Coleus is valued for its foliage form and color. This specimen is an "Alabama Sunset." >>>download photo
	July Gardening Tips
	If you've been working hard in your garden, July is a month during which you will reap great rewards. Perennial and annual gardens are exploding in color and vegetable gardens are offering ripe pickings. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recommends these July chores to keep your gardens and landscape in top form. >>>read the article

by Emily K. Smith

From one gardener to another, let me warn you about the use of coleus in the landscape. This plant can be addicting. Once you realize this foliage plant is great for containers, or as a border or edging and in a variety of placements throughout the garden, you may find yourself planting it almost anywhere. It is often a standout in the garden when planted in mass. As an added bonus, it is durable and very easy to grow.

For most summer annuals, gardeners are interested in the flower color. Coleus plants are best recognized for their beautiful foliage. The flowers on the coleus are small and insignificant. In fact, it is best to remove the blooms, as pinching the flowers will encourage bushier foliage growth. Although coleus can thrive in the sun as well as the shade, the foliage color will be enhanced in the shadier portions of your garden. Cultivars are available in a variety of colors and foliage forms.

Expanding your coleus collection is relatively easy. The plant readily roots from softwood stem cuttings. Using a sharp knife, make your cut just below the leaf internodes. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in a moist media mix. Roots should grow in a couple of weeks, and you will be well on your way to becoming absolutely addicted to coleus. Happy coleus collecting!

###

Emily K. Smith is a graduate student in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. She works under the guidance of Dr. Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are located on Neyland Drive in Knoxville. They are free and open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.