A plant may be gorgeous by itself, nonetheless its belongings could also be magnified when positioned with vegetation that complement its color, development, or textures. Residing proof: a purple dahlia is beautiful solo, nonetheless when paired with the lilac and peach of ‘Indian Summer time season’ gladiolus, the combination is a sight to behold. Among the many most interesting strategies to grasp and uncover combos is in a container. Listed below are a few ideas for summer season season combos you could put collectively to convey out the best of each plant in a single pot.
Perceive that the plant recipes are options—if you’re unable to hunt out the exact choice, experiment with a particular choice or plant with associated traits and choices.
SUMPTUOUS SCENE-STEALER

{Photograph}: Jason Ingram
At 5 toes tall, this glamorous grouping can operate each a show display screen or an space divider. By July or August, the knotweed will explode into ethereal sprays of tiny white blossoms, accentuating the darkish dahlia blooms and stress-free the overall look. The combo will impress for months, altering type and color as a result of it develops. At first it appears formal; when the gladioli are in flower and begin to pierce by the use of the alternative vegetation, the combination takes on a jagged look; then, as knotweed bursts into bloom, the combination turns into irregular and informal.
Planting Key
A. ‘Indian Summer time season’ gladiolus (6-8)
B. Karma Choc dahlia (3)
C. ‘Crimson Dragon’ knotweed (2)
D. Cardinal climber (Ipomoea ×multifida) (3)
Illustration: Josh Endres
When to plant:
Mid- to late spring
Peak present:
Mid- to late summer season season
Place:
Full photo voltaic or delicate shade
Water desires:
Cheap to thirsty
Container measurement:
35″ L x 16” W x 18″ H
Soil:
Frequent-purpose potting soil
Fertilizer:
Mix in slow-release fertilizer on the time of planting. After the first yr, fertilize with an all-purpose liquid formulation every 2 to 4 weeks in the middle of the rising season.
Care:
Cut back out the gladiolus stems immediately after they’ve accomplished blooming. Deadhead dahlias incessantly; this choice doesn’t need staking, nonetheless completely different dahlia varieties could have assist. Resolve off pale blooms of cardinal climber to cease reseeding.
TOWERING TRIO
{Photograph}: Jason Ingram
Using three vegetation—each with utterly completely different nonetheless complementary habits and associated cultural requirements—is a trusted formulation in containers. Proper right here, statuesque upright cannas rise from an anchoring middle flooring of bushy coleus, and free-flowering petunias type an outer circle that trails and clambers down the side of the pot. Setting the combination in entrance of a relatively spare, uniformly colored background emphasizes its architectural shapeliness and pumps up the amount of its vivid hues. The good and comfortable tones of the terra cotta container complement its contents, all of which take pleasure in full photo voltaic. (You must make the most of differing types of cannas, coleus, and petunias to create this affect in shades of purple, yellow, and pink as correctly.)
Planting Key
A. ‘Phasion’ canna (1)
B. Indian Summer time season petunia(5)
C. ‘Campfire’ coleus (3)
Illustration: Josh Endres
When to plant:
Mid- to late spring
Peak present:
Summer time season
Place:
Full photo voltaic
Water desires:
Cheap
Container measurement:
20″ W x 18″ H
Soil:
Frequent-purpose potting soil
Fertilizer:
Mix in slow-release fertilizer on the time of planting. After the first yr, fertilize with an all-purpose liquid formulation every 2 to 4 weeks in the middle of the rising season.
Care:
To divert energy to the foliage and encourage branching, pinch off rising options of youthful coleus vegetation and take away flower buds. Protect cannas from slugs and snails with pure killing bait that is protected for pets and wildlife.
LEAFY MIX
{Photograph}: Jason Ingram
The interweaving of horizontal and vertical foliages on this combination reveals collaborating particulars that beg to be observed up shut. As an illustration, the serrated leaves of honey bush stand out in dramatic help the place they overlay darkly contrasting sweet potato vine. The restrained, delicate color scheme and crisscrossing pattern are echoed inside the verdigris Fibreclay planter (which is a small fraction of the worth and weight of an actual copper container). All vegetation used listed below are typically obtainable by the use of lots of summer season season, allowing you to plant late and experience them until frost. Beware that honey bush grows considerably luxuriantly and may finally overwhelm the Persian defend and even the New Zealand flax, so each prune judiciously or profit from the altered seen.
