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Container Gardening

Help/suggestions for a containers on my front step

15 years ago

multiple parts to this inquiry. here's some info. I have 2 wrought iron plants that are oval shaped about a foot deep and about 8 or so inches across. And 2 matching plant stands that are up closer to the door. They lower containers are lined with coco fiber and filled with potting mix. The door way is covered by a large eve, so it's pretty much always shaded. It does get some afternoon sun and if the wind is blowing it also gets rain. The sprinklers when they are on the beds in that zone, get to them too. They do seem to dry out very quickly.

I am needing help with some suggestions on what I could plant there that would fit these living conditions. It's at my front door, so I'd really love to find something attractive and that could stay there year round. (tall order?)

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Comments (4)

koicool1
15 years ago
Any shade tolerant annuals would fit. First, pick a color theme that you like, then it's easier to look for intersting plants of that color in the nurseries.
Try caladiums or impatiens if the wind is at a minimum. They have come out with some pretty impatiens over the years.

By they way, are those spider plants in the bed by the porch?
solstice98
15 years ago
How about a couple different coleus?

If you want it to be nice all year, think about adding a small evergreen, then filling in around it with coleus or impatiens. Replace the flowering part as needed. The evergreen will provide year round interest.

Hope that helps!
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rjinga
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm planning to repaint my front door so my color scheme might change, Choleus that I have had in the past gets HUGE, so impatiens might be a better choice...and I do happen to have 2 dwarf boxwood type plants, they could work there full time...I just dont know if these containers are deep enough for the small boxwoods though...I"ll check it out and see...the plant by the front door step is a variagated liriope. But on the other side I actually DO have spider plant that was once in a pot that I sat on the ground and the babies rooted themselves and made new plants.
jordan_californicus
15 years ago
Hostas comes in such a variety of shades and sizes, though keeping them watered is a factor. They also die back, which is probably a factor because these are front and center on your porch. Astilbe would be good for getting some flowers on there, even in the darkest shade, but also die back in winter.

However, have you thought about Helleborus? Evergreen, early flowers, not too fussy (usually). Or some potted English Ivy, maybe a nice little topiary form (and so easily kept from spreading into ... well anywhere else).

You could probably also do an upright Fuchsia, though I'm not sure if it'd be hardy there (the zone sounds like probably not, but in a covered porch maybe?).

And with the annuals, as was said Coleous would be great, and have a wide range of sizes and colors (Kongs would be the biggest). Also Impatiens, Begonias, Abutilons, Lobelias ... there's a long list.

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