By this time of the year, many of us are getting anxious to enjoy some colour in our outdoor patio containers, but the annuals, that perform so well all summer, are still a few weeks away.
This is when we have to be a little creative, using some perennials and broad-leafed evergreens to bring our containers to life.
With just a few key plants, we can fill our containers with vibrant colour that will look great for a surprising number of weeks, and sometimes all summer. As we move into the warmer parts of spring, the key is to choose the right plants for either sunny or shady locations.
For warmer garden locations, I love to use the many varieties of upright euonymus, such as Silver Queen, as well as golden E. aureomarginatus. They make nice focal points in the centre of a container, and they can be nicely accented with the many colours of evergreen heucheras. The contrast between the two can be quite striking. The spillover effect of evergreen grasses, like the heat lover, Acorus Ogon, will add a special touch.
There are also a few hardy annuals, like stunning double ranunculus, daisy-like osteospermums and fragrant dianthus, and they can add that much needed floral colour.
Using larger, one-gallon size plants means that you will need far fewer plants and just a little pop of colour to create a stunning look that can last all summer.
For shady locations, there is also a wealth of easy colour. As a focal point, I suggest the many varieties of Pieris japonica, especially the variegated shade varieties, like P. Flaming Silver. Not only will they produce flowers, but they also have vibrant red or bronze new growth, which is just now beginning to open. This red growth will repeat at least twice over the year.
Many hostas are now leafing out, and some magnificent colour patterns are available today. They will continue to provide a wealth of colour all summer.
Ferns, too, offer so many new and exciting varieties. Japanese painted ferns, with their rich purple tones, are fabulous accent plants for containers. Jurassic Gold fern, with its yellow new foliage, looks quite stunning.
Add some shade-loving evergreen grasses, like the Evercolor carex series, and you will have the potential for a really creative display that will match any annual planting.
Soil is an important issue here too. Regular potting soils will hold too much moisture for perennial and shrub plantings, so use a special tree or perennial soil for a more open, porous soil blend; all your shrubs and perennials will fare so much better.
So, if you need colour in your containers now, there are lots of wonderful options for an instant show, and potentially, one that can last all summer.
