Coleus Varieties: Favorite picks for gardens, borders, and pots
When we talk about foliage superstars, coleus has to be at the top of the list. The breadth of options is vast and colorful. Depending on the garden center you’re at, you can choose from a rainbow of leaf patterns, colors, and shapes, as well as plant sizes.
In this article, I’m going to share a few favorite coleus varieties, their standout characteristics, and where you should plant them. Coleus is a tropical plant that’s native to parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Considered tender annuals in a cold climate, coleus plants can be used to complement other flowers and foliage in gardens and pots as a filler.
Indeed many can stand alone as a thriller for container combos. The main things to think about when choosing a coleus are height, width, and color. Some can be diminutive in size, while others can grow to be a few feet high.
Why grow different coleus varieties? The answer to this question is color, pure and simple. There are so many different coleus varieties, it’s easy to find one that fits a color scheme. Many of the selections in this article are award winners from various plant trials in botanical gardens and arboretums because of how they’ve performed in gardens and containers.
Here are some other reasons to grow different coleus varieties:
- Grow a mix of coleus in window boxes, containers, or the garden.
- Coleus plants are generally deer resistant.
- This tender annual is pretty low maintenance.
- You can take cuttings of a favorite coleus to plant next year.
- Coleus plants aren’t grown for their flowers. Pinch them at first sight to retain the abundance of leaves. (Though check the tag because some don’t need to be deadheaded.)
- Soil that’s too
