about the foliage when I saw it at the nursery but it has really turned out to be one of my favorite foliage combos this year.

Foliage Detail

4. Coleus 'Splish Splash' - Another one planted mid-May, Requires a lot of pinching, but it's worth it. Love the fun splashes on the foliage.

Foliage detail

5. Coleus 'Lava Rose' - A genuine trailing coleus, and I'm very pleased with its growth habit. This is one plant (I have 3 total in this bed), and I'll be on the look out to grab more next year because these would be awesome in containers. Also, another no pinch (for me) variety so far. Planted mid-May.

This shot doesn't really do it justice

Foliage detail - gives you a much better idea of the wonderful colors

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Comments (8)

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
17 years ago
I love Henna and Splish Splash. I have put them on my seed list just in case they are available as seed. Al
flattie_2008
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Al.

'Henna' appears to be a relatively new variety (2008), I don't think seed is available to the general public yet.

Ball Horticulture Henna Coleus info

U of FL 2008 Spring Trial Garden info

I notice in the trial garden data that the plants didn't flower - I'm seeing the same behavior in my garden. I haven't pinched these plants either as they've maintained a very nice, upright, yet shrubby, growth habit.

Seeds for 'Splish Splash' appear to be available from this source in MN:

Woods Farmer Seed & Nursery Garden Center

Hopefully another GW member will have some info on that source since they're unknown to me.
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ornata
17 years ago
Flattie: lovely, beautiful, gorgeous... but WHERE ARE YOUR SLUGS AND SNAILS? If I tried to grow coleus in the open ground like that, they would be a tattered mess in a few short days (the iron phosphate pellets don't really do the job in my garden and I won't use metaldehyde-based ones). I am very envious!
flattie_2008
Original Author
17 years ago
Ornata: Ssshhhhh. Maybe it's payback for waging the slug war in my previous home? ;-)

These beds are all relatively new (3 years or under), and there's not much grass between the pavement and my main planting bed. I noticed some minimal damage last year and thought I had destroyed the offenders.

Ha.

In early April I found the biggest (2.5") slug I had ever seen. It must have just slimed its way our of its winter hidey hole because it was white. Took me a minute to determine if it was even alive (it was) before it got tossed to the pavement.

It made a very nice dinner for a lucky robin.

I'm filing this under sheer luck, since I haven't seen another one yet this year. I do have earwig damage, but no slug damage. Must have caught it before it laid its eggs for this season.
aker
17 years ago
Where is the best place to get coleus seeds?

Please post answer here.

Thanks

Aker
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
17 years ago
aker I buy my coleus seed from Hazzard Wholesale Seed. Most come in one thousand seed minimums, still reasonably priced. Al
sheryl_ontario
17 years ago
Do you pot them up and bring them inside for the winter? How does that work for you?
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
17 years ago
Coleus does not like temperatures below 60 degrees. Because the cost to maintain this over the winter in the greenhouse is prohibitive and we have not the space to keep them in the house, or the light, we do not try to keep them over the winter. I have an incubator within the greenhouse where I can keep 85 degrees for germination. By the time the seedlings are two inches high the climate in the greenhouse should reach the 60 degree minimum with very little added heat. This of course depends on starting the seed at the right time! Al