logo
Spend $50 Now and Have Dramatic Plants by the Fourth of July

Spend $50 Now and Have Dramatic Plants by the Fourth of July

If you've already befriended coleus, you might think of it as a stalwart plant that ushers color—typically a bit of red and green—into your yard's shadiest corners. But that's not the extent of these leafy tropicals' skills. Breeders have been toying with shapes, patterns, colors and light needs, and like a pigeonholed actor, coleus is poised for its big break in the sun.
'Coleus is one of the most versatile plants you can use in a container garden, and today's options include sun and part-sun tolerance,' said Sue Amatangelo, a gardening author and speaker in Aiken, S.C. Translation: You can take advantage of coleus's value proposition whether your planters face a shadowy north or a sun-roasted south.
Plant three coleus, typically sold for $7-$11 in 4½-inch containers, in a 10-inch wide pot in early May, and by Independence Day, the group will have unfurled into a mound of foliage that conceals any potting soil. 'They're a great value,' said Catherine Trudeau, partner at Outside Design Studio. Her landscape-architecture firm drafts the species to green up public plazas, mixed-use spaces and homes around Chicago. 'Lots of more-expensive plants will stay more or less the same size they were when you got them, but by the end of the summer, coleus looks like a shrub,' she said, comparing coleus to pricey heuchera or foxtail fern, which can run $19 a plant.
While you can still find 'garden variety' coleus—usually variegated with some combination of red and green—dogged breeders are developing new leaf shapes, sexier textures and brighter colors. Garden designers are partial to 'wasabi,' introduced by Ball FloralPlant in 2012 and beloved for its consistently solid chartreuse color. Plant it near purple and red varieties and its vibrant, deeply lobed leaves will throw them into relief. And while most examples of the species top out between 18 and 25 inches, wasabi can grow to a strapping 3 feet.
Heeding gardeners' calls for rosier hues, Ball released FlameThrower 'adobo pink' this year. Its spear-shaped leaves, burgundy with fuchsia centers, pretty accurately resemble its fire-breathing namesake. Other new variegations include spots, swirls, ruffles and contrasting edges: Lime green dots, for instance, rim the velvety brown leaves of Pan-American Seed's 'chocolate mint.' But coleus needn't be flashy. You might mistake the deep purple of Proven Winners' ColorBlaze 'newly noir' for black.
Seasoned container gardeners know the 'thriller, filler, and spiller' formula to create vibrant arrangements. If you worry you lack the eye to artfully organize plants of different colors and fluctuating sizes within one container, here's counsel from Amatangelo. Start with same-colored pots of varying size. Fill each with a single variety of coleus (sometimes called monocropping or monoculture). Group the pots to create an effect similar to planting the different varieties in a single container. The benefit: You can rearrange the individual varieties without disturbing their roots.
Alternatively, stick with a single variety in pots of different heights. In terms of scale, Bridget Schroeder, owner of Chicago's Contained Garden, aims to ensure the height of a mature plant doesn't exceed 1½ times that of the planter.
Though famously easy to care for, coleus does need moisture. You'll want containers that drain easily, but avoid unglazed terracotta, which will pull water away from the plant. Don't wait for coleus to droop from dehydration before slaking its thirst. If you do, it will spring back to life when watered, but the stress will cause a few leaves to give up the ghost, sacrificing some of the plant's lusciousness.
Make life easier by using potting soil with a slow-release fertilizer mixed in. Alternatively, you can maximize growth with a monthly feeding of a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. When your plants' underwhelming, spiky flowers appear, pinch them off to encourage bushiness.
Many varieties of coleus grow more intense in color when exposed to stronger light. Others fade. You'll find lots of vital info such as sun and shade tolerance on nursery tags or online descriptions. Look there, too, for the heights of mature plants.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mega Millions winning numbers for June 10: Jackpot rises to $243 million
Mega Millions winning numbers for June 10: Jackpot rises to $243 million

