Seeing Red. (My comeback post)

Eddie Lee May, 1941-2014. This post is dedicated to Lee May, author of Lee May’s Gardening Life blog. In my life, Lee was a blogging buddy, writing mentor, and fearless gardener. I was never so proud as when I appeared on his blogroll. He is greatly missed. 

I once read that one was never to use red in the landscape because it interrupted the visual flow too much. For that reason, I’ve refused red blooms for years and still observe this rule today. That goes for annuals too- not in my pots. It is indeed a powerful color which has an interesting set of associations –heated emotions, passion, violence, communism, a sign of warning (traffic lights etc), and of course blood. I’m just not a fan, but admittedly have purchased a few red geraniums in my day. Other than that, I easily ignore the other red flowers at the garden centers… until this year.

My personal container designs have become a testing and trial exercise on how to exploit the virtues of a particular color. For several years, I have chosen a specific color theme to adhere to. The intent of this self-imposed constraint is to force myself to use new colors and new plants that would otherwise go ignored due to my finicky color prejudices which I developed some time ago. New plants mean new plant combinations, and new combinations mean better design savvy (hopefully). So this is where my stance on red takes a turn. This year I would work in red.

It took a while to amass enough plant material to begin. Many of the reds are just too fiery and off-putting. If I were to commit to red, it would have to meet me half way. I needed lovely sumptuous reds that would pull you in instead of agitate the eye and make you want to look away. I’m pleased with most of the results. Would I ever enter the red zone again? Not by choice, but the point of my exercise is simply to expand my knowledge of plants and use of color. Armed with this year’s experience, I’m confident I can create something beautiful with reds if I am ever called upon to do so. As I reflect on the past year, I am reminded that life is short. Try everything. Even red.

Please enjoy this visual survey and notes from my containers. Hover over the bottom left of an image to reveal my notes.

The large petals on Geranium Calliope Dark Red make them very showy, even from a distance. I love the deep dark color of this semi-trailing geranium.

The Calliope Geraniums were paired with variegated ivy. Two urns welcome visitors as they step up onto the front porch. I love the traditional feel of geraniums paired with ivies.

One of my favorite combos used only two plants: Lemon Twist Plectranthus (top) and Bat Plant (trailing). This pot just got bigger and better throughout the season.

Each flower on this peculiar annual resembles a bat’s face, hence the name Bat Faced Cuphea. The dark purple faces have electric orange-red ears. A great plant for a child’s garden.

Bat Faced Cuphea has a strong arching habit but can be pinched back to maintain a dense shape. This was my first time growing this annual. The tiny blooms pack alot of bright punch.

Shady spots near the back patio did not escape the red motif. Several pots were filled with Caladium Red Ruffles. Repetition of a singular plant in pots is no different than planting en masse in the landscape. It is calming to the eye and creates a strong unified look.

The red color of the foliage is intensified by the small green band of green around each leaf. Colors directly across each other on a color wheel, such as red and green, are known as Complimentary Colors. They create the strongest contrast for those particular two colors. Other popular pairs include yellow & purple, and blue & orange.

The north stoop was the perfect place to create a vertical gesture with vining Cissus Discolor. I was drawn to the dramatic foliage with subtle red hues. Even the vines are red and that little bit allows it to relate to the overall red theme.

The Dahlias were outstanding this year. Their red color held dark blue undertones and that’s exactly the red shade I prefer. Dark and dramatic. This is Dahlia xxl Taxco. In the background: Red Splash Plant.

The Dahlia color lies somewhere between the dark purple and orange-red of the Bat Plant in the background. Reds are hard to match up, but careful selections will give you a pleasing spectrum. Always look for strong color relationships to tie things together.

The focal point of my patio containers use five different plants: Cordyline, Dipladenia, Coleus, Sweet Potato Vine, and Hankonechloa Aureola. Nothing fancy. All were purchased at a local garden center. On their own they are lovely, but combined together they create a sensational display.

I love the range of sumptuous reds in the Cordyline Florica Red. The foliage held so many different shades and that encouraged me to combine different reds in the containers. This sole plant became my guiding spirit.

