GARDENING
Just when you thought the gardening world would be content and we didn’t need another new coleus, Mini Me Watermelon is rocking scorecards in university trials. Part of the ColorBlaze series, it will be making its debut in 2023, climbing the must-have plants chart.
These small, colorful leaves are described as watermelon to coralcolored, with chartreuse accents, and are absolutely stunning. As the sun shifts during the day and light gets filtered, the color looks even a royal burgundy with the chartreuse. But as soon as the sun returns, it’s flaming again.
The mini part of “Mini Me Watermelon” might have been directed at the height, which is tagged at an average 20 inches with an 18-inch spread. That said, I did measure my plants, and they are 34 inches, as of Sept. 12. This doesn’t bother me in the slightest. My Color-Blaze Lime Time coleus out front, which is supposed to reach 34 inches, is now at 42, and I have been pinching myself all summer. I am deliriously happy!
In July, we thought we would perish with the nonstop, triple-digit heat index numbers. Then in August and September, it has been like, “Lord, we thank you for our daily rain.” Consequently, plant partnerships or combinations have an exaggerated look.
Everyone thinks coleus combinations in containers and ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon already had their share of prized recipes on the Proven Winners website — but they deserve great partnerships in the landscape too! At the Young’s Plant Farm Spring Trials, they combined ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon with Luscious Lemon Tart lantana and Illusion Emerald Lace sweet potato, both of which echoed the coleus’ accent colors.
The Garden Guy’s combinations were a little lucky. I partnered mine in part with Limelight Prime hydrangea. I admit I always underestimate the summer growth they will put on. Hence, I have those glorious white panicle flowers intermingling with the coleus foliage. In the overall design, I have also included Rockin’ Playin’ the Blues salvia and Color Coded, One in a Melon coneflower, that will also be making its debut in 2023.
There will be 18 selections available in the ColorBlaze series in 2023; they are among the most carefree plants you can grow and worth every penny for your garden dollar. I have already mentioned the maintenance: pinching to maintain bushiness and structure.
I am also one that will pinch off flowers if they develop before I would like. Though I grow coleus for foliage, those flowers do have some added value. In my area, the first two weeks of October are usually the last days of hummingbird activity. I will usually let a few coleus blooms develop in late September to offer any extra nectar that might be needed for the hummingbirds, before they head to the tropics.
Follow me on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration.
The Garden Guy partnered ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon coleus with Limelight Prime hydrangea and Rockin’ Playin’ the Blues salvia.
Limelight Prime panicle hydrangea intermingles with ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon coleus.
ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon coleus will make its debut in 2023. The leaves are small but packed with riveting color. PHOTOS BY NORMANWINTER.
Norman Winter
The Garden Guy