I like Trumpet 99-4, red with the strong white stripe. http://ludwigamaryllis.nl/en/detail.php?id=92&soort=trompet&familie=nieuw Robert.

Gary, TraceyAnn and All, Kat and Ginibee are right. First the pinching...it promotes bushier, fuller plants with more vigorous growth. You really need to pinch any blooms that occur in the beginning for sure. Once the plant has pretty much reached its full size, I often let mine bloom because the bees like the little flowers so much. And they add an airy touch of blue or purple that I enjoy. And as Ginibee says, there are annual coleus, grown from seed and usually sold in multi-flats at HD, etc. And there are newer "vegatative" versions that are grown from cuttings. Those live a LOT longer and usually flower much less (with some exceptions). The annual coleus usually decline after six months or so, and taking cuttings of them isn't often productive, though it works SOME times. The perennial (really short-lived perennials is more accurate, because they aren't going to be around for years and years or anything) will often snap back after a good pruning. When they get leggy, I cut them back by at least a third, root the cuttings, and wait for the main plant to start growing again. I had coleus taller than I am last year (and I'm 5'10") and nearly as wide. Well, okay...nothing is as WIDE as I am, but you get my drift. But those were all the perennial ones. Saturn in particular gets HUGE and you could grow it as a short-lived hedge if you wanted to. Another thing about the newer varieties of coleus is that there are plenty of them that love the sun. Used to be coleus were shade lovers pretty much exclusively. Not true any more. There are varieties that like full shade, partial shade, sun half day, and full sun. In Florida, by late summer, most can use a break from late afternoon sun, though. My very best advice to anyone interested in learning more about coleus and in finding varieties that will do well in a particular location is to peruse the Rosy Dawn website. It is too late to order from them this year, but they have a WEALTH of info there on coleus in general and specific varieties. You can click on any picture that appeals to you and find out the size, growth habit (trailing, upright, mounding, etc) and light preferences for that variety. It is VERY interesting. I am so in love with these plants, especially the newer ones. Every color, size and leaf shape you can imagine is out there. Go, read, and enjoy! And keep on asking questions here, if you still need more info or help. I know all of the coleus lovers here (me, included) will be glad to offer tips based on our own experiences. Marcia, alias The Coleus Queen of Sanford (a title I'm in danger of losing as more and more folks RE-discover this fantastic plant)

Looks like 'Cafe Noire' and 'Osiris Fantaisie' are already available from various suppliers (Heronswood, Shady Oakes, Skagit Gardens)...others may be following in coming seasons.

Hi silverrowan, some of my personal favorites in low(er) varieties - all ones I've grown myself, are Park Princess (pink cactus), Yellow Happiness (sunny yellow, nice form), There is a red waterlily form called Japanese that stays low and has lovely flowers. A beautiful pastel blend is zingaro. Le Baron gets about 1m tall for me - needs staking but is bushy and blooms like mad. Velda Inez - nice lavender/white blend. Firepot is an amazing sunset blend that is stunning. Bishop of Llandaff or Japanese Bishop (or bishop's children) are all in the range and have dark foliage, as does Fascination. Nonette is a low orange variegated with red that is very nice. As you know, you MUST dig the lower varieties - I guess in Toronto you have to dig them all! I don't know how many of these varieties you can find in Canada. If you like the REALLY low mounded ones just "for show", the gallery dahlias are only about a foot tall and wide. The ones I mentioned above all have stems that you can cut.