In the front center of the large pots is Dipladenia Rio. This non-stop blooming tropical has very soothing dark red velvety flowers- perfect for this setting. The last thing you want is a fire engine with lights on sitting next to you as you try to unwind.

The Lava Rose Coleus serves two purposes. First, it trails nicely out of the pot and gently intertwines with the other plants. Second, the color supports the red theme in a sly way. Red is a main component of burgundy and magenta, and that links this Coleus perfectly to the color theme.

A matching combo pot sits on the other side of a teak bench. Purple Sweet Potato Vine coaxes dark shades out of the flowers and foliage. The bright green grass is Golden Variegated Hakone ‘Aureola’. It’s there for texture and color contrast. It is a shade loving grass and will be relocated to a bed once the pots are disassembled.

I repeated the Geranium and Ivy combo in two urns which flank the stairs to the back lawn. This zonal Geranium is much more intense in color than the Calliope Geranium used in the front of the house. By end of season, the Ivy was trailing halfway down the urns.

I do not remember the name of this zonal Geranium. It favors the red-orange tones. Not my favorite shade of red, but I had to explore everything to fully understand the merits of each red shade. Good old fashioned Geraniums are tough plants and can be overwintered.

It’s just Lantana. Very common and very everywhere, just like McDonald’s. I specifically chose this because of the yellow. Just wanted to see how long I could stand it.

The Lantana and Geraniums were the last annuals to get discarded. The Lantana hung in there through some cold temps, but once we hit the frost stage, it was a goner. Some days it was nice to see the yellow combined with red, but was never really enthralled. If actors in a movie, I put them in the ‘Extra’ category.

Of course I had a Red Mandevilla (Sun Parasol Pretty Crimson). This is a plant I am familiar with and it is usually foolproof. However, I had one decline and had to replace it mid summer. The vine is a climber and had many blooms for the remainder of the season.

A beautiful tropical that looked great all season was Pseuderanthemum Rubrum. This plant was a gift from a close friend. I was drawn to the dark foliage and the red tones under the leaves.

Pseuderanthemum is sometimes known as Black Varnish Plant. Although small when I received it, it grew to at least 48” tall. This pot was underplanted with Red Splash Plant.

Hypoestes is known as Splash Plant in garden centers. I had never grown this plant, but gave it a try since one of them is splashed in red. It is great as an accent foliage plant and I understand how people can be drawn to it for containers.

Begonias are a nice foliage plant for areas without direct sunlight. I had several on the front porch and loved the subtle red shades of the otherwise dark mysterious foliage. Look at those red stems. They are magnificent.

Rehab for a Gardener?

“In January the most important thing a gardener can cultivate is themself.” So says Jojo Tulloh in the Gardens Illustrated articled titled Respect Yourself. I couldn’t agree more and liken it to nursing a nasty hangover after binging on gardening for months on end. I do my best to sleep it off and find that a little ibuprofen helps too. But what’s the use? It won’t be long before I fall off the wagon again. I always do.

Debauchery lies ahead, beneath the current pages of the calendar. Soon I’ll be drunk again with flowers and foliage. Is rehab in order? I don’t think so. I just need some time to rest, to plan, and even dream a little. Perhaps I’ll set a goal or challenge of learning a new skill over the coming party *ahem* growing season. The next drunken stupor is inevitable, but it’ll will have to wait at least until March.

No one says it better than the late Amy Winehouse (below). Happy New Year!

Saying Goodbye to Summer Annuals

It’s time to say goodbye to my summer annuals despite the temperate weather. In central Indiana, weather turns on a dime and procrastinating will only lead to a very chilly or wet time-consuming task. It’s hard to say goodbye after all the hard work that has gone into designing and caring for the containers. On a recent Sunday morning, I took a close look at the patio containers near the pool deck. I thought it would be fun to build the composition through video. So many times, I photograph individual pots and details never giving a sense of scale or composition. Though my video techniques are lacking finesse, I think you’ll get the idea of what the small poolside patio was like this season.

Click on the thumbnails below to find out more details. I’m starting to document my work with annuals more closely so I can reference the silhouettes and plant growing habits for future projects. Up to now, annuals were not a big deal to me, but as my role at the garden center advances, I am beginning to understand and appreciate their function in the landscape a bit more.

