As spring gardens and wildflowers are blooming all around us, we wanted to share our favorite ideas for container planting. From our spring issue of Magnolia Journal, this easy-to-follow formula will help you find a style you love!
Thoughtful container planting can add life and design to the patio, porch, or any other perch.
As warmer temperatures beckon us outside, container planting offers an accessible way to ease back into the garden.
Long-lasting and low-maintenance, these creations offer bursts of color and thick concentrations of growth that enliven outdoor spaces. In the groupings we share, close attention is paid to plants with similar water and sunlight needs, as well as to leaving enough room for each plant to grow. Considering these factors helps to ensure plants will thrive as neighbors, growing into a pocket garden that can last well into fall.
Here we’ve simplified the possibilities into five styles, all built around this tried-and-true formula:
KEEP IT TRADITIONAL
Formula:
Thriller: ‘Boulevard’ false cypress
Fillers: silver plectranthus, Swedish ivy, and Pure White Butterfly Argyranthemum
Spiller: English ivy
Care:
Place this combination in dappled sunlight, let it dry between waterings, and keep Swedish ivy snipped so it does not overwhelm the pot.
What’s to love:
Classy and understated, this combination works in almost any setting
EMBRACE THE SHADE
Formula:
Thriller: ‘Black Beauty’ elephant ear
Fillers: Season’s King heuchera and variegated ‘June’ hosta
Spiller: ‘Victoria’ bird’s-nest fern
Care:
Place in a shady spot and give ample water.
What’s to love:
With contrasting textures and rich, dark tones, this palette skips the flowers, relying on foliage alone for impact.
SOAK UP THE SUN
Formula:
Thriller: ‘Pretoria’ canna
Fillers: ‘Occold Shield’ geranium and Diamond Frost euphorbia
Spiller: ‘Sweet Caroline’ sweet potato vine
Care:
Set in full sun and give ample water. Trim the sweet potato vine as needed.
What’s to love:
A bright, broad-leaf architectural focal point commands attention, while the full-bodied spiller adds plenty of cheer.
ENJOY THE FLAVORS
Formula:
Thriller: ‘Pesto Perpetuo’ basil
Fillers: Italian parsley, thyme, and tricolor sage
Spiller: golden oregano
Care:
Place in full sun and allow
to dry out between waterings. Snip stems regularly to promote new growth.
What’s to love:
Herbs of different hues and textures come together in a planter that also supplies a steady harvest for cooks.
INVITE POLLINATORS
Formula:
Thriller: Angelface Angelonia
Fillers: Meteor Shower verbena and ‘Lavance Deep Purple’
lavender
Spiller: Petunias
Care:
Give it full sun and regular water. Pinch back petunias to encourage more blooms.
What’s to love:
With pink and purple flowers of various shapes—from spires to funnels—this combination gives off a cottage feel with some of the best bee and butterfly flowers around.
This story was adapted for digital from the spring issue of Magnolia Journal.
