Bring On the Color!

I just installed my major annual display for a client. She has containers around her home on various patios. Each area has different lighting and, depending on what part of the house looks out over the area, a different theme. Whenever possible, I use the same plants around the property, but in different colors to accomplish the theme.

My new favorite color combo? Purple, orange, blue and pink. Yes, in the same container! It's fabulous!
The plants I used are:

Ageratum 'Artist's Blue'
Calibrichoa 'Superbells Pink'
Coleus 'Sedona'
Crocossima 'Orange Marmalade'
Fuchsia 'Autumnale'
Lantana 'Bandana Cherry Sunrise'
Sedum 'Bertram Anderson'
Stobilanthes 'Persian Shield'

While flowers are wonderful, not every plant needs a flower to be interesting or colorful. Foliage plants can add a lot to a design. Take the Persian Shield. It's purple, right? Look closer. There's also magenta, which ties in the pink calibrichoa. The orange foliage of the Fuchsia 'Autumnale' plays well with the purple Persian Shield, while the pink tones unify all three plants.

(A word of caution about purple I learned the hard way: Purple likes to steal the show. Use sparingly ie one plant as a focal point or one variety of purple flowers. Too much purple over-powers other colors to the point where you won't notice them!)


Take chances with your annual containers - we are no longer limited to geraniums and spikes. Play around with color - be bold! Break out the color wheel! My designs always turn out best when I use my color wheel. Try a plant you've never used or heard of before. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, add perennials to your annual containers - they can be planted in your garden in the fall. You'll be amazed with what you create!