Question: Do annuals play a big role in your garden? 

White Bacopa spills over matching urns. The center plant is Dusty Miller ‘New Look’. It’s been fun watching the Bacopa grow and cover the entire urn bowl. In hindisght, I would not include the Dusty Miller.

The containers have filled out beautifully. Now would be a great time to mention that I am inspired and influence by the work of Deborah Silverman. If I ever get that good, I will be dangerous. ;)

I designed the entire patio and this container around White Mandevilla. New obelisks and pots were purchased specifically for this arrangement. As time goes on, I find that I keep utilizing larger pots for my designs.

The Mandevilla vines stretch out in hopes of grabbing onto something.

Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’ flowers were a nice compliment to all the other green foliage. The hue is light enough that I consider it a ‘shade’ of white.

Perhaps the most exhuberant of all the containers, this Alocasia is underplanted with White Scaevola. It’s high drama and high contrast pairing a tall large leaf plant with a shorter one. The Scaevola spills out around the entire pot creating a tutu effect.

This little guy looks like Cousin Itt from the Adams Family. This is Sedum ‘Lemon Coral.’ Since I use so many containers, I keep the combos simple, often times using only one type of plant per container. This allows me to create a larger and controlled effect. In other words, instead of cramming lots of different plants into one pot, I cram the uncomplicated pots together.

This combo was meant to be SunPatiens ‘Compact White Improved’ and Petite Licorice Plant, but the SunPatiens really dominated. They grew to 24” tall and were sturdy with large showy flowers. After all the hubbub about Downy Mildew on Impatiens, I had to try SunPatiens. Simply put, they performed– in sun! 

A detail of the SunPatiens container. Not to be overshadowed, the Licorice Plant did climb its way through the tall SunPatiens. Love SunPatiens– and my number one recommendation for annuals in the landscape!

In the end, it’s all about contrast. For the most dynamic effect, pair tiny foliage and blooms against large ones, dark colors against light, and vary heights to keep your eye dazzled and moving. The white blooms are Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ and the variegated leaf is Plectranthus ‘Aurea Marginata.’

Even in a dynamic display of annuals, it’s important to have repitition. It creates a rythmn and a place for your eye to pause while your mind’s eye catches its breath. These Boston Ferns called ‘Tiger Fern’ are arranged to take up a large space and visually create a calm moment.

When containers peter out, pop in a new annual. These mums adhere to the color scheme and will take the show into fall.

Classic Annuals, Surprising Foliage Accents

It’s been quite some time since my last post. I’m still here. Just tired, and on plant overload, the side effect of working at a garden center and nursery. I’d like to say that working in the nursery business has changed my gardening perspective, but it hasn’t really. Perhaps it’s a bit more refined though. No matter what new plants or colors come in, I’m still attracted to the classics, or good ‘ole standbys if you will. This goes for annuals too.

When I started working at Sundown Gardens, I was giddy with excitement about all the annuals I would have at my disposal for my own containers. Little did I know that customers would show up to the store with their empty containers in tow wanting custom potting jobs. I never expected that it would become part of my job(s) either. The orders span the gamut. Some containers are manageable, others require a big truck and crew to deliver and place on site. I love doing it, but even with an overabundance of annuals and perennials to choose from, it’s never easy. I try very hard to create something unique for each customer. I often wonder how those designs hold up after they’ve gone home to their rightful owners.

Speaking of home, this potting business has given me cause to scrutinize my own container designs more carefully. The patio and front porch have become a laboratory or sorts, where I experiment with foliage and bloom combinations and put light levels to the test. There are so many choices to pick from that I impose constraints to keep myself in check. This season, I chose the color white for all the pots near the pool. In the end, I weave many of the classics into the mix. If you can master composition with these, then everything else is icing on the cake. In years past, I have relied heavily on coleus. This year I used none. I traded them in for Scented Geranium, Licorice Plants, Alocasia, Abutilon, and Plectranthus. For blooms, I am relying heavily on Mandavilla Vine, Calibrachoa, Dahlias and of course, Marigolds (Vanilla Marigold shown above). Here’s a peak at my palette this year with an emphasis on the foliage accents.

