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Plant suggestions greatfully received!
Danish Pastry
Posts: 34
in Plants
I am looking for a hardy perennial for containers that will tolerate a sunny spot and hard frosts. Oh and it has to have stunning foliage.
A hosta that could cope with full sun, would fit the bill, but all the ones I've seen are at best suitable for partial shade.
We have just ordered a greenhouse, so a little winter protection could be provided, but I'm not planning to heat the greenhouse the first winter.
All suggestions greatfully received.
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Posts
Hi
Heuchera have beautiful folliage and look good in containers. The darker folliage ones will take a sunny site, however, the lighter folliage plants prefer shade to part shade. I would select Heuchera Midnight rose that has dark purple folliage with hints of pink or Obsidian that has virtually black folliage. They grow to an approx. height of about 18" excluding flowers that are insignificant tbh and a approx width of 20" . If you did have a part shade area for your container then Obsidian and Heuchera Lime Marmade that is yellow folliage just look a stunning contrast
Good choice.
I love the heucheras and heucherellas I have in my borders and they survive the winters well, but the only time I've had one in a container it didn't over winter, while the hosta next to it did. Can't quite remember how long ago, it may have been one of the really cold winters we had 7-9 years ago (double figure frosts). Although if I move the container into the greenhouse (ordered but not yet built, guess what I'm doing in my summer holiday?!) it may be a contender.
Hosta Gold Edger copes with full sun. It's small, but not tiny, so is good for edging borders - hence the name and would be fine in a pot if you can protect it from deep frost in winter and keep it watered in summer. They don't like deep frozen roots or thirst.
However, you may want to consider shrubs which can cope outside all year. I have successfully grown cream and green variegated euonymous in pots for years along with a variegated pieris - smart new red foliage in spring then creamy flowers - and trailing creamy variegated ivy. They stood in matching pots either side of my front door in Belgium all winter and withstood -15C. I put pansies in the gaps for winter and pelargoniums in summer for added colour.
There must be other shrubby combinations that would answer.
Last edited: 07 June 2017 19:29:59
Hi
They do like a well drained soil so winter time could be crucial if the soil has not been well gritted.
I recommend the following. Lithodora Diffusa Heavenly Blue has nice dark leaves in winter and amazing eye catching blue flowers in summer. Needs to be in acidic soils. So great in pots. Low growing so will not be swept by the winds.
Parahebe Perfoliata and Catarractae both have great evergreen leaves and interesting flowers. They only grow to about 30cm, so very neat and tidy looking plants for pots.
Sisyrinchium Stratium have strong strappy leaves and there is now a variegated version too. In summer, upright bright creamy yellow flowers takes centre stage. Not a floppy kind of plant, can deal with heat and wind.
Thanks Steve, Obelixx and Borderline
I have lithodora already, it's in flower as I write, a lovely plant. I'm certainly up for repeating combinations that I have in my beds, I like the sense of cohesion it would give. I may also give heucheras another go, with extra drainage.
I'm also considering geranium Roxanne, again repeating planting in other areas, has anyone tried it in pots?
I'm not sure the parahebe perfoliate is hardy enough, only down to -5°C, but the catarratae and the sisyrinchium can cope with -10°C, so only a problem in the harshest winters. We have had frost down to -20°C on the odd occaision and we live in a frost pocket, so I am on the careful side.