|
Feeling overwhelmed by the selection
of beautiful coleus available? We hear that a lot! Some
folks want to try coleus but are unfamiliar with the
varieties and do not know where to begin. Others are
familiar with the common varieties of coleus available
in most garden centers but are looking to expand their
horizons and buy something a bit more unusual. Taking
into consideration the most frequently asked questions
from our customers we compiled the following lists.
These are suggestions only, and are based on our
experience and experiences shared with us by our
customers. No guarantees are implied by these
suggestions and you might find that, in your climate and
exposure, you have different results. Experimentation is
part of the fun of gardening! Not every Coleus we carry
are on one of these lists, and some Coleus varieties fit
into more than one category, so please read the
individual descriptions in the catalog before making
your final selections. Remember that coleus varieties
that are out-of-stock will not appear in the main
catalog so some items on these lists might not be
available to order.
Coleus that
can tolerate sun:
Our most commonly asked question regarding Coleus choice
is "which varieties will do well in full sun?" In their
natural habitat, coleus grow in tropical conditions in
partial, or dappled shade. Coleus generally look their
best when given bright, indirect light and full sun only
in the morning. Some coleus tolerate sun better than
others, and some survive quite well in full sun
situations if they are well cared for. The color and
growth habit of coleus grown in full sun might differ
from our catalog photos and descriptions. Many Coleus
that tolerate full sun don't make this list because
growing in full sun causes undesirable changes in their
color and patterns. The following Coleus have done best
in full-sun situations for us or our customers:
Abigail,
Alabama Sunset, Allison,
Beauty of Lyon, Beckwith’s Gem, Big Chief, Blackberry
Waffles, Blair’s Witch, Brilliancy, Bronze Pagoda, Burning Bush,
Camilla, Cantigney Royale, Copper,
Crimson Ruffles, Darth Vader, Defiance, Desert Sunset, El Brighto,
Elfers, Envy, Fiesta, Fire Dragon, Fire Fingers, Flirtin’
Skirts, Florida Sun Rose, Fright Night, Giant Fantasy,
Gilda, Gold Brocade, Gold Giant, Grenadine, Haines, Heart,
Hot Embers, Hot Sauce, Japanese Giant, Jungle Love, Kingwood Karnival,
Kiwi Fern, Kona Red, Lavender Lace, Lemon & Lime,
Mahogany Giant, Mariposa, Midnight, Mocha Mint, Molten
Orange, Mrs.
Harding, Olympic Torch, Oxblood, Paisley Shawl, Purple Duckfoot,
Purple Haze, Red Coat, Red Witch, Ruby, Salmon Croton, Saturn, Saturn’s Rings, Sedona, Songbird,
Sorcerer, Stormy Weather, Theatre Velvet, Tigerlily,
Trailing Black, Trailing
Dark Heart, Trailing Garnet Robe, Trailing Red, Trailing
Salamander, Trailing Queen, Trailing Rose, Twist and
Twirl, Velvet Lime, Victorian Ruffles, Violet Tricolor,
Vulcan, Wild Streak
Coleus that need protection from harsh sun:
Most coleus will benefit from some sun when it is at
it's mildest in the morning. However, by noon and
afternoon, light-colored varieties might begin to show
signs of stress in full sun. Pigment has protective
qualities, so you will find many of our pastels and
varieties with white centers on this list. Leaf
thickness is a factor as well. Wafer-thin Coleus leaves
are more susceptible to sunscald than more substantial
leaves. Keep in mind that gradual exposure can build up
sun resistance, and sun might darken the color of the
coleus, so experimentation is definitely in order. The
following coleus have done best when protected from
harsh sun for us or our customers:
Hedwig, Jo-Jo, Lime Frill, Moonglow, Nugget, Stella
Pink, Tell-Tale Heart, Trailing Green and Gold Queen,
Trailing Green Olives, Trailing Plum Brocade, White Lace
Trailing
Coleus:
Known as "Spillers," Trailing Coleus are excellent for
growing at the edge of containers and window boxes, and
make beautiful hanging baskets. They can also be used as
ground cover. Trailing Coleus are the most likely of all
types of Coleus to want to bloom, so pinch the ends
regularly to keep flower buds from forming and to
encourage branching.