Abutilon savitzii

I love the maple-leaf shaped foliage with creamy white edges of this Abutilon. I keep the moisture level of this plant very consistent. It receives direct sun in the morning hours and is completely shaded by noon. Many of my pots are not combos, but single plants nestled against other pots. This creates a more pronounced effect.

Nephrolepis exaltata Boston Fern ‘Tiger Fern’

I love Boston Ferns and forewent the classic solid green for a variegated variety call ‘Tiger Fern.’ Situated in bright shade, they receive no direct sunlight. Since they are in a shady area, its easy to keep the soil evenly moist. The chartruese highlights really brighten this otherwise dark spot.

Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘odora’

Commonly known as Elephant Ears, this tall tropical is the main attraction in a large pot. Positioned in the center, the large leaves are dramatic and arch out gracefully over the white Scavoila tutu that outlines the rim. Scale is so important when designing plantings. You can create instant drama by combining bold large plants against smaller delicate ones.

Coryline terminalis ‘Miss Andrea’

In shades of cream, purple, red and green, I found this Cordyline hard to resist. It has a nice relationship to the creamy shades of the other plants, yet refuses to completely blend in. You need at least one plant with this temperment in your collection.

Dahlia ‘XXL Mayo’

This is one of the bloomers set amongst the many accent plants. Extra extra large blooms and deep dark green foliage make this classic a showstopper. As its name suggests, the off white tone resembles the creamy condiment mayonnaise. This Dahlia receives direct sun till about 1PM. Very sturdy 24” tall stems. Has been blooming constantly since early May. 

Pelargonium graveolens variegata ‘Mint Scented Rose Geranium’

Love this! A very textural plant that rarely blooms. I was lucky enough to see a few flowers earlier this season. The deeply cut leaves add much visual interest to my collection of plants. Scented geraniums were widely grown in the Victorian era and used for perfume and potpourri. They were occasionally used for cooking too. I’ve noticed scented/fragrant plants making a bit of a comeback. 

Helichrysum petiolare Petite Licorice

I’m a big fan of licorice plants and found this silver petite variety very charming. I used it with bright white SunPatiens (the full sun version of Impatiens). Avoid overwatering licorice plants as it makes the foliage quite unattractive. Proven Winners offers a wide selection in a variety of colors.

Plectranthus aurea marginata

This is a beauty! Don’t let the delicate scalloped edges and velvety texture of this plant fool you. It’s as rugged as it is beautiful. I think it goes head-to-head with any coleus. My Plectranthus recieve sun till 1PM and shade the rest of the day. The chartreuse edges echo the Lemon Licorice hues from the neigboring pot. Very easy to grow.

Sun Parasol® White Mandevilla

A very common tropical sold all over the US in spring. I fell in love with the white one and made it the centerpiece of my annual container scheme. A true vine that will climb terllises or flow out of hanging baskets. The foliage is deep dark green and glossy. This plant (like most tropicals) requires regular watering and does not like to go dry. The intesity of the yellow center makes the white petals appear extremely bright white.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer in the garden. I will post more on my annuals and container designs in future posts. 

Tough Choices in Times of Drought

Between work at the garden center and home, I feel like the water wand is permanently attached to my hand. We are experiencing severe drought conditions here in the Midwest and that means we have tough choices to make. If you have to choose between lawn and plants for watering– choose plants.

My lawn (pictured above) has not been mown since late May. It simply has not rained enough for it to grow. Although it looks awful, I’m not too concerned about it. It’s actually gone into dormancy and can stay this way for some time before any irreversible damage* is done. On the other hand, flowers and plants will die off without regular watering. This includes trees and shrubs!

Here are a couple of good articles on watering and dealing with drought: 

Learn to Water Well

The Top 3 Rules for Tree Care

Drought Could Limit Garden Plants’ Development Next Year

If you have tips or techniques you’d like to share on dealing with drought, leave them in the comments section. We can all benefit from each other’s gardening experience.

*Note: If you have recently installed sod or seeded a lawn, you must water it until it is fully established. 

