Coleus in A Vase

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Just as foliage often lasts longer than  flowers will in the garden, so foliage also lasts a long time in a vase.  I love fresh flowers.  But I’m not keen on cleaning up dropped petals and spent blooms.  Who is, really?  So in the heat of summer, I like to fill a vase with long lasting, interesting foliage.

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Besides, it’s that time to cut back so many summer annuals and herbs; here is a way to prune for greater bushiness in the plants while also bringing the beauty inside to enjoy.

The larger vase holds prunings from three different Coleus from the “Under the Sea” line of hybrids, punctuated with a few leaves and a stem of flowers from Oxalis triangularis.

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The Oxalis grows in a long planter with two of the Coleus.  The chartreuse Coleus grows in a nearby pot with a dark leaved sweet potato vine.

We have enjoyed the smaller vase on our dining table for about a week now.

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It holds cuttings from some other hybrid Coleus which needed cutting back.  These pieces likely have roots by now and can soon be planted out.

That is an added value of foliage in vases:  it is an easy way to generate new plants to freshen up beds and pots for late summer and autumn.

Even the Oxalis leaves, I learned this summer, will root, given time.  They stay fresh and lovely for weeks at a time in a vase of water.   Here is an easy way to generate new plants without buying the tubers.

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One week soon I’ll get back in the routine of posting fresh vases on Monday.  In truth, it will most likely happen once our weather patterns shift.  Between heat and storms, and other projects, my time in the garden is limited these days.

I was cutting spent blooms from the roses and pulling weeds when torrential rains came on Tuesday, shortly before noon.  This tropical weather pattern leaves me less than inspired to spend time outside or to bring soggy flowers in.

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Until then, we do what we can, when we may.  And these lovely Coleus inspired me this morning.

May the mother plants prosper with new growth, and may these lovely little cuttings all survive for a long time to come.

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Woodland Gnome 2015

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Oxalis triangularis grows in a pot outside as part of a small shade garden. Although leaves are grazed from time to time, the plant is happy here in the partial shade.

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About woodlandgnome

Lifelong teacher and gardener.

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