I've had osteospermum in planters - they're a little taller. You could also go to the Proven Winners site (someone posted a link in one of these threads somewhere) and see their containers. They have some really nice ones three and they tell you which plants to use.

Do your local garden centers bring in New Zealand flax (Phormium sp.)? Very beautiful broad-leaved grass-like foliage plants in lots of interesting colors, for a variation on that Dracaena-spike niche. Unfortunately, they can be pretty pricey - despite their lack of hardiness - but maybe this year, as they increase in popularity, prices will have come down. Anyway, if you can find some at reasonable cost, they'd make an interesting addition to the center or back of a planter.
Yes, tall upright or arching grasses would look great too...or how about some summer bulbs? (It seems these are rarely used in mixed plantings.) Crocosmia and acidanthera have attractive foliage, plus the flowers. It might be interesting to have a cluster of glads in the center or back of a planter (maybe a little more interesting arrangement than the soldier-like rows that they so often get planted in, LOL!)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the daturas I've seen tend to be more mounding and sprawling - great for the front of a really big planter (as they'd take up lots of space), but not really that upright, if that's what you're looking for.

By the way, there was a thread a little while back, too, where lots of planter ideas were talked about...

You'd need a really large container for a datura, like a half barrel. I've used cannas before in the middle of an 18" urn and they turned out great. Last year I used dahlias started from seed as the tall plants in the urns, but this year I've ordered some crocosmia 'Lucifer' bulbs to add the height. Other bulbs I've used have been calla lilies and eucomis (pineapple lily). Someone also mentioned to me that oriental lily bulbs would work well too.

Good luck,
Laurie

Lori, we posted at the same time :) I haven't thought of using glads before, they would be nice too. New Zealand flax would be awesome! I wonder if you can get seed for those?

Laurie

Yes, you can get seed for phormiums...I was sent some in a trade a while back, but they didn't germinate and I don't know what the trick is...although from a bit of reading, it seems the seeds lose viability with dry storage? By the way, I was thinking of 'Lucifer' too - my favorite!

Thanks for the advice.....I have used the peruvian daffodils as the center plants for a few years. That was in the 1/2 barrel planters.

I also really like the idea of glads in the 1/2 barrels...yellow glads with rudbeckia and kale and a few other little things like tagetes or something like that. Hmmmmm.

Ok the datura sounds like a space hog....so it will go into the ground. That is why I asked because I wasn't sure.

I tried osteospermum from seed one year....think I ended up with 3 plants and they just did not do well for me...so haven't tried them again....to expensive for them not to put on a nice show. I have great luck with african daisys though....Hmmmmm

Have jotted down some of the others to check out.

Ohhhhh and I have studied the proven winner ideas! ;-)

Thanks!
Sierra

Ahh, that must be the reason why they are so expensive at the nurseries if the seed is hard to germinate. But wow, do they look cool! I wonder if they would over-winter well in a sunny window. Hmmm....

Yes osteospermum are expensive, I usually just buy one a year cause I really like them. I tried to bring mine in under lights this fall, but it went yellow and died. Maybe it should have been pruned or something, I don't know. They seem to grow very slowly too.

Oh I wanted to know something about container planning too - what's the deal with coleus and sunlight? I have heard so many different accounts over the years of sun/shade/part shade... which is it? Does it depend on the leaf colouring? A taller coleus would be a nice centrepiece for a container, provided the light was right for it.

Well, it might actually be an interesting experiment to plant out one of those osteospermums at the end of the season....
I've had one winter over for a small number of years now...best not "brag" too loudly about it though, as who knows if it will still be alive in spring, LOL! I had another two plants winter over for a small number of years as well...both are/were the purple-flowered varieties. I also once bought a variety called 'Purple Mountain' that was said to be "zone 4 hardy", so...who knows?

Sierra,

Since my garden is packed, I have little or no room for new plants (unless something dies) so every year I do alot of container plantings. One of the plants that I enjoy using as a centerpiece in containers is is Corydline Red Star. It is less expensive than Phormium and has about the same effect. I am quite certain that they will be available out west this year because there is a wholesaler in Edmonton that is selling them by the thousands. Sometimes the plant is called Dracaena (similar to the old green spiky plants that were popular in the 70s and 80s). It has fantastic wine red foliage and is easy to carry over in the winter. I have many Phormiums but I find that they are a spider mite magnet and they also need very good light and cool conditions to overwinter well.