Plant 3-4 per 10-12" pot for single specimen plantings in pots,
hanging baskets, and urns. In mixed plantings, plant in
open spots along the front and sides. In addition to
spilling over the edge, Trailing
Coleus will also weave themselves in and around the
other plants for a charming effect. All Trailing coleus
have small leaves ranging from 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches
long.
Trailing Psycholeus, Trailing Cherry, Trailing
Chocolate, Trailing Strawberry, Trailing Burgundy, Tell-Tale Heart,
Trailing Dark Heart, Trailing Garnet Robe, Trailing
Green and Gold Queen, Trailing Green Olives, Trailing
Plum Brocade, Trailing Queen, Trailing Red, Trailing
Rose, Trailing Salamander
Mounding Coleus:
Depending on how you use them, mounding Coleus can
be either a "Spiller" or a "Filler" and are good for pot edges, garden-bed edging, hanging baskets,
urns, and window boxes. Their dense growth habit makes
them an good choice for situations that require a
compact, bushy plant. Mounding Coleus make excellent,
full hanging baskets for a protected area. Some of the
more vigorous mounding varieties will require occasional
pinching to retain a tidy form.
Mounding Coleus generally have small and/or narrow
leaves. Please consult the main catalog for photos and
sizes of individual
Coleus.
Plant 3-4 per pot for single specimen plantings in pots,
hanging baskets, and urns.
In mixed plantings, plant in open spots along the front
and sides.
Aurora Black Cherry, Black Lace, Burning Bush, Cantigney
Royale, Charley McCarthy, Chartreuse, Crimson Ruffles,
Curly Magenta, Dark Star,
Eclipse, Fire Fingers, Fright Night, Goldfinger, Grace
Anne, India Frills,
Inky Fingers, Jade Parade, Kiwi Fern, Little
Twister, Max Levering, Pink Chaos, Purple Duckfoot, Salmon
Croton, The Flume, The Line,
Wildstreak
Medium and Tall Upright
Coleus:
These are the "Thrillers" of the coleus
world. Most of the upright coleus fall into this
category so please consult the main catalog for
individual heights and form.
Plant 3 of one variety per 10”-12” pot for a
high-impact display, or mix and match in your planters
or landscape for stunning combinations. We have listed
some of the most dramatic coleus here:
Alabama Sunset,
Allison, Beckwith's Gem, Big Chief, Black Magic,
Bronze Pagoda, Careless Love, Darth Vader, Felix, Filagree,
Fire Dragon, Fireworks, Fishnet Stockings, Flamingo,
Haines, Hot Sauce, Paisley Shawl, Peachy
Keen, Pele, Pineapple Prince, Red Witch, Ruby Laser, Saturn, Saturn's
Rings, Solar Flare, Solar Sunrise, Songbird,
Stella Red, Tigerlily
Giant Coleus:
The following coleus are
not only tall in stature
but have the biggest
leaves of all the Coleus
we offer.
Atlas, Envy, Giant Fantasy, Gold Giant,
Japanese Giant, Mahogany Giant, Mariposa, Solar Shadow,
Sunspot, Violet Tricolor
Coleus
Combinations – harmonic mixtures of color, size, and
texture
Sometimes a combination will look fabulous
when it is first planted and all of the plants are
roughly the same size. Young plants can be deceiving,
though. Some will take off and grow like gangbusters,
while other will plod along slowly, taking the whole
season to reach their ultimate size. Plant the two
together and you will find that the gangbusters will
overcome and possibly even kill a plodder before it has a
chance to mature. For this reason we have put together a
buying guide for those who would like suggestions as to
what coleus go together both in size, color, and vigor.
In most combinations we have three upright coleus and
one mounding or trailing coleus in a variety of leaf
shapes and textures. Four coleus will amply fill a
large pot. Minimum pot size should be 12" in diameter
for medium combos and 15" diameter for large combos. The
hanging basket combos will fill a 10 to 15 inch pot.
Very large pots, kettles, urns, troughs, etc. may
accommodate more than one set.
