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Calvin Finch: Colorful plants withstand summer heat
: April 25, 2013
Photo By Courtesy Viva PlantsColeus foliage varies from vibrant chartreuse to deep burgundy. The plants tolerate sun or shade, depending on the variety.
This week in the garden
Stage 2 water restrictions
For summer color in shady spots, consider begonias, caladiums and coleus.
Semperfloren begonias offer small flowers in pink, red and white. Leaves on many selections are tinged with red.
If begonias are planted by early May, they can survive summer in the sun, but they prefer shade.
Caladiums are grown for their white, red or pink foliage. Many selections also are decorated with tracings of dark green or white on the foliage.
Caladiums grow from bulbs, which can be planted in May. It's easier however, to buy plants already growing.
Coleus is another summer annual grown for foliage color. The foliage varies from deep maroon to yellow-green, with lots of variations in between.
Coleus is on some deer-proof lists, but it's best to protect the planting with weekly sprays of Liquid Fence for three weeks to discourage deer from pulling up new plants out of curiosity.
The best low-growing heat-lovers for sunny spots in summer are moss rose and purslane. Both species creep along the ground with Fiesta-bright blooms in red, yellow, white, pink, red and orange.
Calvin R. Finch is a horticulturist and director of the Texas A&M Water Conservation and Technology Center. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org.