Spillers, Thrillers and Fillers Continued from last week....

By: Pamela Nobles
7/3/08

Several plants come to mind when making your next selection for one of your containers. The first thriller is the Strobilanthes dyerianus. Its common name is the Persian Shield. It is a native shrub-like plant from Burma with striking silver-coated, variegated purple leaves. The leaves are broadly oval, pointed, 6 to 8 inches long. This plant will produce pale violet tubular flowers in the summer, but what is so remarkable are the rich, showy color tones that will cause you to take a second glance. It requires full to partial sun for this region with regular watering. The Persian Shield looks best with pinks, blues, and purples, such as the Scaevola, Dusty Miller, Helichrysum, or you might add a Licorice Plant, an ‘Escargot’ rex begonia, and a striking Coleus . Another plant would be a Bacopa that does best in full sun to partial shade. It is finely textured, ideal for the edge of the pot, as it is a trailer to 12 inches and 6 inches tall. It produces clouds of tiny blossoms, which will flower nonstop. Some breeds are yielding more low-maintenance selections. The Cannas have become increasingly popular over the years in containers boasting brilliant bold colors with the dramatic blossoms and foliage such as Tropicana Black (chocolate-colored tropical leaves); Pretoria (lime-green striped leaves) and many others. Cannas are perennials that require full sun to partial shade, plenty of water, fast growing and abundant fertilizing that are among the best thrillers your money can buy. Some dwarf varieties are excellent for your containers where most grow 5 to 6 feet tall. Center cannas in a container then add three or four plants, such as Coleus, Dichondra, Sweet Potato vine, Calibrachoa, or Scaevola. Tip of the week: Container plants purchased from your area nurseries have come from greenhouses conducive to that environment. They have been potted with fertilizer that should last up to 2 months, so with that in mind, do not fertilize for at least 4 to 6 weeks. General care such as size, watering, pruning, light exposure, etc. is usually not given, so be wise to get the names before leaving. Till’ next week….Grace and Peace be multiplied to you, Pamela.Continued from last week.... Several plants come to mind when making your next selection for one of your containers. The first thriller is the Strobilanthes dyerianus. Its common name is the Persian Shield. It is a native shrub-like plant from Burma with striking silver-coated, variegated purple leaves. The leaves are broadly oval, pointed, 6 to 8 inches long. This plant will produce pale violet tubular flowers in the summer, but what is so remarkable are the rich, showy color tones that will cause you to take a second glance. It requires full to partial sun for this region with regular watering. The Persian Shield looks best with pinks, blues, and purples, such as the Scaevola, Dusty Miller, Helichrysum, or you might add a Licorice Plant, an ‘Escargot’ rex begonia, and a striking Coleus . Another plant would be a Bacopa that does best in full sun to partial shade. It is finely textured, ideal for the edge of the pot, as it is a trailer to 12 inches and 6 inches tall. It produces clouds of tiny blossoms, which will flower nonstop. Some breeds are yielding more low-maintenance selections. The Cannas have become increasingly popular over the years in containers boasting brilliant bold colors with the dramatic blossoms and foliage such as Tropicana Black (chocolate-colored tropical leaves); Pretoria (lime-green striped leaves) and many others. Cannas are perennials that require full sun to partial shade, plenty of water, fast growing and abundant fertilizing that are among the best thrillers your money can buy. Some dwarf varieties are excellent for your containers where most grow 5 to 6 feet tall. Center cannas in a container then add three or four plants, such as Coleus, Dichondra, Sweet Potato vine, Calibrachoa, or Scaevola. Tip of the week: Container plants purchased from your area nurseries have come from greenhouses conducive to that environment. They have been potted with fertilizer that should last up to 2 months, so with that in mind, do not fertilize for at least 4 to 6 weeks. General care such as size, watering, pruning, light exposure, etc. is usually not given, so be wise to get the names before leaving. Till’ next week….Grace and Peace be multiplied to you, Pamela.