A Touch of Pink

Better late than never, right? I’m JUST now getting around to planting my containers with annuals. I love to challenge myself each year with new plants and colors which I don’t often use. This year is no exception. Here’s a preview of things to come.

Stay tuned for plant names and the finished container arrangements.

In Like a Lamb…Spring Chores, Tips & Reminders

March is just around the corner and our weatherman is predicting mild and pleasant weather. Could 2012 be the Midwest’s year without a winter? Does that mean that March will go out like a lion? I certainly hope not. And that’s all we can really do– hope. No matter what, there are many things we can and should do throughout March in preparation of spring’s official arrival. Below is a list to help you get growing this season.

Spring Garden Chores and Reminders

• Plan your vegetable garden before you plant. Ask yourself the following: How much space do you have? How much light does your plot get? Most vegetables require six hours of light each day. How much time can you dedicate to tending? What do you like to eat?

• Start seeds indoors so they are ready to transplant when the soil temperature warms.

• Mid-March is a good time to plant cool season crops such as cabbage, kale, chards, cauliflower and broccoli. A cool-season crop is defined as a vegetable that grows best with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F. Cool-season crops can tolerate light to moderate frosts, but are intolerant of high summer temperatures.

• If this is your first vegetable garden, have your soil tested before you plant. Your local Cooperative Extension Office can help with this.

• Prepare garden beds by adding more organic material to your soil and work it in about 6 inches deep. This is a good yearly habit to get into.

• Now is a great time to get your mower in for a tune-up or take blades in for sharpening. Do it before everybody else does to avoid long waiting periods for service.

• Pick a day to bring out any patio furniture and clean, repair, or touch up as needed.

• Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools. Organize your garden shed/work area.

• While the garden is still dormant, take an objective look at “the bones” of your landscape and select areas that need improvement. Trees, evergreens, grasses and berry-covered shrubs will create structure and visual interest year round.

• Order mulch for beds and borders.

• On a sunny day, rake and pick-up fallen branches, twigs, leaves and any other debris from the winter months. Cut back ornamental grasses.

• For a burst of color, fill a few containers with pansies as soon they become available. Pansies can tolerate frost and freezing temperatures. Resist the urge to purchase warm season annuals until the danger of frost has past.

• Keep filling bird feeders this time of year as food is scarce in colder regions.

In With The New!

Every year the National Garden Bureau announces many of the gardening industry’s newest varieties. The flowers below are just a sampling of what’s in store for 2012. My observation is that color is being amped up and cleaned up (less subdued hues) across the board.

The National Garden Bureau was born in 1920 and was the inspiration of James H. Burdett. He lead the charge of promoting gardening and beautification to the masses by enlisting horticultural writers and broadcasters to further education of everyday citizens and creating a population of gardeners. The Bureau came into age during World War II when the victory garden movement was in force. Today, the mission of the Bureau is the same as it was then, to improve the quality of life and the environment through increased use of seeds and plants.

There are many organizations with a similar purpose, but I look to the Bureau this time of year to get a glimpse of what to expect at nurseries and garden centers this coming season. Hopefully, some of these sensational introductions will find their way to a retail outlet near you. You may also find them in catalogs or online. For detailed plant characteristics and growing needs, visit the National Garden Bureau’s website and click on New Varieties.

Osteospermum ‘3D™ Pink’  |  Osteospermum ecklonis

Ball Horticultural Company

Agastache ‘Summer Sunset’  |  Agastache hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Angelonia ‘Serena Blue’  |  Angelonia angustifolia

Harris Seeds

Angelonia ‘Archangel Purple’  |  Angelonia angustifolia

PanAmerican Seed

Marigold ‘Bonanza Deep Orange’  |  Tagetes patula

Ball Horticultural Company

Kale, flowering ‘Song Bird™’ F1  |  Brassica oleracea

American Takii

Cistus ‘Mickie’  |  Cistus x hybridus

Terra Nova Nurseries

Cosmos ‘Double Click Bicolor Pink’  |  Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus

Burpee

Cyclamen ‘Sweetheart™ Sensation’  |  Cyclamen hederifolium

Terra Nova Nurseries

Echinacea ‘Aloha’  |  Echinacea hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Echinacea ‘Double Scoop Bubble Gum’  |  Echinacea purpurea

Ball Horticultural Company

Geum ‘Fire Storm’  |  Geum hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Alstroemeria ‘Butterfly Hybrids’  |  Alstroemeria var.

