A fresh look at coleus: the latest colors and shapes are more interesting than those that graced your grandmother's garden

摘要

Fads come and go, yet the resurgent coleus is a gardening fad that shows no signs of abating. This humble import earned its original claim to fame in Victorian-era gardens for its hot colors and tropical look. This time around, coleus has gained garden prominence for similar reasons, but the leaf colors and shapes available now are much more interesting than those to be found in your grandmother's day. Although coleus leaves come in many colors and its leaf forms mimic a multitude of shapes (sidebar, pp. 70-71), these collector plants are still recognizable as coleus, whether tucked into a bed of perennials or placed front and center in a dazzling container planting. No other plant possesses such contrasting colors and unique leaf forms. You can capitalize on this distinctiveness by using coleus to link a jumble of diverse troughs, rockeries, beds, containers, and window boxes into a cohesive unit.