Exterior Ideas
Tuck in cool-season flowers. After removing summer annuals past their prime, fill in the gaps with cool-season bloomers in fall colors. Although they may look tender and delicate, pansies are actually some of the most cold-tolerant annual flowers. When planted now while soils are warm, they’ll bloom from fall to spring. Don’t wait too long, though — pansies planted late, in soils with temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.2 degrees Celsius), tend to have stunted growth and fewer flowers.
Bright window box. Window boxes filled with hot-colored summer blooms can enliven your front yard. In this vivid London entry, ruby-red million bells (Calibrachoa sp.) spill over the edge below the slender stems of purple-flowering purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis, zones 7 to 10), silvery rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, zones 8 to 11).
All foliage. Well, almost all foliage. This potted combination in Atlanta relies primarily on leaf color, rather than blooms, for a long-lasting combination that requires less care than needed for flowers. From top to bottom, we see speckled pink-and-green elephant ears (Caladium sp.), purple-leaved tradescantia (Tradescantia sp.) and lime-green sweet potato vine (Ipomea batatas, zones 9 to 11). There’s so much interest and contrast among the foliage plants that one hardly notices the more subtle red flowers of a trailing begonia and pink impatiens at the back left. Water requirement: Regular (keep soil moist) Light requirement: Partial shade or bright, indirect light
Hot salsa. As zesty as a dose of chili and lime, this spicy combination heats up an urban terrace in a high-rise in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the back of the container, a strappy ‘Apricot Queen’ New Zealand flax (Phormium ‘Apricot Queen’, zones 8 to 11) adds height and structural interest. Orange-flowering trailing begonias and chartreuse sweet potato vines (Ipomea batatas, zones 9 to 11) alternate in bright spills over the sides of the container. Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun to partial sun
Low water. For a dramatic container display that can take summer heat without needing frequent irrigation, take a look at this planting trio in San Luis Obispo, California. The designer used a simple trio of a large-scale agave, a low-growing filler of blue chalk sticks (Senecio mandraliscae, zones 9 to 12), and orange-flowering parrot’s beak (Lotus maculatus, zones 9 to 11) for a hit of color.
Sunset glow. With hues as rich and vibrant as a sunset sky, this summer container lights up a Chicago backyard. Pink and magenta shades are chameleon-like in hot-colored container combinations, appearing bright if used with greens and purples or having more cooling effects when paired with reds and oranges. Here, the magenta petunia cools the otherwise fiery combination of coral tiplant (Cordyline fruticosa, Zone 11) foliage, medium-pink gaura (Gaura lindheimeri, Zone 5), orange-flowering lantana (Lantana camara, zones 9 to 11) and Big Red Bronze Leaf begonia. Water requirement: Regular
Just one plant. One of the simplest tricks when it comes to containers is limiting the design to one plant (or plant variety) per pot. Here, a single dwarf bougainvillea (USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone) in vibrant magenta packs a lot of punch, spilling out in pink cascades over a ceramic bowl. Unlike the full-size sprawling vines, dwarf bougainvillea reaches only 2 to 3 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide, making it a perfect container-size specimen. Water requirement: Moderate; lower once established Light requirement: Full sun
For this container in Santa Barbara, California, the designer potted a ‘Dancy’ tangerine (Citrus reticulata ‘Dancy’, zones 9 to 11) with thyme and azure-colored ground morning glory (Convolvulus mauritanicus, zones 7 to 9) to trail over the sides. Like all citrus, the tangerine tree fruits in winter, but the fruits hang on the tree for months. In a potted display, this is particularly useful for adding interest to containers when the warm-season flowers are gone. Citrus grows best in containers with frequent fertilization (at least monthly, and more if leaves show yellowing).
hybrid called Raspberry Shortcake, which looks sweet as can be potted on the patio. This dwarf hybrid (from the Bushel and Berry collection, formerly BrazelBerries) thrives in a large container, growing to be only 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, and is also thornless. Plant in spring or early summer to enjoy sweet, large red berries by midsummer. Water requirement: Regular; keep the soil consistently moist leading up to and throughout summer fruiting season Light requirement: Full sun
Plant an ornamental grass for instant drama. To give some serious pizazz to existing container gardens by adding just one plant, reach for purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, zones 8 to 11). 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 throughout fall.
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