GardenSMART :: Think Out-of-the-Box for Fall Containers in Warm Climates
Think Out-of-the-Box for Fall Containers in Warm Climates
By Susan Martin, Proven Winners
Photographs courtesy of Proven Winners
While northerners are filling their fall containers with traditional mums and gourds, gardeners in warmer climates are gearing up to begin a whole new gardening season that lasts from fall through winter. Let's take a look at five non-traditional container recipes for southern gardens that reflect the warm mood and rich textures of the season.
Sunset Boulevard features a juicy mix of citrus tones. Find the recipe here.
From carving pumpkins to sweet potato pie, orange is an iconic color that signals fall has arrived. Sunset Boulevard has it in spades. Bold, double-flowered Lady Godiva™ Orange calendula flowers pair perfectly with the intricate blossoms of Sunsatia® Blood Orange™ nemesia. Both appreciate the relatively cooler temperatures and shorter days of fall, and the versatile Superbells® Over Easy™ calibrachoa tolerates both heat and cold. Its bright white flowers with a yellow yolk-like center help to set off the warm orange colors in this recipe. Best grown in full sun.
Looking for an elegant fall recipe for your window box? Try Pure Genius.
Though its coppery tones are cool all year long, Graceful Grasses® Toffee Twist sedge is especially nice in fall container combinations. Look how its superfine leaves gracefully cascade over the warm peach tones of Superbena® Royale Peachy Keen verbena and heart-shaped leaves of 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red' potato vine in this elegant recipe. Wouldn't this look beautiful against the backdrop of a cream stucco or tan limestone home? It's lovely in containers, but also grows together beautifully in the landscape. Best grown in part sun to sun.
You can almost hear the fire crackling among the fiery red Superbells® calibrachoa and Sunsatia® Blood Orange™ nemesia in this striking recipe. The strappy red variegated leaves and purple plumes of Graceful Grasses® 'Fireworks' fountain grass give a celebratory wave as you pass by. Near-black, heart-shaped Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Jet Black™ foliage anchors the container and complements all the warm tones surrounding it. This container recipe would look right at home near a fire pit and would really pop against a dark background. Best grown in full sun.
Happy Halloween! Disguise your window boxes with a fresh coat of paint and this boo-tiful mix of oranges and purples. Here's the recipe.
Fill your fall containers with this spook-tacular blend of vivid purple Superbells® Grape Punch™ and Dreamsicle® calibrachoa, Dolce® Cinnamon Curls™ coral bells and purple fountain grass. As they mature, the grasses will become tall fountains of deep purple foliage topped with rosy purple plumes, and the Superbells will form cascading curtains of bright purples and oranges. Since all of the plants in this recipe can handle both cool and warm temperatures, they will last through the fall and winter months in warmer climates. Best grown in full sun.
This flaming red Mango recipe is a must-have for your end of summer tiki parties! Find the recipe here.
Super simple yet fabulous, our flashy Mango recipe combines just two kinds of plants — ColorBlaze® Royale Apple Brandy® and 'Fireworks' fountain grass. This versatile coleus, which has performed spectacularly in full sun in Florida trials but also grows well in shade, complements the tall, variegated 'Fireworks' fountain grass in upright containers. Wouldn't it be dazzling on your party deck this season? How about planting a matching pair to flank the front entrance of your home? This fabulous foliage matchup will go the distance from fall through winter. Best grown in part sun to sun.
Want more container recipe ideas? Find nearly 1,000 recipe ideas at provenwinners.com.
Contributor Bio: Susan Martin is an avid zone 6 gardener, garden writer and speaker who enjoys spreading her passion for plants to her fellow gardeners. Follow her on Facebook @Gardener Sue's News.
By Dan Heims, President, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Photographs courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. What’s not to like.
To learn more, click here for an interesting article.
Click here to sign up for our monthly NEWSLETTER packed with great articles and helpful tips for your home, garden and pets!
