Silver plectranthus plus Purple Knight alternanthera equal eye-popping contrast for containers. Any pot that contains these two foliage plants won't lack for color or texture, whether any other plant in the container is blooming or not.
Gone are the days when a basket of Swedish ivy was the only plectranthus you could buy and "slips" of multi-colored Joseph's coat passed among gardening friends was the only alternanthera ever seen. Now you can find both groups of easy-to-grow foliage plants offered in oodles of colorful choices, all perfect for creating artful combinations in containers.
Both types of plants grow well in either full sun or partial shade. Plectranthus, a member of the mint family, has aromatic foliage that resists pests large and small. Silver plectranthus (P. argentatus) grows 2 feet tall or more, with fuzzy silver leaves.
Green and white variegated plectranthus, often sold as Iboza, comes both in trailing forms perfect for cascading over the edge of a container and a strong upright form that's ideal for a window box. Another plectranthus, called Nico, has bronze-purple foliage and a semi-trailing habit. The large leaves of Green and Gold are beautifully variegated with both colors. All are trouble-free in outdoor containers.
People are also reading…
As for alternantheras, the colorful choices start with Purple Knight. It has dark purple leaves and grows 16 to 20 inches tall, spreading 2 or 3 feet wide. Rubiginosa, sometimes called bloodleaf, has rich burgundy foliage and is also a vigorous plant about the same size. I like the way either of these weaves through other plants in a mixed container, providing beautiful color contrast.
For finer texture, take your choice of wispy-leafed Red Threads or Golden Threads. Or try copperleaf (A. reineckii), which has narrow coppery-maroon leaves. Small but spreading, none of these skinny-leafed plants grow more than a foot tall.
I'm happy to see the old-fashioned, multi-colored Joseph's coat, also known as calico plant, showing up in garden centers again. Its foliage, a beautiful mixture of green, pink, orange, salmon, and yellow, is fun to mix and match with blooming plants.
Joseph's coat grows about a foot tall and wide.
Tender tropicals, both alternanthera and plectranthus are easily saved over winter by taking cuttings. You can also start Purple Knight alternanthera and Silver Shield plectranthus from seeds, although they need an early indoor start.
Regardless of which plants you grow in containers, remember that potting soil pulls away from the sides of the pot if allowed to dry out. If that happens, repeatedly apply small amounts of water and gently press the soil back into place.
