Coleus can take the heat

'Kingswood Torch' coleus. Photo courtesy Proven Winners

A trip to Texas last September renewed my appreciation of coleus, a favorite summer foliage plant. Throughout Dallas and Fort Worth, coleuses were heavily planted in sunny gardens, unfazed by Texas’ brutal heat.

For years, Wizard Mix was about the only coleus you could find and it was sold as a bedding plant. Marketed as a no-pinch, shade-loving annual, Wizard Mix gets about 10 inches tall and comes in several colors.

'Henna' coleus. Photo courtesy Simply Beautiful Plants

Today, we have sun-loving coleuses that get 3 to 4 feet tall. These premium annuals are sold in 4-inch pots or larger. A lot of people don’t like coleus flowers, which are blue stalks that resemble salvia or mint. These newer coleuses are bred to delay flowering until late in the season. You can always snip off the flowers any time.

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) has hundreds of foliage colors and patterns. Select plants for the color and size and check plant tags to see what’s recommended: sun, shade or part sun.

'Sedona' coleus. Photo courtesy Proven Winners

Plant coleus in pots, window boxes or in the ground. Consider using the taller ones as the centerpieces of pots or as the backdrop in window boxes. Coleus is tolerant of dry conditions and resents over watering. Coleus also makes a nice addition to a cut flower arrangement.

Here are a few of my favorites:

‘Kingswood Torch’ thrives in full sun or shade. A Proven Winners brand, this upright plant gets 42 inches tall with a 16-inch spread. Pinkish red leaves are edged in a bronzy green.

‘Henna’ from Simply Beautiful plants, has heavily pinked, chartreuse leaves with red markings. The under sides are burgundy. Slightly mounded, ‘Henna’ gets 28 inches tall and 16 inches wide. It does best in part sun.

‘Sedona’ has colors that remind you of the southwest, deep, smoky reds, blues and golds. This Proven Winners upright plant gets 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Plant in shade.