Coleus blumei and Ipomoea x hybrida: the leaves are the protagonists
As September plants, we recommend two species appreciated for their highly ornamental foliage, whose colors remain vivid even in the heat that lingers until the end of the summer. We are talking about Coleus blumei and Ipomeax hybrida.
Coleus blumei
Ornamental herbaceous plant grown as an annual, with compact growth and a globular shape.
The chromatic elegance of its foliage, which gives the plant its decorative value, makes it suitable for landscaping in flowerbeds and borders, as well as in planters and tubs to decorate balconies and terraces. Most of the varieties grown today are hybrids whose common characteristic is the color of their leaves, which are mottled and variegated, making them ideal for mixed arrangements.
The versatile varieties of the Virunga series are distinguished by their broad, colorful leaves that create a dense, rounded crown. Their strong, robust growth makes them ideal for adding color to shaded and partial shade, in filtered or full morning sun, creating elegant color contrasts even in mixed arrangements with herbaceous flowering plants. Tolerant of intense heat, they require little maintenance, adding to their usefulness. It is recommended to remove the flower tips as soon as they appear, pinching them back below until you reach a pair of leaves.
The following varieties take pride of place in the Virunga series:
It stands out for its lime-green and salmon/burgundy foliage; it has a more compact growth habit than the other colors in the series. It thrives best in shaded or semi-shaded areas with early morning sun.
With variegated green foliage and brown-purple streaks, it is tolerant of heat and shade.
Variety with very attractive velvety purple foliage with a burgundy center and lime green margin.
It has burgundy green leaves and is also heat tolerant, preferring shade or partial shade with early morning sun.
Ipomea x hybrida
An interspecific hybrid, obtained from the cross between different species belonging to the genus Ipomoea, with very vigorous growth and a trailing habit. Its abundant, decorative foliage, as well as its high hardiness and ease of cultivation, make this ornamental herbaceous plant, primarily grown as an annual, a primary choice for decorating balconies and terraces in large tubs as well as window sills in hanging baskets. It is also ideal for flowerbeds, either in uniform groups or in combination with other equally vigorous species, creating attractive visuals and dramatic color contrasts.
Worth mentioning is the SUNPUMA series, in particular the Compact varieties which have deeply lobed oak-shaped leaves in shades ranging from copper-bronze (Sunpuma Compact Copper), dark purple-violet (Sunpuma Compact Purple) to lime green (Sunpuma Compact Lime).
These are highly decorative varieties with compact, generally rounded growth. They are also recommended for their resistance to intense summer heat, which often lasts until September given current climate conditions, to which they adapt without losing vigor or suffering from leaf scorch.
Perfect both in tubs or hanging baskets on balconies and terraces as well as in flowerbeds or borders creating dense mono or polychromatic coverings, even in mixed compositions with species with an upright and vigorous habit.
These plants prefer full sun but will also grow in partial shade, as long as it’s bright. In pots, a peat substrate with perlite is recommended, while in flowerbeds they adapt to a variety of soil types, preferably medium-textured and moderately fertile, with an optimal pH ranging from 5.2 to 6.2.
