Potted coleus

Our splashy coleus greets our guests as they cross the deck to our front door. Aren’t the colors amazing? This fast-growing plant seems to double in size, minutes after the summer heat descends.  Small purple flowers appeared last week, but they almost seem beside the point.  The true beauty of this plant is the leaves.  I have three varieties growing on the deck, but this is my favorite.

Spikes of purple flowers

I grew two coleus last year, then tried, unsuccessfully, to keep them alive through the winter. I wrapped then in frost cloth, kept the watering going, but alas one hard frost and that’s all she wrote.

Apparently it’s tasty too.

This year I’m ready.  I’ll take cuttings instead.  I have rooting compound for the occasion, along with a lightweight planting medium.  I even have my eye on a small, portable green house, so that I don’t have to use the always-busy kitchen for my growing pursuits.  I’ll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying my colorful deck.

Do you have a summer favorite?

Stunning colors