6/10

Coleus

No matter what amount of sun or shade you have in your yard, you can grow coleus. Today’s coleus is bred to grow equally well in sun and shade, in containers or in the ground. The cultivars bloom late in the season or not at all. That’s important because once a coleus plant blooms and sets seed, its life cycle ends.

You’ll find hundreds of gorgeous varieties of coleus in a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. Some reach waist high by season’s end while others are short or trailing. The largest cultivars are best reserved for the landscape because they easily outcompete smaller plants for space in containers.

Coleus tolerates heat and humidity but can’t take drought. Although its fleshy stems usually perk right back up once you water them, you don’t want to make a habit of it. Coleus in the ground are usually more self-sufficient than in lightweight potting soil.

7/10

Persian Shield

This gorgeous plant is a shrub in tropical United States Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 10 and warmer, but makes a stunning annual for foliage in sun and shade. It is consistently one of the most asked-about plants in my garden, where I grow it in my east-facing border and full shade containers every year. Canary Wings begonia is one of its best companions.

Long, lance-shaped leaves are deep purple and lilac with black veining and a metallic overlay that glimmers in the slightest bit of sun. I’ve found its coloring most dramatic when planted in just a few hours of sun followed by open shade for the rest of the day. In ideal conditions, it can reach up to four feet tall, but it stays much smaller when you grow it in a container.

Fortunately, neither deer nor rabbits favor Persian shield. Pests and diseases aren’t an issue either.

8/10

Caladium

Caladiums bring a tropical vibe, living their best life in high summer when other plants are languishing. Most people think of them as full shade loving plants, but newer cultivars are also highly sun tolerant.

Caladiums’ patterned foliage shifts colors and patterns from spring into summer. Some have large leaves and others more petite, all shining in warm shades of red, pink, coral, lavender, white and green. Showcased on their own in containers, you could also try underplanting them with trailing plants like creeping wire vine, alternanthera or dichondra.

Start caladiums from bulbs indoors eight to 10 weeks before your last frost date, or purchase potted caladiums at garden centers in late spring and summer. Wait until the soil and nighttime temperatures warm in the spring before planting them outside.