I have become obsessed, so much variation. Here is a thread I started.

www.gardenweb.com Coleus Varieties

'Felix'

'Kiwi Fern'..... 'Under the Sea Barracuda'

'Japanese Giant'

I bought one 6 pack..I love them but so do the squirrels..remember this picture?..made me so mad..

that was a gorgeous $2 on clearance lime coleus..😡

In my world coleus seems to always be an afterthought at best or forgotten at worst. But that may be changing!

Last year my daughter was having a party at her new-ish house at the end of May. I had just put in a new shade garden directly next to her patio but it was of course quite small and empty. I bought three large pots, and filled them with some coleus and fuschia and arranged them around this bed.

Well, these pots ended up being the best things in her yard last year lol. Not only did they look decent for the party, but within a few weeks they were just gorgeous - colorful, full, vibrant. I had bought "coordinating" coleus and it was just beautiful. They were the one thing that everyone always commented on, even the non-gardeners - and it was always the coleus, not the fuschia that got the comments.

So this year we made a point to actively include coleus in our annuals shopping. The selection wasn't great at the local place, but we found some nice ones. I ended up going down the rabbit hole with some online nurseries - the range of coleus is quite overwhelming lol and I ended up not actually buying any online because I couldn't decide (typical for me). But from now on I hope to *plan* for coleus in our patio plantings, not just pick one up as an afterthought!

:)

Dee

P.S. While writing this post I had the vague memory that I may have actually tried wintersowing some coleus. I think, like impatiens, they were too slow to make it worthwhile and it was just easier and faster to buy them. I could be wrong on that count....

I used to use more Coleus, when I found an online supplier who had many varieties that were different. At my local nurseries, I always see the same old, same old and I've lost interest. And basically, I end up doing a lot of pots for the sun and rarely any for the shade. I love the lighter color Coleus...that are like blonde.

Yes, this - same old! It's a shame that we are losing true nurseries, and are being narrowed down to shopping at big box stores or even garden centers that aren't truly nurseries, where the selection is lacking.

There is much more selection online but then there are the shipping costs. And you can't get little six-packs online for the most part. You have to pay a higher price for a single plant. Which makes the shipping cost higher lol.

How would one overwinter coleus? I'm guessing it's a cuttings thing. Which means they are doomed in my house lol. Any other (easy, viable) options for overwintering? At least then you could keep and add to a collection.

:)

Dee

We are getting near the end...just wondering where is everyone with their coleuses ;)?

I didn't use many this season. Here is coleosaurus