Glads! Yes, i tried some last summer in a large container. They came up but never bloomed. I think maybe the bulbs weren't that good, but who knows? If they did bloom, it would be lovely, i think. They were in with some osteos, million bells, and nemesia, in yellows and oranges.

Laurie...I don't know if Osteos are difficult to germinate or if I just did something wrong...

Abg......that is interesting. I will have a look at the tags when they come into the nursery now and see what they say.

Maryv....haha I really have no room left either......even with all the new beds put in last year. LOL Thanks for adding to my list of things to check out. I would really like to make up some different looking planters this year. I think I got stuck in a rut......with pretty much the same things in them every year.....so this year more planters and hopefully a new look.

Marcia, I wonder if a planter would be to wet for glads...I guess I will have to try it and see.....they would be really pretty, set up in a fall planter as I mentioned above, if they flower. Hmmmm well even if they didn't the spikey leaves would add interest. Did you buy the 'Jumbo' ones. I have bought both but the 'Jumbo' ones put on a much better show. I also start them inside early, or they don't have time to flower here.

Getting some great ideas here! Thanks!
Sierra

Oppssss I forgot to add this...

NS, coleus is a shade plant.......I have found if it gets too much sun that the leaves burn and look awful. I have never heard it to be a sun plant.

Lobelia does best in shade but can be planted in full sun if you water a lot and don't ever let it dry out.....if lobelia drys out its toast for the season.

Sierra

I just made a list of "Tall Stuff" "Medium Stuff" and "Short Stuff" based on seeds and plants I have and then sub-divided those lists by colour groups. It was a bit of work to do but easy to add to now!

It's been fun because I came up with some container ideas I would never have thought of before. OK, maybe someone with more gardening experience will give good reasons why these aren't good in containers, but here goes my ideas for "Tall Stuff":

- Shasta Daisies (I could divide a section from the garden)
- Venidium 'Zulu Prince' or 'Orange Prince'
- Malva Zebrina (not sure how wide they grow though)
- Zinnias
- Nigella ?
- Bachelor Buttons ?

Of course, "tall" is relative to what size container they end up in!

I have been in love with millet as a tall center plant in the last year

Sierra, when i planted the glads in that container, i was thinking the same thing - if they didn't bloom, at least the foliage would look okay. They didn't get really tall, though, and it may have been too wet. We had a lot of rain at times, and the container they were in - a large bowl-shape - doesn't have drainage holes. I'd like to try it again this year, maybe with gravel or something on the bottom of the container for drainage.

Want your glads to bloom, start them early indoors ;)

Coleus ÂSolar Series are heat and sun tolerant. For the other regular types, I set my pots in part sun, making sure they are well watered and sheltered from hot drying winds.

"Of course, "tall" is relative to what size container they end up in!"
CD has a point here......I have collected many different size containers over the years...and will probably add a couple more this year.....But mostly I was thinking tall plants for the half barrel size containers.

Malope and lavatera I think can be added to the list...I have already started both....Haven't had much luck with either before....but someone posted pics a while back and the lavatera was lovely.....so me thinks worth another try.

Hee hee there you go Gillian....two different answers again haha....shade, sun, and part sun....take your pick and tell us how it works for you. I'll probably put some along the fence that will get morning sun....we'll see how that goes.

Sierra

Sierra, that is what I had always heard about coleus, part shade is best. It must have been the Solar Series, as Sharon said, that was confusing me. Mine will be going in part shade anyways, since I have that fence going up and I now need to venture more into shady stuff. I was just speculating for the purposes of containers, how much sun coleus could handle.

I think Nigella would be great in a container, it's not picky at all. In my yard it self-seeds and if it doesn't like where it is, it just doesn't grow very tall.

OMG....I'm going to have to sneak off to the seed racks again as I have another list of seeds that I uhhhhhhhh NEED!!! haha How did this happen? Nigella is on that list.

Sierra

Sierra, I'm with you on the "yes, I need more seeds" issue!

I saw some African Daisy seeds last night that at first glance I thought were Osteos but once I read the package thought how perfect they would look in a container I have planned (well sorta planned -- subject to any further seed purchasing! LOL). These African Daisies were all wonderful soft creamy yellows, creamy orange, creamy whites. At least the picture is gorgeous! LOL. Hmmmmm.... somehow they ended up in my basket along with some others that just jumped into my basket as well. Wonder how that happened?