Coleus

Is that Perilla (beefsteak?) or Coleus in the left pot? If perilla (I'm probably butchering the spelling, lol) how do you keep it from becoming leggy? That's a problem I'm having with mine...they become leggy and topple over.

Hi Gardengnome, It's not Perilla but it does look like it a lot. It's another Coleus. I do have Perilla in my back garden which keeps reseeding itself. The main plants don't make it through the winter. I let it come up where ever it grows and so it usually gets supported by other plants. I'm always amazed to see it come up quite a distance from where it was the previous year. I think though that it can be pinched back so that it gets bushier. Worth a try on a couple that you have. Think I will try pinching some of mine back to see what happens.I love the pattern on the Perilla leaves.

Hi again Gardengnome... I just did a google on Perilla and found a couple interesting sites and both recommended pinching it back to keep it full and bushy. I always pinch pack my Coleus when I buy it and get it planted. The coleus in the photo only had four branches on it when I first got it. The brighter Coleus to the right is now much fuller as well.

Thanks for all the info Mikec, I'll give it a try.