Tartan is one of the Giant Exhibition Series, a group of heirloom Coleus re-selected for better vigor, more uniform colors, and neater habit. These Coleus were at the heart of the "Coleus craze" that swept England around the turn of the last century -- they were grown and adored by all, their brilliantly-colored leaves offering unheard-of winter color indoors. Well, things haven't changed much -- these gorgeously-sculpted 6- to 7-inch-long, 4-inch-wide leaves still light up the shade garden and make containers glow! Just 12 to 15 inches high and wide, these plants are the perfect size for pots, baskets, and windowboxes as well.

If you like Tartan, you must try Copper Queen, with large leaves of glistening russet-red, and dazzling persimmon-red Aureole, with each leaf neatly edged in electric lime. And if you're growing it indoors for winter color, Limelight adds a solid pale green to the look! Or you might just want to break down and get the entire mix of 11 varieties. Plants this good are hard to come by, and since you can start the seeds indoors any time of year, the more the merrier!

In the partly shaded garden, Tartan complements the lush greens and blues of Hostas. It makes a splendid foreground planting to Fern.

Coleus germinates readily and grows eagerly. For bushier, fuller plants, keep the growing tips pinched. To extend the lush color into fall, remove any stray flower spikes that emerge -- they take energy away from maintaining the gorgeous foliage, and the flowers are insignificant. If growing in the garden, sow about 12 inches apart. If growing indoors for houseplants, sow at any time, placing the young plants in a well-lit window. Pkt is 20 seeds.