To give some serious pizazz to existing container gardens by adding just one plant, reach for purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’), as shown in this design by Michelle Jacoby, Changing Spaces. The dramatic ornamental grass can reach 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide (although usually smaller in containers) with a vase-like shape topped with fuzzy purple seed heads. Although often grown as an annual in colder climates, it will continue to look striking
USE HERBS IN POTS The designer used a fantastic variety of foliage in terms of shape and color. Plants included in the planter arrangements are white geraniums, dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima, syn. Senecio cineraria), common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), white vervain (Verbena urticifolia), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and creeping thyme (Thymus praecox). “I love to add herbs into planters,” Koehler says. “They add so much wonderful texture and aromas. And you can dash out and clip some if you need them when you’re cooking.”
Grasses and Vines Dozens of potted plants dot this roof terrace designed by New Eco Landscapes in Manhattan, but this combination of wispy dwarf maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’) and two colors of sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) stands out for its beauty and simplicity. Planting in tall containers boosts the height of the grasses, turning them into a shimmering canopy, and gives plenty of room for the sweet potato vines to tumble down the sides with lush foliage. Water requirement: Moderate to high Light requirement: Partial to full sun
see care tips at bottom of article
Japanese maples make lovely container plants. Their delicate foliage practically shimmers when placed in a bright spot on a terrace. Many varieties, like ‘Crimson Queen’ and ‘Orangeola’, have spectacular fall foliage. Choose a generous container for potting up a Japanese maple, and move it into a spot that receives full sun in cooler areas and afternoon shade in hotter areas. These delicate trees grow best without much exposure to wind — if you’re growing on a patio or balcony, choose a sheltered area for the tree. Keep the soil in the container consistently moist. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 8) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade; shelter from baking sunlight Mature size: Varies by species; up to 20 feet tall and wide; easily kept smaller in a container with pruning link - See 11 Japanese maples with beautiful color and form
To achieve this, you could use items such as; plastic bottles, milk jugs, soda cans, styrofoam packing materials, including packing peanuts as well as the very plastic containers your plants came in! Wash the items well to make sure no food residue remains and fill the bottom one-fourth to one-third of the container with your “filler”. You can use a combination of items to get the best fit. Just make sure the items won’t rot. (can use cans, styrofoam, etc.) *Note: Adding a sheet of mesh or landscaping fabric over the top, can help keep your soil in place. As an alternative, if you don’t mind a heavier pot, you can always use gravel, river rocks or broken pieces of pottery as your filler.
Partial shade: Japanese maple. Add height to a large container by starting with a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, zones 5 to 8) and filling in around the base with color-rich annuals and perennials that tolerate partial shade. Here, the designer used two types of sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas, zones 9 to 11), a brick-red-leafed coleus and Bonfire begonia (Begonia boliviensis) to create a cascade of color below the tree. Water requirement: Moderate to regular Light requirement: Partial shade
Shady spot on tree stump Summer color. This container combination would bring bright blooms and delicate, ferny foliage to a mild-climate garden with dappled light. Plants featured in this arrangement include white-flowering peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.), pink impatiens and begonias and Sprenger’s asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’, zones 9 to 11). Peace lily only thrive outdoors in very mild climates (zones 11 to 12). Chinese foxglove (Rehmannia elata, zones 7 to 10) is another tall flower that’s more cold-hardy and can grow in a shady container.
cent of spring. For a delicious fragrance when you pass over your home’s threshold, cluster potted bulbs chosen for their scent by your main entrance. Hyacinths and paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) are among the most fragrant and widely available. Water requirement: Moderate to high Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Fountain grass for the center, trailing verbena and potato vine.....all great for lots of sun! Verbena will not flower as much with shade
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