Pro-Veg Seeds Ltd.

Begonia ‘Santa Cruz Sunset’  |  Begonia boliviensis

Ernst Benary of America Inc.

Hibiscus ‘Mahogany Splendor’  |  Hibiscus acetosella

Burpee

Gerbera ‘Jaguar™ Tangerine Dark Center’  |  Gerbera jamesonii

Syngenta Flowers

Heuchera ‘Apple Crisp’  |  Heuchera hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’  |  Heucherella

Terra Nova Nurseries

Impatiens ‘Accent™ Premium Red’  |  Impatiens walleriana

Syngenta Flowers

Begonia ‘Amour’  |  Begonia boliviensis

Ball Horticultural Company

Pansy ‘Iona™ Frosty Blue Improved’ F1  |  Viola wittrockiana

American Takii

Pansy ‘Nature™ Rose Picotee’ F1  |  Viola wittrockiana

American Takii

Echinacea Sombrero Salsa Red  |  Echinacea purpurea

Ball Horticultural Company

Tiarella ‘Sunset Ridge’  |  Tiarella hybrid

Terra Nova Nurseries

Viola ‘Gem™ Scarlet’ F1  |  Viola cornuta

American Takii

Coleus ‘Wasabi’  |  Coleus Solenostemon scutellarioides

Ball Horticultural Company

Begonia ‘Whopper Red with Bronze Leaf’  |  Begonia hybrid

Ball Horticultural Company

​ All images courtesy of the National Garden Bureau Inc.

Everything goes with Black

Petunias are a very common and popular bedding plant. In recent years I have shied away from them for that very reason. But when breeders developed a new petunia named “Black Velvet,” I was more than intrigued. So much so, that I assigned myself a palette of black, grey, and purple for my patio containers. Of course, green and chartreuse would not be excluded.

I must admit, even I was impressed at the dramatic display this unusual color palette delivered. With only one container devoted to Black Petunias, it garnered quite a bit of attention all season long. Like all flowers known as black, they are actually a very deep inky purple which looks black. It’s taken years to develop the dark black color and I would say that it is still not perfected, but quite stunning none-the-less.

With summer nearing an end, my containers have endured very intense heat during the past weeks. Our current 60s and 70s are a welcomed change in temperature. The plants are coming into their own again. It’s fun to see how far along the plants have come since they were potted up last May. I share with you a few images of the exciting foliage from my patio containers.

Container Gardening at Sutherland

For me, nothing is quite as exciting as taking out the pots that have been stored all winter long and filling them again with a whole new set of plants. I take great pleasure in choosing young tender plants in hopes of watching them grow into magnificent specimens bursting with color and texture. It’s a bit of a waiting game, but summer rolls around quickly and that’s when you really get to see and enjoy the results of your labor.

This year, there are two distinct color stories; bright and intense for the front and dark and moody in the back. The front is comprised of hot coral and pinks with lots of green textures and white accents. Since the front porch sits nearly 80 feet from the street, bright colors are necessary to make any sort of impact.

Two square strap urns sit out in full sun most of the day. They have a rather simplistic planting consisting of Caliente Hot Coral Geraniums (semi-trailing habit) and a variegated Algerian Ivy. The term ‘variegated’ refers to plants with leaves that are edged or patterned in a second color. Ivy and Geraniums are an old fashioned plant combination but the hot coral color keeps it contemporary. I really love the dark green color of the Geranium leaves.

Just behind the urns are two square terracotta pots that echo the same color scheme. These pots say “too much is just enough” and are designed to hold a visitor’s attention while they wait for the front door to be answered. They require shade-loving plants since they are under the roof of the porch. Included are Ferns, Impatiens, Angel Leaf Begonias and the same variegated Ivy used in the urns. The light grey foliage plant is called Icicles Licorice Plant, Helichrysum thianschanicum.

