In this post I provide tips on how to design a container garden. Whether it's an exuberantly overstuffed single pot or a grouping of multiple pots, successful container plantings—just like in-garden planting schemes—strive to strike a delicate balance. Enough repetition to create a harmonious whole, tempered by enough contrast and drama to excite without resulting in chaos.
In this post, I've described different types and ways to design containers using a theatrical analogy. Fitting since containers are often used to create drama in the garden. I hope that the following principles will help give rise to fresh ideas as you design plant combination ideas for container gardens. And now, on with the show!
(Design credit for our lead image: Meredith Hildebrand, Vancouver, WA)
Design a Container Garden with Drama MEET THE CAST OF PLAYERS
The life of the party!
These specimen plants are striking enough to be shown solo in a pot and they're prone to making a spectacle of themselves. They command attention and adore being in the spotlight, the center of attention. Think big, bold, and showy. Colorful, tropicalismo-inspired foliage, cascading fountains of strappy foliage, or an artful container planted with a strong accent plant these are just a few examples.
Stronger together than alone.
Growing plants in containers allows you to audition plants and combinations before adding them to your in-ground garden.Group several one-plant-per-pot specimens together to create a garden vignette that focuses solely on color, texture and form to create an artful scene free from the confines of having to make sure they're all a match in terms of their desired growing conditions. This can be a wonderful way to bring order to a collectors' garden—especially effective when the containers are of a similar theme and/or color scheme. An added benefit is that you can bulk-up slower growing, rare, and/or more costly plants and provide more care and coddling before expecting them to fend for themselves jostling for position out in the garden jumble.
Create pattern. Divide Space. Establish Rhythm.
Repetition is an effective way to suggest movement and command attention. A series of containers create an effective lure—leading the eye, and then the body through the garden—like ushers signaling the way and then spelling out the story line. Lined up, they contribute a strong sculptural quality especially when the role is filled with a repeated specimen with star power—siblings in matching outfits, singing the same song. The repeated plants and containers lend a sense of cohesion to the whole—a chorus line of individuals in-step and in-sync. You can try this big or small—imagine a row of succulents down the middle of a table versus a row of plants in tall pots to provide privacy—same concept, different scale.
Rowdy and rambunctious—a veritable party in a pot!
This treatment is best suited to one-season plants such as flowering annuals and tender perennials. For example, tender foliage plants like coleus and potato vine; floriferous annuals like Calibrachoa, petunias, Cuphea; and the like. Select easy-care, long-blooming but self-cleaning, pest-resistant varieties that don't require a lot of fussy care. Do fertilize to keep the show going strong; cut back rampant growth as needed to keep the overall vignette in balance; and remove and replace (if needed) any plants that peter out before the end of the season. But mostly, keep the water and fertilizer steady, and stand back!
I try to be pretty choosy about what I plant in my garden. One of the things that I love most about containers is the freedom and flexibility they afford
me to say "yes!" to the new plants that I'm constantly tempted by. I will often try a plant out in a container before allowing it access to the garden
proper. Not infrequently, that's as far as the relationship goes. My curiosity sated; my garden intact.
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IN THE GARDEN—TheThe Prima donna
A simple but dramatic duo of foliage plants elevated on an artful pedestal create an in-the-garden focal point. (Design credit: Rockland Farm, Canaan, NY)
A simple but dramatic duo of foliage plants elevated on an artful pedestal create an in-the-garden focal point. (Design credit: Rockland Farm, Canaan, NY)
I've been growing this Cordyline x 'JURed' for at least a dozen years in my home garden. Planted in a solo container, it's shown
to best advantage, but it also makes it easier to transport to a protected spot during the worst part of winter.
I've been growing this Cordyline x 'JURed' for at least a dozen years in my home garden. Planted in a solo container, it's shown
to best advantage, but it also makes it easier to transport to a protected spot during the worst part of winter.
More important than how it's planted (in more of a rowdy chorus style) is the position and size, that's what makes this
container a Prima donna. This large red container, situated in the center of an enlarged section of the path, commands
attention and signals a change of pace, encouraging garden visitors to slow down and observe. (Design credit: Froggy Hollow Garden, Vancouver, WA)
More important than how it's planted (in more of a rowdy chorus style) is the position and size, that's what makes this
container a Prima donna. This large red container, situated in the center of an enlarged section of the path, commands
attention and signals a change of pace, encouraging garden visitors to slow down and observe. (Design credit: Froggy Hollow Garden, Vancouver, WA)
A simple specimen in a colorful container invites exploration, it draws the eye and the body follows—walk this way. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens, Portland, OR)
A simple specimen in a colorful container invites exploration, it draws the eye and the body follows—walk this way. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens, Portland, OR)
The one that got away—for months I lusted after this enormous urn when it was being displayed at one of my favorite garden
centers (at Cornell Farm,
which always has a wonderful selection of containers). I'm confident that it found its forever home. But alas, I had no room
(nor budget) for it in my home garden, though I tried to get more than one client to take the bait and see the potential in
a piece like this—an instant focal point, planted or not. Keep your eye out and be ready to act if you see a special
container that captures your heart.
The one that got away—for months I lusted after this enormous urn when it was being displayed at one of my favorite garden
centers (at Cornell Farm,
which always has a wonderful selection of containers). I'm confident that it found its forever home. But alas, I had no room
(nor budget) for it in my home garden, though I tried to get more than one client to take the bait and see the potential in
a piece like this—an instant focal point, planted or not. Keep your eye out and be ready to act if you see a special
container that captures your heart.