USA Today

time19 hours ago

  • USA Today

Mega Millions winning numbers for June 10: Jackpot rises to $243 million

Mega Millions winning numbers for June 10: Jackpot rises to $243 million Show Caption Hide Caption Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you're more likely to land than big bucks. The Mega Millions jackpot rose to $243 million for the drawing on Tuesday, June 10, after no one matched all the winning numbers in the drawing on Friday, June 6. If someone matches all six numbers on Tuesday, they will have the option of a one-time cash payment of $108 million. Tuesday's numbers are set to be drawn just after 11 p.m. ET, and we'll have the results below. There have been three Mega Millions winners this year, with the most recent being the April 18 win in Ohio of a $112 million jackpot. Before then, a lucky lottery ticket holder in Illinois took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25, while another lucky person hit the Mega Millions jackpot on Jan. 17 for $113 million. Here are the winning numbers from the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Mega Millions winning numbers for 6/10/25 The winning numbers for Tuesday, June 10 will be posted here once drawn. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Did anyone win the Mega Millions? Any Mega Millions winners will be posted here once announced by lottery officials. To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website. How to play the Mega Millions To play the Mega Millions, you have to buy a ticket. You can do this at a variety of locations, including your local convenience store, gas station, or even grocery store. In some states, Mega Millions tickets can be bought online. Once you have your ticket, you need to pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball ranges from 1 to 24. If you're feeling especially unlucky or don't want to go through the hassle of picking, you can ask for a "Quick Pick" or an "Easy Pick.' These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you. Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times. Before, players had to pay an extra dollar to add the "Megaplier"; now it's free. There are 15 Megapiler balls in all: 2X, five balls 3X, six balls 4X, three balls 5X, one ball Where can you buy lottery tickets? Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit for full terms. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

Operation Thank A Veteran: Honoring heroes with heartfelt notes
Operation Thank A Veteran: Honoring heroes with heartfelt notes

Yahoo

time19 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Operation Thank A Veteran: Honoring heroes with heartfelt notes

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — As the 4th of July nears, Presbyterian Manor is reminding us that patriotism doesn't have to be loud; it can be written in ink. At Presbyterian Manor, it's not about parades or fireworks; it's about messages from the heart, as their Operation Thank a Veteran campaign is delivering cards to residents who made the ultimate sacrifice. Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, Wichita Falls Farmers Market team up for seniors, WIC food The campaign allows anyone, anywhere, to submit a message of gratitude online. Once submitted, staff members print the cards and hand deliver them to residents before the Fourth of July. Jerri Thomas, Director of Marketing, says some of the most touching messages have come from people who have never even met the veterans. 'One time I got a message from someone that, said my unborn child thanks you. Thanks to you, my unborn child is going to live in a free country because of your service and your sacrifice and the things that you did to be a hero. They're so appreciative. It's amazing. Some of them have tears in their eyes,' Thomas said. 'One of the most common things that I hear is that they can't believe people remember because it's been so long ago. And we want them to know that it doesn't matter how long ago it was, their service counted. It matters.' As Independence Day approaches, the message is clear: sometimes the simplest thank you is the one that matters most. If you'd like to participate, it's free, just go to: Tribute Gift | Presbyterian Manor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for June 9, 2025
Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for June 9, 2025

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for June 9, 2025

The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at June 9, 2025, results for each game: Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. 30-33-40-43-52, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4 Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here. Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening. Midday: 9-3-5 Evening: 2-0-2 Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening. Midday: 7-5-7-4 Evening: 3-1-0-7 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening. Midday: 1-1-5-2-6 Evening: 0-2-5-8-4 Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m. 06-10-17-21-30 Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m. 05-10-16-23-42-48, Kicker: 0-5-8-3-3-7 Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m. 03-07-17-29-46, Lucky Ball: 15 Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Midday winning numbers for June 9, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store