Planting Colocasia, Coleus, Angelonia, and Begonias
Spring is the time to plant summer annuals. Last fall we planted Swiss chard, dianthus and pansies. We will be removing all of these plants, but we will be transplanting the dianthus and Swiss chard to other places. Both will continue to grow through the summer.
After the old plants are out, it’s time to prepare the bed for the new plants. The bed is cleaned of leaves and a slow-release fertilizer is added to give new plants a solid start.
This summer’s plants are Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, known for its dramatic large leaves; bright yellow coleus, providing bold contrast; Angelonia adds height and delicate blooms that flourish through the summer; and red begonias for a pop of color. The layout is intentionally random, accommodating the garden’s mix of sun and shade and allowing the strongest plants to dominate different places naturally.
Planting involves gently handling young root systems, especially early in the season when plants’ roots have not yet filled in the nursery pots. The key is to plant them at their existing soil level, surround them with loose soil, and cover with mulch to retain moisture.
This is the 19th time Joellen has planted in this bed. Follow the progress over the last 9 years:
Planting Winter Flowers with an Edible Twist: Swiss Chard, Dianthus and Pansies (2024): https://youtu.be/9F2YOPyVIes
Planting Spring Annuals: SunPatiens, Sweet Potato Vine and Blue Ageratum (2024): https://youtu.be/4Y93rFDAZQQ
Planting Dusty Miller and Violas (2023): https://youtu.be/6XgmbkiuA44
Planting Coleus, Pentas and Vinca (2023): https://youtu.be/rX_JL5RVyT8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2022): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Salvia, Petunias and Marigolds (2022): https://youtu.be/spIR1RWWos8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2021): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Scaevola, Pentas and Vinca (2021): https://youtu.be/IXyvpwZdtpM
Planting Pansies and Tulips for Winter and Spring Color (2020): https://youtu.be/q_KC5NImM3Q
Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias (2020): https://youtu.be/B1FPkBZGSE4
Planting Daffodils, Dianthus, and Pansies (2019): https://youtu.be/Uxkwe7bM3aA
Planting Sunpatiens, Joseph's Coat, and Colocasia (2019): https://youtu.be/WF7yZmLVP8E
Planting Fall Flowers (2018): https://youtu.be/rajzfx4CfcA
Planting Summer Flowers (2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hcq5QZBqGU
Planting Dusty Miller and Pansies (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INCjtP7Nra8
Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3nCIOao5g
Planting Fall Flowers (2016): www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMe9SSz6sF4
Planting Summer Flowers (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_kK0snShI
Related Videos:
Begonias and Full Sun
Annual Flowers for Full Sun, Part-Shade, or Shade
Saving Colocasia (Elephant Ears) for Next Year
Related Resources:
Angelonia angustifolia
Begonia
Coleus
After the old plants are out, it’s time to prepare the bed for the new plants. The bed is cleaned of leaves and a slow-release fertilizer is added to give new plants a solid start.
This summer’s plants are Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, known for its dramatic large leaves; bright yellow coleus, providing bold contrast; Angelonia adds height and delicate blooms that flourish through the summer; and red begonias for a pop of color. The layout is intentionally random, accommodating the garden’s mix of sun and shade and allowing the strongest plants to dominate different places naturally.
Planting involves gently handling young root systems, especially early in the season when plants’ roots have not yet filled in the nursery pots. The key is to plant them at their existing soil level, surround them with loose soil, and cover with mulch to retain moisture.
This is the 19th time Joellen has planted in this bed. Follow the progress over the last 9 years:
Planting Winter Flowers with an Edible Twist: Swiss Chard, Dianthus and Pansies (2024): https://youtu.be/9F2YOPyVIes
Planting Spring Annuals: SunPatiens, Sweet Potato Vine and Blue Ageratum (2024): https://youtu.be/4Y93rFDAZQQ
Planting Dusty Miller and Violas (2023): https://youtu.be/6XgmbkiuA44
Planting Coleus, Pentas and Vinca (2023): https://youtu.be/rX_JL5RVyT8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2022): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Salvia, Petunias and Marigolds (2022): https://youtu.be/spIR1RWWos8
Planting Wave Pansies and Snapdragons (2021): https://youtu.be/-gKIexydoP0
Planting Scaevola, Pentas and Vinca (2021): https://youtu.be/IXyvpwZdtpM
Planting Pansies and Tulips for Winter and Spring Color (2020): https://youtu.be/q_KC5NImM3Q
Planting Tropical Hibiscus and Begonias (2020): https://youtu.be/B1FPkBZGSE4
Planting Daffodils, Dianthus, and Pansies (2019): https://youtu.be/Uxkwe7bM3aA
Planting Sunpatiens, Joseph's Coat, and Colocasia (2019): https://youtu.be/WF7yZmLVP8E
Planting Fall Flowers (2018): https://youtu.be/rajzfx4CfcA
Planting Summer Flowers (2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hcq5QZBqGU
Planting Dusty Miller and Pansies (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INCjtP7Nra8
Planting Petunias, Vinca, and Salvia (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3nCIOao5g
Planting Fall Flowers (2016): www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMe9SSz6sF4
Planting Summer Flowers (2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_kK0snShI
Related Videos:
Begonias and Full Sun
Annual Flowers for Full Sun, Part-Shade, or Shade
Saving Colocasia (Elephant Ears) for Next Year
Related Resources:
Angelonia angustifolia
Begonia
Coleus