Whether you’re a weekend gardener or a year-round gardener, creating an attractive garden in an area devoid of sun can pose a distinct challenge. When it comes to adding color and variety for those low-light niches, you have many options – and that in itself can be a bit daunting. May we suggest coleus? Read on to get acquainted (or reacquainted) with this sturdy shade plant.
Go ahead. Be a drama queen or king. In sunny spots you often look to colorful blossoms to pique interest; however, in the shade, you’ll need to choose plants based on color and texture in the foliage alone. For foliage value, resilience and color, coleus is hard to beat.
Be a multitasker. Coleus is a shade plant that does it all. The leaves are ruffled and leap forth in strong bursts of two-color combinations. Hues range from lime green to purple, magenta, yellows and brown. You can plant several different plants in a grouping and instantly have fabulous color and visual interest. In fact, coleus actually gain a brighter color hue the more shade they have!
Have it made in the shade with low-maintenance. Coleus is not at all fussy when it comes to soil. It won’t need much water; just enough to stay evenly moist. More sun means more water, but never overwater coleus. You can help your color display with gentle feeding, but, just as with water, don’t overdo it. Steady low-level nutrition will ensure that leaves provide the most dramatic color display. Also, be sure to pinch off any flower buds to keep all the energy focused on making fabulous foliage.
Name it and share it. If you have a shady spot that needs some sprucing up, or have a shady area in the garden which just seems to fade into the distance, coleus could be the answer. Areas without strong sun can still enjoy strong color, you just need to find a plant that comes to life under different conditions. While you experiment with different varieties, make Kincaid Plant Markers the finishing touch. Try our new Garden Series, a resilient blend of galvanized wire with a stainless steel plate that will give a cheerful, shiny sparkle to even your shadiest of areas.
