An Online Extra to Fine Gardening Magazine

Fine Gardening Container Design Challenge

Readers answer the call with creative and captivating combinations

 
The winning reader entry
Kathy Connor
Kittery Point, Maine
Solenostemon 'Tilt a Whirl'
Solenostemon 'Alabama Sunset'
Petunia 'Cascadia Red'
Carex buchananii
Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita'
Stachys coccinea 'Hidalgo'
Diascia 'Coral Belle'
Last year we asked five designers from across the country to come up with creative combinations for their containers based on our guidelines. You can see their designs in our January/February 2003 issue (#89). We also encouraged readers to submit their designs. The winning reader submission was made by Kathy Connor from Kittery Point, Maine. In addition to Kathy, many readers designed some very beautiful pots and we decided to share some of them here. The plants are listed in this order: coleus, petunia, grass, sweet potato vine, and wild card(s).

Planting guidelines
  • The container could be of any material and had to measure between 18 and 24 inches across.
  • Plantings were to include at least one of each of the following: coleus, petunia, ornamental grass, and sweet potato vine.
  • In addition to the four required plants, designers were to include a wild card plant of their choice.

Other notable designs...
Jacqueline Cordes
Centereach, New York
Solenostemon 'India Frills'
Petunia (pink)
Pennisetum messiacum
Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita'
Tibouchina urvilleana
Angelonia angustifolia
Breynia sp.

Sharon Lee Smith
Tyler, Texas
Solenostemon 'Jade'
Solenostemon 'New Orleans'
Petunia violacea
Pennisetum setaceum 'Burgundy Giant'
Ipomoea batatas 'Black Heart'
Capsicum annuum 'Chilly Chili'

Gretchen Peters
Gering, Nebraska
Solenostemon 'Black'
Petunia Pink Veined Wave
Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Ipomoea batatas 'Black Heart'
I. batatas 'Margarita'
Heuchera 'Amythest Myst'
Heliotropium arborescens 'Atlantis'
Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple'
Plectranthus coleoides 'Variegatus'

Connie Richmond
Elkhart, Indiana
Solenostemon 'The Line'
Petunia White Wave
Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'
Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'

Christine Jacoby
Moorestown, New Jersey
Solenostemon 'Roseo'
Solenostemon 'Wizard Jade'
Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita'
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Caladium bicolor 'Candidum'
Bacopa 'Snowflake'

Gail Lord
Santa Ana, California
Solenostemon 'Sky Fire'
Petunia (white)
Carex comans 'Red'
Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'
Phormium tenax 'Redi Babe'

Bob Balding
Lakeside, Montana
Solenostemon 'Florida Sun Jade'
Petunia 'Celebrity Yellow'
Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita'
Gazania 'Red Stripe'

Louise M. Grahs
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Solenostemon 'Perilla Magilla'
Petunia 'Purple Wave'
Carex muskingumensis 'Ice Fountains'
Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'
Amaranthus caudatus 'Love Lies Bleeding'

Myrna Hynes
Frelighsburg, Quebec
Solenostemon rose colored
Petunia salmon colored
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'
Capsicum annuum 'Purple Beauty'

Sue Bailey
Charlottesville, Virginia
Solenostemon 'Black Beauty'
Solenostemon 'Gay's Delight'
Petunia Surfinia Blue
Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'
Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'
Begonia cv.


An Online Extra to Fine Gardening #89
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Gardening in Containers
Creative ideas for designing container plantings; tips on soil preparation, watering and maintenance; and suggestions for suitable plants
Gardening in Small Spaces
Practical advice and innovative ideas for creating wonderful gardens out of small areas