Native to the dry sclerophyll scrublands of southwestern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales, Coleus argentatus (reclassified from Plectranthus argentatus in 2019) brings an Australian sensibility to foliage gardening: the leaves are large, up to 4 inches long, densely hairy, and silver-green in a way that reflects light differently at different angles. Upright spikes of pale bluish-white flowers rise to 12 inches from July to August, small and tubular, attractive to bees without dominating the visual identity. The genus name Coleus comes from the Greek for sheath, describing how the stamens are enclosed; argentatus simply means silver-bearing.

It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and equally wide, preferring bright indirect light or partial shade and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees F suit it best, and it appreciates humidity — indoors, misting or a humidifier helps. Hardy only in Zones 10 to 11, it is best treated as an annual outdoors in most of North America, or grown year-round as a houseplant. The silvery foliage cuts well and holds its sheen in arrangements. In warm climates, mass plantings along borders or containers on patios let the reflective quality of the leaves work at full effect.