Using brightly coloured container plants

Credit: Stuart McCall

Foliage with white variegation lightens a dark area even when not in flower

1. & 2. Astilbe ‘Snowdrift’ (50 to 60 cm/20 to 24 in.; white; blooms June to July; zone 3)
3. Hosta ‘Patriot’ (55 to 60 cm/22 to 24 in.; white-edged foliage and lavender blooms in August; zone 3)
4. Helleborus foetidus (common name: stinking hellebore; 45 to 60 cm/18 to 24 in.; pale-green blooms and evergreen foliage; February to May; zone 5)
5. Viola Sorbet Series Blue bicolour blue (perennial pansy; 10 to 15 cm/4 to 6 in.; blue; March to October; zone 4)
6. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (Siberian bugloss; 30 to 40 cm/12 to 16 in.; bright-white variegated foliage and light-blue blooms in April to May; zone 2)

Brightly Coloured Container Plants

This container combination is a wonderful way to brighten up a dark spot. All plants perform well in moderately low light levels but do need some sun exposure to keep them from getting too leggy. Foliage with white variegation lightens a dark area even when not in flower.

Care: This container should continue to be attractive for at least two or three years. Cut back faded foliage in fall and tuck the container in a protected area, watering only when dry throughout the winter. Place it in a bright location in April and top-dress with a controlled-release fertilizer; water regularly as needed. When the foliage begins to fill out, move it to a shady location out of strong direct sun.

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