The back yard is a different story entirely. The main level of the back is flanked by the rear of the house, the side of the garage and an 8 foot privacy fence. Since it’s a more intimate area, all color combinations are fair game. This is where I experiment with plants, color and texture. Since we’ve inherited quite a bit of lousy hardscape with terrible soil conditions, many containers are necessary to soften the area, create focal points and more importantly, add color. This year I’m using black, greys, and purples. Unusual for sure, but I want to create a dark cool ambience for guests as they sit down for a drink or take a break from the pool.

The teak bench is framed with large black pots on pedestals which contain a tropical plant called Alocasia lauterbachiana. The dark stems and foliage are set off by the silver grey of White Licorice plants. The Licorice will trail downward over the pots contrasting nicely with the upright form of the Alocasia.

Around the chairs, various pots continue the dark theme with bits of bright hues for excitement. The largest pot holds three striking Coleus called Fishnet Stockings, Solenostemon scutellarioides. These will get nearly 3 feet tall by end of summer. The striking green and burgundy variegation is dazzling.

The sister pot contains a different Coleus called Chocolate Drop which has a trailing habit. I love using the ornamental plant Coleus because they come in several colors with terrific texture and variegated leaves. Traditionally a shade-loving plant, many new Coleus are being introduced which can tolerate more sun and heat. The purple daisy flowers in the center of this pot are Osteospermum Soprano Purple. The large clay pots are by Guy Wolff.

There are two more terracotta pots planted with Persian Shield Strobilanthes dyerianus (metallic purple foliage leaf) and Light Pink Verbena. I have not grown these plants before, but I suspect they will look sensational in a couple of weeks. The Persian Shield will be the star of the show, while the vigorous Pink Verbena will add a bit of ‘flower power.’

Believe it or not, there are still 8 more pots and one very large trough to be designed and planted. No need to rush– there is plenty of time and the more you shop around, the more interesting plants you expose yourself to. 

Floricordially Yours | Part 1

Since it’s cold and the ground is frozen solid, I’ll take some time to glean information and highlights from the past growing season. If you made any great discoveries this year, or just have a favorite plant to share, I invite you to leave a comment.

The name of the plant is Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’ and I happened upon it at Country Harmony, a terrific little garden center in Brownsburg, IN. It’s possible that I may have walked passed it in previous years, but it really caught my eye in 2010.  Since it was new to me, I featured it as a specimen in a pot of it’s own. I do this with new plants so I can really see the growth habit and watch how they behave in our climate. Quick adjustments for light requirements can be made rather simply by moving the pot in or out of sun and shade. ‘Mona Lavender’ thrives in part sun to deep shade. It proved to be a showstopper as many people inquired about it all summer long.

While the beautiful blooms come on somewhat sporadically, it’s the foliage that makes this a winner in the ornamental category. The leaves are dark green and somewhat glossy with an intense dark purple underside. The stems are dark purple also. The more sun it gets, the more intense the coloration. The blooms, well, they look like miniature orchids with purple markings. Cute!

As I observed this plant all season long, I was struck by the shrub-like characteristics– low and compact. This leads me to believe that it would define a border quite nicely (like a little hedge). As well, it would be great planted en masse or sprinkled into existing beds. And of course, it makes a great container plant too.

All in all, I found this to be a trouble-free plant. It is widely available at garden centers throughout North America thanks to the commercialization by the Ball Horticultural Company. Treat this plant as an annual in Zone 5, or overwinter indoors.

What to know about ‘Mona Lavender’:

• Height: 1 ft. to 3 ft.
• Spread: 1 ft. to 3 ft.
• Growth Pace: Moderate Grower
• Light: Part Shade to Full Shade
• Moisture: Medium Moisture
• Maintenance: Moderate
• Characteristics: Showy Foliage into Late Fall
• Bloom Time: Late Spring through Late Fall
• Flower Color: Purple/Lavender
• Uses: Beds and Borders, Container, Shade, Indoor Plant
• Type: Plectranthus

Interesting fact: This hybrid was developed at South Africa’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the 1990s. The South African National Biodiversity Institute has an agreement with the Ball Horticultural Company near Chicago which stipulates that for each plant they sell, South Africa receives substantial royalties.