Talk of The Villages Florida - What's with the coleuses in place of flowers?

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- - What's with the coleuses in place of flowers? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/landscape-talk-129/whats-coleuses-place-flowers-121769/)

What's with the coleuses in place of flowers?

We all enjoy the beautiful displays of flowers that are planted at Village entrances, at turnabouts and Village pools, etc. The recent planting of assorted coleuses instead of flowers is very unattractive, boring and unappealing to me personally, and they are all over southern Buena Vista and at the Hillsboro, Collier and Brownwood area. I think they look ghastly. Maybe it's a cost savings but not one flower in the middle of summer? We have family coming for their first visit and I won't be pointing out those plantings for certain. What happened do you think? Or am I wrong and you all think they're pretty? I have been wrong before.

I think they're pretty!

Personally, I love coleus. Think they're a very pretty plant. They do well in the sun and our sandy ground. I do understand your wanting blooms but I'll take the coleus any day.

They plant coleus every year about this time. For some reason, the ones up by the polo fields always look totally spectacular.

i would like it better if they added some dusty miller.. but it still looks good..

I've seen them do this before and I agree, I don't like the look at all. I'd much prefer all the pretty and colorful flowers.

In the past, I thought they did that type of planting more in the fall, which is understandable with the colder weather coming on. But in summer, it definitely should be glorious flowers, IMO.

Up north coleus is usually a shade plant. Are there sun tolerant ones now? If you don't pinch it, it gets tall and straggly looking, if that's a word.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCGirl (Post 912347)

Up north coleus is usually a shade plant. Are there sun tolerant ones now? If you don't pinch it, it gets tall and straggly looking, if that's a word.

Actually, coleus does better with sun. In the shade much of their color looks faded.

Yes, they need to be pinched back when you see the almost insignificant flower forming.
Otherwise they do become "leggy" (I think that's the word you were looking for).

The reason so much coleus is planted is because it will withstand the sun and heat of the hottest months here.
Most other flowering annuals will die off.

I do think that pentas would also work and they come is a pretty array of colors.
Oh, well -- they didn't ask me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by redwitch (Post 912294)

Personally, I love coleus. Think they're a very pretty plant. They do well in the sun and our sandy ground. I do understand your wanting blooms but I'll take the coleus any day.

I agree on the coleus. Colorful, and they look better longer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyN (Post 912269)

I don't know how the Villages would handle all of the 'dead heading' of those lovely blooming annuals as I have been doing all summer - it is work! And if that dead heading was not done, would Villagers be complaining about the messy, unkempt look of that? Seems like a no win situation - so the coleus won!

Am also enjoying a planter filled with a variety of different coleus plants on our shade porch. What with all of the pinching it looks glorious - especially with the skirt of cascading sweet potato vine!

There's really not too many plants that take the heat here, during June, July, and August. I personally like the flowers that are planted this time of year and their vibrant colors!!