IN THE GARDEN—TheThe Ensemble Cast
This ensemble performance features strong shapes, bold and colorful foliage within a restrained chocolate, silver and yellow color
scheme and is framed by the striking but simple foliage in the surrounding garden beds. (Design credit: Linda Ernst, Dancing Ladies Garden, Portland, OR)
This ensemble performance features strong shapes, bold and colorful foliage within a restrained chocolate, silver and yellow color
scheme and is framed by the striking but simple foliage in the surrounding garden beds. (Design credit: Linda Ernst, Dancing Ladies Garden, Portland, OR)
A themed collection of small containers, plants and objects in mahogany and silver decorate these steps. (Design credit: Susan Fries, Portland, OR)
A themed collection of small containers, plants and objects in mahogany and silver decorate these steps. (Design credit: Susan Fries, Portland, OR)
A riot of annual blooms, in bright and cheery colors, overflow from this collection of pots. The color theme is echoed in the accessories,
including the art glass crafted by the garden owner hanging on mesh screen toward the back. (Design credit: Linda Ernst, Dancing Ladies Garden, Portland, OR)
A riot of annual blooms, in bright and cheery colors, overflow from this collection of pots. The color theme is echoed in the accessories,
including the art glass crafted by the garden owner hanging on mesh screen toward the back. (Design credit: Linda Ernst, Dancing Ladies Garden, Portland, OR)
These low maintenance, foliage-focused, plants were selected to create a pleasing seasonal progression in a vignette comprised
of several one-plant-per-pot specimens. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens, Portland, OR)
These low maintenance, foliage-focused, plants were selected to create a pleasing seasonal progression in a vignette comprised
of several one-plant-per-pot specimens. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens, Portland, OR)
IN THE GARDEN—TheThe Sister Act
Va va voom! Like glam Rockettes, this kickline of showy, synchronized, tropical foliage keeps us entertained. (Design credit: Untermyer Garden, Yonkers, NY)
Va va voom! Like glam Rockettes, this kickline of showy, synchronized, tropical foliage keeps us entertained. (Design credit: Untermyer Garden, Yonkers, NY)
Repeated shapes in simple terra cotta pots—these clipped boxwood spheres are a strong presence. (spotted on garden tour, HPSO Study Weekend 2010)
Repeated shapes in simple terra cotta pots—these clipped boxwood spheres are a strong presence. (spotted on garden tour, HPSO Study Weekend 2010)
A collection of salvaged terra cotta pipes provide the means to grow plants in an otherwise inhospitable and awkward space, while
adding a bit of structure and a touch of whimsy. (Design credit: Jenn Ferrante, Portland, OR)
A collection of salvaged terra cotta pipes provide the means to grow plants in an otherwise inhospitable and awkward space, while
adding a bit of structure and a touch of whimsy. (Design credit: Jenn Ferrante, Portland, OR)
This collection of succulents lead the way— though the individual pots are small and would risk being lost if too few were
on display, en masse as shown here, they read as one entity and make sense. (Design credit: Bruce Hegna, Portland, OR)
This collection of succulents lead the way— though the individual pots are small and would risk being lost if too few were
on display, en masse as shown here, they read as one entity and make sense. (Design credit: Bruce Hegna, Portland, OR)
One of my favorite sections at the Denver Botanic Garden, I've been visiting this garden since 2005 (pictured) and I love seeing
the changes each visit. This visit was in late summer/early fall, and the Mexican feather grass was dry and tawny-hued.
One of my favorite sections at the Denver Botanic Garden, I've been visiting this garden since 2005 (pictured) and I love seeing
the changes each visit. This visit was in late summer/early fall, and the Mexican feather grass was dry and tawny-hued.
Denver Botanic Garden—2008: Blue on blue on blue; in the pots, exotic plumes of Cyperus papyrus lend a tropical
vibe; and oh that fountain grass en masse!
Denver Botanic Garden—2008: Blue on blue on blue; in the pots, exotic plumes of Cyperus papyrus lend a tropical
vibe; and oh that fountain grass en masse!
Denver Botanic Garden—2017: Agaves in black pots, against a sunny-hued wall, surrounded by cooling water and flowing Pennisetum orientale.
Denver Botanic Garden—2017: Agaves in black pots, against a sunny-hued wall, surrounded by cooling water and flowing Pennisetum orientale.
IN THE GARDEN—TheThe Rowdy Chorus
Crazy and fun—pin-wheel patterned petunias, red-flowering diascia and cuphea, curious green-flowering dianthus, with red
coleus and white variegated grasses. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Garden, Portland, OR)
Crazy and fun—pin-wheel patterned petunias, red-flowering diascia and cuphea, curious green-flowering dianthus, with red
coleus and white variegated grasses. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Garden, Portland, OR)
Red, yellow and orange annual flowers, paired with showy foliage, exude a tropical vibe. (Design credit: Susan Fries, Portland, OR)
Red, yellow and orange annual flowers, paired with showy foliage, exude a tropical vibe. (Design credit: Susan Fries, Portland, OR)
Zippy orange extravaganza—this party in a pot blooms all summer. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Garden, Portland, OR)
Zippy orange extravaganza—this party in a pot blooms all summer. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Garden, Portland, OR)
Colorful and fun, this container vignette has structural plants that will last multiple seasons. When the blooms are spent, they'll be stripped away and new flowering
plants will be added around the plants that remain. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens, Portland, OR)
Colorful and fun, this container vignette has structural plants that will last multiple seasons. When the blooms are spent, they'll be stripped away and new flowering
plants will be added around the plants that remain. (Design credit: Darcy Daniels, Bloomtown Gardens, Portland, OR)
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