Want Color All Season? Think Coleus
Coleus brings a PUNCH of color to containers and garden beds.
Helena Beautification Board Chairman Chris VanCleave shares some great tips for growing coleus in your garden space.
|
Coleus is an often overlooked annual in the garden center. This annual comes in a wide variety of colors and can be grown in a variety of conditions.
I am a firm believer in planting for color impact. Lots of folks will plants one or two of a particular annual, I'll plant the entire flat 8-10 plants together to create a color block and some WOW in the garden. Don't be afraid to use plants to make a bold statement of color in the garden. Each year, we plant coleus around a concrete rabbit we have. It usually takes around 10 plants, but the effect is well worth the effort. This "kong" variety, holds up well in the Alabama heat and helps to add a little pizzazz in the garden. I also use coleus in container plantings as a "filler" plant. It paired with a tall reaching spike plant and a few trailing petunias make a fine looking container for your porch or patio. So, this season when looking for plants that will pack a punch of color, think coleus. |
About The Author
Nicknamed "The Redneck Rosarian", Chris VanCleave is passionate about gardening and growing roses. He is an active member of the Birmingham chapter of the American Rose Society, serving two terms as President. In 2007, he created the Rose Chat Podcast which has reached over a half a million listeners with news and information on growing the world's most beloved flower, the rose. He was a contributor to the 2015 Southern Living Gardening Book, has appeared on P. Allen Smith's Garden Home television show and was featured in the June 2015 issue of Southern Living Magazine. Locally, Chris serves as Chairman of the Helena Beautification Board where he has spearheaded efforts to create a sustainable landscape in one of the Top 100 places to live in the US. His writing is seen on About.com, HGTV, Home Depot Gardening Club and on his popular website; RedneckRosarian.com, where he chronicles his gardening adventures and explores an intrinsic mix of life, faith and gardening. An agent of change with over 20 years' experience in process innovation, Mr. VanCleave is leading the charge to reinvigorate horticulture societies and helping them to reach their full potential in the social media age.