Combinations may also be planted in the ground as
vignettes. If you want your plants grouped close
together for a clumping effect plant them 10 - 12 inches
apart. Space them farther apart if you want to grow them
near each other but as separate individuals. Coleus look
great planted in and around other plants in the
landscape, including perennials such as hosta and
daylilies or annuals such as impatiens and petunias.
Growing coleus in pots allows you to move them around to
suit the occasion, fill in drab spots in the landscape,
and swap out tired pots with a fresh display. Just make
sure that the coleus are in reach of a water source or
be prepared to take a watering can to them as often as
necessary!
Remember – these combinations are only suggestions. The
possibilities are endless! Results may vary
according to growing conditions. Experiment! Browse the
catalog and let your imagination soar!
Black Magic + Chartreuse + Ruby Laser + Fright Night
Inky Fingers + Sorcerer + Chartreuse + Trailing Garnet
Robe
Grenadine + El Brighto + Midnight + Trailing Red
Copper + Defiance + Sorcerer + Wildstreak
Kiwi Fern + Burning Bush + Bonfire + Trailing Red
Mrs. Kingsley + Sugar Castle + Cinderella + Trailing Cherry
Molten Orange + Kingwood Kritter + Velvet Lime +
Trailing Garnet Robe
Fireworks + Golda + Kona Red + Trailing Salamander
Max Levering + Copper + Sorcerer + Trailing Red
Gay's Delight + Felix + Ruby +
Trailing Garnet Robe
Bronze Pagoda + Eric The Red + Golda + Burning Bush
Blackberry Waffles + Pele + Hotspot + Cantigney Royale
Theatre Velvet + Stormy Weather + Brilliancy + Trailing
Dark Heart
Violet Tricolor + Sunspot + Japanese Giant + Fright Night
Black Beauty + Chelsea Rose + Mrs. Harding + Trailing
Garnet Robe
Gold Giant + Tigerlily + Midnight + Raspberry Ruffles
Fire Dragon + Blair’s Witch + Burning Bush + Trailing
Red
Solar Shadow + Sunspot + Midnight + Trailing Garnet
Robe
Haines + Mahogany Giant + Beckwith’s Gem + Trailing Rose
Butter Creme + Purple Haze + Big Chief + Trailing Red
More
combinations and photos
please visit our
Rosy Dawn Gallery
webpage.
Coleus with
the smallest leaves:
Cantigney Royale, Charlie McCarthy, Fire Fingers,
India Frills, Inky Fingers, Inky Toes, Little Twister, Purple Duckfoot,
Tell-Tale Heart, Tiny Toes, Trailing Dark Heart, Trailing Burgundy,
Trailing Chocolate, Trailing Garnet Robe,
Trailing Green Olives,
Trailing Plum Brocade, Trailing Queen, Trailing Red,
Trailing Rose, Trailing Salamander, Trailing Strawberry
Container
plants and annuals that co-exist well with coleus:
Alternanthera, Bacopa, Banana, Begonia, Caladium,
Calibrachoa, Canna, Colocasia, Fuchsia, Helichrysum,
Heliotrope, Impatiens (all types), Ipomoea batatas
(ornamental sweet potato), Ivy, Ivy Geraniums, Lamium,
Nicotiana, Ornamental Grasses, Parrot's Beak (Lotus),
Petunia, Scaevola, Setcreasea, Strobilanthus, Torenia,
Vinca
Landscape
perennials that co-exist well with coleus:
Astilbe,
Ferns,
Hakonechloa, Helleborus,
Hostas,
Heuchera, Lamium,
Liriope,
Myrtle, Ornamental
Grasses, Pachysandra,
Pulmonaria, Solomon's
Seal,
Tiarella,
Tricyrtis,
and
Viola.
Rosy Dawn
Garden Favorites
Even though we work with coleus 365 days a year, there
are always a few that consistently take our breath away
every time we see them! They aren't always the best
sellers, either. We feel strongly that if people tried
these plants they would be tickled pink!
Our Picks: Allison, Beckwith's Gem, Burning Bush,
Chelsea Rose, Elfers,
Haines, Felix, Mrs. Harding,
Ruby Laser, Songbird, Tigerlily
|