For a dramatic and eye-catching container display, well-considered color
clashes can produce the best results, although the careful use of
texture and form is even more important in such schemes. Here, yellow
variegated foliage contrasts harmoniously with the dark glazed pot,
while the rich red mini petunias (Calibrachoa) clash. Touches of red in
the linear foliage of the grass Hakonechloa, though, help to tie the
planting together. The gently arching growth of the grass is
complemented by the trailing periwinkle (Vinca), which mingles well
with the petunias that spill over the sides of the pot.
Choosing a Container
A glazed pot that is approximately 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter will help show off this beautiful mix of bedding plants and garden perennial. Use a good-quality, multipurpose potting mix and keep plants in a sheltered, sunny spot.
Types of Plants
- Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
- Calibrachoa Million Bells Cherry
- Calibrachoa Million Bells Red
- Vinca minor ‘Illumination’
Planting and Aftercare
Place a good layer of crocks in the base of the pot for drainage, and
add the soil. Position the grass centrally and then plant the Vinca and
mini petunias around the outside. The petunias are frost-tender, but
they will flower for a long season in a sunny position, provided they
are kept well fed and watered. In a more shaded spot, the petunias can
be replaced by a red busy Lizzie (Impatiens) or a bedding begonia.
After frost has browned the bedding, surviving plants can be planted out
in the garden, or kept in the pot and used again the following year.