Plectranthus ‘Silver Shield’

* Common name: Silver spurflower ‘Silver Shield’

* Botanical name: Plectranthus argentatus ‘Silver Shield’

* What it is: A velvety-leafed annual with silver-gray color, grown primarily for the foliage.

* Size: 24-28 inches tall and wide.

* Where to use: Prefers part shade or dappled sunlight as opposed to full sun. Also will do well in mostly shade. Can be planted either in a pot or in the ground, and it’ll even spend winter inside as a houseplant. Good drought-tolerance outside in the ground.

* Care: Wait until after frost to plant out. In a pot, water every day or two when it doesn’t rain and fertilize with a half-strength balanced fertilizer every few weeks. Additional fertilizer usually not needed in the ground. Frost will kill them.

* Great partner: Pink petunias and/or evolvulus (blue-blooming trailer) are good annual-flower partners.

— George Weigel