Brian Coleman, a self-described Iowa boy stuck in suburban New Jersey, grows a wonderful array of unusual and beautiful plants in his garden, many in them in hypertufa containers that he makes himself.
Pulsatilla ambigua (Zones 4–8) is pink, compact, and a very welcome early bloomer. Pulsatilla is a big genus, with many wonderful species native to North America, Europe, and Asia.
At the other end of the gardening year is Allium thunbergii ‘Album’ (Zones 4–9), one of the last perennials to bloom in Brian’s garden. Most of the popular Allium species grown in the garden are spring or summer bloomers, but this one waits to the very end of the gardening season to put on a show.
Brian makes bog planters for special plants that love those conditions. Here, in the fall, the leaves of pitcher plants (Sarracenia, Zones 5–9) are fading, but the spires of lady tresses orchids (Spiranthes cernua, Zones 5–9) are in full bloom.
Fresh yellow pitcher plants (Sarracenia flava, Zones 5–9) grow alongside the incredible blooms of pink calopogon orchid (Zones 3–9). Despite their exotic look, these pitcher plants and orchids are native to North America and require boggy conditions to thrive.
Brian’s many hypertufa containers are perfect spots to show off special, tiny plants like this Saponaria pumilio (Zones 5–8).
Brian has a hypertufa collection on the driveway. These handmade planters make great homes for alpine plants and just get more beautiful as they age and acquire a patina of moss.
This incredible Haberlea rhodopensis (Zones 5–8) in full bloom has been in this planter for seven years, blooming more each year. This unusual plant is actually a hardy perennial relative of the familiar houseplant the African violet.
The lovely blooms of Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. Bohemica (Zones 4–8) are of the darkest possible purple.
New hypertufa pots that Brian made are ready to go to their new homes.
The developing flower spikes of Orostachys iwarenge (Zones 5–9) lie next to a spray of white flowers from Gypsophila franzii (Zones 4–9).
If you want to see more of Brian’s garden, check out his instagram: @barrow_works
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Comments
LOVE your plant choices and your containers are expertly made, beautiful! Plants beautifully tended and grown.
I have not seen anemone pulsatillas in a very long time. They were always a favorite of mine. Thanks for the reminder. I will look to see who might be offering these. Congrats and happy gardening!
Super variety of healthy, well-cared for plants. Very well done!
Very impressive hypertufa, beautifully planted with delightful and intriguing plants!
Wonderful in every way. Thanks for sharing!
In total agreement!
This hypertufa pots you create are super nice!
You are growing some of the most unusual amazing plants!
I've never-ever heard of Haberlea rhodopensis before, and was very interested to know it's been growing in that pot for several years successfully!
And Wow- your Pitcher Plant is gorgeous!
This garden is right up my alley. Good job!
Loved your display of some rare plants that were new to me. Live and learn. One can tell how much you enjoy your miniature presentations. Highly skilled.
Your planters impressed me. The sky's the limit on the shapes and uses of hypertufa. Two friends and I went into business selling at festivals and yard shows with much success. People came from far and wide for our creations. Unfortunately, one of the partners took ill and the hands-on work was too much for the other two or we'd still be in business today.
Re: People came from far and wide for our creations.
G & G - sounds like you both enjoyed that so much!
Brian - lovely plants, great photography, compelling gardening story! Thank you for sharing.
Lovely and unusual plants. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your plants! I followed you on Instagram...as a fellow plant collector, I am enjoy your choices and growing skills!
How absolutely marvelous, exciting and eye opening for me! You're growing plants I've never heard of and am now lusting over! Your photos are so right!
I'm very late to the party here in October. I just happened on the post below today's good. Such beautiful plants. Some I had seen in catalogs but always for some reason thought that they wouldn't grow as a perennial in my zone 6a. I've got to look into the four that I copied down with info about them from your post.
Thanks for sharing these beauties with us.
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