Planting Key
A. Pineapple lily (Eucomis autumnalis) (3)
B. ‘Glowing Burgundy’ pineapple lily (3)
C. Honey bush (Melianthus predominant) (1)
D. ‘Vivid Ideas Black’ sweet potato vine (3)
E. Persian defend (Strobilanthes dyerianus) (2)
F. ‘Apricot Queen’ New Zealand Flax (1)
Illustration: Josh Endres
When to plant:
Spring or early summer season season
Peak present:
Summer time season
Place:
Full photo voltaic or delicate shade
Water desires:
Each day in warmth local weather
Container measurement:
20″ W x 20″ H
Soil:
Frequent-purpose potting soil
Fertilizer:
Mix in slow-release fertilizer on the time of planting. After the first yr, fertilize with an all-purpose liquid formulation every 2 to 4 weeks in the middle of the rising season.
Care:
Take away damaged leaves. Prune honey bush to take care of inside bounds if obligatory or desired. To encourage branching of Persian defend, pinch off a few rising options.
SCENTED ARRAY
{Photograph}: Jason Ingram
Stately flowering tobacco is the star of this planting. Its tall, handsomely foliage-clad stems shoot up sprays of white tubular blooms that are powerfully scented inside the evening all summer season season prolonged. Variegated maidengrass and a low froth of Diamond Frost euphorbia full the Fountain-like look. White gladiolus blossoms lasting about 2 weeks contribute a burst of fleeting curiosity; the tiniest amount of buttermilk yellow at their services gently bucks an in some other case monochrome theme. Cream-colored inflorescences emerge from the maidengrass in late summer season season, extending curiosity correctly by the use of fall, in any case the alternative flowers have pale. The planter elevates the composition to an complete prime of about 6.5 toes, making an elegant assertion beside an entrance or as a focal attribute. Given the mature prime of this planting, the container should be at least 18 inches tall.
Planting Key
A. ‘Buggy’ gladiolus (6)
B. Diamond Frost euphorbia (5)
C. Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) (3)
D. ‘Morning Mild’ maidengrass (2)
E. Otterbossie (Gomphostigma virganum) (1)
Illustration: Josh Endres
When to plant:
Late spring
Peak present:
Mid- to late summer season season
Place:
Full photo voltaic or delicate shade; sheltered from strong winds
Water desires:
Cheap; at least every completely different day
Container measurement:
20″ W x 26″ H
Soil:
Frequent-purpose potting soil
Fertilizer:
Mix in slow-release fertilizer on the time of planting. After the first yr, fertilize with an all-purpose liquid formulation every 2 to 4 weeks in the middle of the rising season.
Care:
Cut back out gladiolus stems after they’ve accomplished blooming. Then dig out and retailer dry corms in a frost-free place or take care of as annuals. To encourage bushy, branching progress on flowering tobacco, pinch off the concepts of youthful vegetation; snip off pale flower clusters to encourage additional blooms. Help stems if obligatory.
SHADY DISPLAY
{Photograph}: Jason Ingram
Distinctive bromeliads huddle in lush exuberance beneath the umbrella fronds of a tree fern in dappled shade. Although bromeliads are most incessantly grown indoors, many will contentedly spend summer season season outside provided a minimal nighttime temperature of 60 ranges Fahrenheit. The two epiphytic species proper right here have been organized of their explicit particular person pots on the foot of the tree fern—and loosely tied to the trunk for assist—so that they might probably be merely moved indoors all through winter. Shade-loving ferns and fancy-leaved rex begonias have been planted into the an identical humus-rich compost as a result of the tree fern. The salt-glazed earthenware pot balances the appreciable planting and picks up the browns of the Tasmanian tree fern trunk.
Planting Key
A. Urn plant (Aechmea fasciata) (3)
B. Tasmanian tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica) (1)
C. Snug defend fern (Polystichum setiferum) (3)
D. Scarlet star (Guzmania lingulata) (3)
E. Rex Hybrid begonia (3)
Illustration: Josh Endres
When to plant:
Late spring or all through summer season season
Peak present:
Mid- to late summer season season
Place:
Sheltered, partial shade
Water desires:
Keep soil for ferns and begonias moist and mist others day by day if potential. For the bromeliads, add water to the tiny reservoir on the center, the place the colorful bracts emerge.
Container measurement:
24″ W x 20″ H
Soil:
Frequent-purpose potting soil with additional humus blended in
Fertilizer:
Do not fertilize the first yr. After that fertilize the tree fern solely in the middle of the rising season, making use of a high-nitrogen liquid formulation to the crown and trunk every 3 to 4 weeks. Bromeliads closing just one rising season.
Care:
Take away lifeless or damaged leaves, snipping out damaged begonia leaves on the bottom of the stems.
Uncover methods to design “Pinterest-worthy” containers from container gardening expert Karen Chapman in her on-line course. You might examine 6 choices of well-designed containers, along with particulars about the best soils and fertilizers to utilize, along with the best way to resolve on vegetation that look (and work) good collectively
MORE CONTAINER IDEAS
Whenever you merely can’t get adequate of container gardening, try these completely different container recipes that work correctly collectively in a single pot.
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