Blossoms of bright orange or crimson upon opening, change to a bright yellow as they mature. A quick grower, with a vining growth habit, this stunning plant can cover a trellis in a single summer. Another tender perennial that has skyrocketed to popularity during the past few years is the colorful coleus. Once relegated to the job of coloring up shade gardens, newer varieties are much larger in size and serious sun lovers. Be sure and check the culture tags before you plant.
Indoor coleus prefer bright light.
Pinching out the flowers as soon as they appear will keep the plant looking tidy. Timing is important, particularly if you plan to over-winter plants. Potting is best done several weeks before the plants are moved indoors so they have time to adjust to the change in climate. Nancy Szerlag is a master gardener and Metro Detroit free-lance writer. Her column appears Saturdays in Homestyle.