Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gardens [Hardcover]

Ray Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2008

Coleus are no longer your grandmother's parlor plants. Favourites during the Victorian era, these plants have made a dramatic comeback with a dazzling variety of leaf color, shape, and pattern. No other plant is so easy to grow and propagate. Their sumptuous colors and tough constitution make coleus ideal both as attention-getting focal points and as complements to other foliage or flowering plants. In this lavishly illustrated volume, expert plantsman Ray Rogers offers equal parts of design inspiration and practical advice. The heart of this book is an encyclopedia that describes and evaluates more than 225 varieties.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Traces the history of a single plant since its formal discovery. The book includes 385 brilliant color photographs.”

(Washington Post )

“Paging through the new book, Coleus, is like looking at a fine-art catalog or an old book of fabulous wallpaper prints.”

(Seattle Times )

“Coleus can turn even a curmudgeonly coleophobe into an ardent admirer as Rogers enumerates their many benefits. The stunning color photographs by Richard Hartlage add even more credence to the claim that coleus have their place in almost any garden setting.”

(San Diego Union-Tribune )

"The most comprehensive work ever written on coleus."

(West Hawaii Today )

“Any coleus lover will find it enjoyable and educational.”

(John Bagnasco Garden Compass )

“This is a wonderful book for any gardener. The coleus is truly a versatile plant, but also an essential plant for every gardener.” (Portsmouth Herald )

From the Inside Flap

Coleus are no longer your grandmother's parlor plants. Favorites during the Victorian period, they have made a dramatic comeback. It's easy to see why: no other plant offers such a dazzling variety of leaf colors, shapes, and patterns, and no other plant is so easy to grow and propagate. Given a modicum of care, coleus will flourish from spring until frost. Although older varieties performed best in shady situations, newer ones have been selected for sun tolerance, making it possible to grow coleus in every part of the garden. With their sumptuous colors and tough constitution, coleus are ideal both as attention-getting focal points and as complements to other foliage or flowering plants. As happy in a container as in open ground, they are the ultimate in versatility, their uses as unlimited as your imagination.

Whether you're a weekend gardener in search of easy, reliable color, or an enthusiast who wants to collect every colues available, this exciting and comprehensive resource will give you exactly what you're looking for—and more. Expert plantsman Ray Rogers offers equal parts inspiration and practical advice, with history, plant characteristics, problem solving, propagation, and designing with coleus in both containers and in the garden, all brought to life by Richard Hartlage's masterful photographs. An encyclopedia covers more than 225 varieties.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (February 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881928658
• ISBN-13: 978-0881928655
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, great photos, April 26, 2008

By 

Elm Street Reader (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gardens (Hardcover)

I've been a coleus fanatic for years, and really enjoyed this book. Lots of good information here that I hadnt known, even though I've grown a great many coleus.

I only wish the book could have been twice as long and included a more comprehensive listing and photos of coleus (in all fairness, there are thousands of them and many are very similar). It would also have been nice to have included more photos of coleus combined with other plants-coleus fills out a pot/planting of flowering annuals beautifully if done well. It's not a talent I have but I have many photos of wonderful combinations done by others.
On the whole, this is a terrific book. Any coleus lover will enjoy it and learn from it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Coffee Table Book, January 10, 2009

By 

Lily Gibbs (NYC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gardens (Hardcover)

This book has beautiful photographs and lots of interesting information.The variety of coleus is amazing. However, the information is not as practical as I had hoped. Therefore, it is on my coffee table and not in my gardening shed.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coleus, April 5, 2008

By 

Wayne R. Martinson (Sacramento, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gardens (Hardcover)

A very thorough and logical presentation of "all you ever wanted to know about growing Coleus" without getting too collegiate. Sensational photography. I've always wanted to incorporate more Coleus in my California in-ground landscape and patio-pot settings...now I'm much more confident that I will be successful. This book is a must-have...so informative and such luscious photos...and reasonably priced. Show it off at your next "garden-club" meeting.

Wayne R. Martinson