Stand out nature: neon foliage makes great winter house plants and sensational summer gardens
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Flamboyant plants such as coleus and begonia Rex are poised to take over living rooms and patios for an acid house party.
With leaves in neon pink, orange, red and purple often splodged with silver, these former “granny’s favourites” look less like plants, more like velvet cushion covers attacked with a highlighter pen.
With the Victorian collector look going strong in interiors — think ferns, terrariums, botanical prints and jewel-coloured velvet sofas — the dazzling foliage of these plants fits right in.
Great house plants in winter, they’re just as sensational outside in summer. They don’t like the sun much, so are ideal for shady side returns or basement gardens.
In Broadstairs, Kent, plantsman Dan Cooper shows just what can be achieved with a love for crazy leaves and a small space.
His sheltered courtyard at The Watch House (see ngs.org for openings) teems with fluorescent “Pink Chaos” and chartreuse “Henna” coleus, patterned begonias and acid yellow elephant ears (colocasia) “Maui Gold”.
The pièce de résistance is an air plant, the bromeliad Aechmea “Blue Rain”, with a Day-Glo pink and violet flower spike that lasts for five months.
Dibleys is the go-to place for these plants. Sales manager Paul Johnson says: “Foliage in general is coming back in fashion but with these it’s not just greens — they come in reds, pinks, neons.”
He recommends “Rocheart” or “Fireworks” for begonia beginners and says to buy plug plants of coleus in spring. If you can’t wait you can sow coleus seed inside now (Coleus Kong Mixed, dobies.co.uk, £2.79).
When temperatures drop below 10C, the party has to move into the house.
Over winter and until around May, begonias, coleus and tradescantia can live on a light windowsill out of direct sun. Keep begonias on the dry side.
Porous terracotta pots prevent them getting soggy, but put them on a saucer filled with pebbles to keep the air around them humid.
Elephant’s ears, whether dark velvety purple “Black Magic” or luminous yellow “Maui Gold” are spectacular strewn with fairy lights. Who needs a Christmas tree?
Follow Dan Cooper at frustratedgardener.com