Fall containers Striking seasonal color combinations that sizzle

Fall containers

Striking seasonal color combinations that sizzle

by Scott Barnard, FlowerWorx

Autumn is a glorious and welcome

season after a long hot summer and yet fall container creativity can be overlooked at times.

As summer annuals wane, garden centers and growers lure us in with the usual suspects of pansies, violas, mums, ornamental cabbages and kales. It comes as no surprise that our fall containers tend to look increasing familiar throughout our landscape year after year.

Every fall season, I set myself a challenge to design with interesting new accent plant material to pair with flowering pansies and violas. In pursuit of expanding my color palette beyond the use of dusty miller, dianthus and Creeping Jenny, I look to add striking foliage plants like heuchera, euphorbia, carex, sedum and Dwarf Nandina.

As a short-term accent before the first frost arrives, you can use colorful tropical

Gold Crest Arborvitae, violas and Dusty Miller foliage plants such as croton or Moonlight Philodendron to add a splash of fall color.

In larger containers, the use of conifers such as Alberta Spruce, Blue Ice Cypress, Gold Crest Arborvitae and even a dissectum Japanese maple will anchor and add color, texture and structure while introducing winter interest to your planters throughout the season.

If veggies and herbs are your jam, try planting ornamental kales, cabbages, mustard, Swiss chard, parsley, and rosemary together along with ornamental peppers for a splash of color. This combination creates a colorful and functional container display.

For an early spring surprise in your fall container designs, I recommend planting early double-blooming tulips to make a bold, longlasting statement with a bold color impact. Peony-shaped tulips such as fiery red Abba

Croton, Sedum Autumn Joy, heuchera, Toffee Twist Carex and dianthus

Tulips or bright yellow Monte Carlo are great performers for containers.

If you would like to add fragrance to your containers, inter-planting hyacinths such as Blue Jacket or Pink Pearl will create a welcoming atmosphere for front door entry and amenity areas.

Just remember, flowering color isn’t the only exciting thing fall has to offer. As color fades throughout the season texture, foliage, and interesting shapes can take center stage. Having a well-balanced mix of textures can be just as pleasing as a riot of warm hues.

About the author

Scott Barnard is Owner/Designer of FlowerWorx, LLC, a floriculture design and consultation firm specializing in annuals and container design.

C: 404.308.3128 F: 404.257.6357 W: flowerworx.net

Color Max Violas with kale, hyacinth, Monte Carlo and Abba Tulips Burgundy Lace Dissectum Japanese Maple with Color Max Icy Blue Violas and Creeping Jenny

Euphorbia, Redbor Kale and pansies

Kale Blues Mix with hyacinth