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A Gardener's Guide to Planters

Published on May 10, 2021

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!

STORY BY JOHANNA SILVER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARSON DOWNING, PRODUCED BY SCOTT J. JOHNSON

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.

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