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We are here, still growing plants, moving more plants out and the black top is full as the long racks are too…( at least we are working on that) Great rain we had and looks like we might get some rain with the cold front coming thru. I don’t like that there might be storms with wind and hail. Need to keep an eye on this because we can move in all the racks, but it will take some time. All of you keep your eyes to the sky and your weather watch apps.
I found this article about fillers for the concept of thriller, fillers and spillers in containers. I am going to try some of these, and you will find the plants very unusual. Thanks for all that have been here and thank you for all of you that have shared, liked and pass this posting.
I am going to adding one more plant to use CELERY….so this gives you an idea of what they are using.
GARDENING PLANTS & FLOWERS
The Best Filler Plants for Container Gardens Written by Marie Iannotti
Salpiglossis sinuata (Painted Tongue)
To get a balanced looking container garden, consider following the old garden adage: Thrillers, spillers, fillers. After selecting your tall, eye-catching "thriller" plants, and your trailing "spiller" plants, fill in the gaps with shorter filler plants. Your fillers will help to create a full, pleasing arrangement without taking away from the showier blooms.
Agastache (Hyssop)
Agastache is a great plant for making the bulk of your container lush and colorful, The long blooming, spiky flowers offset a rounded or weeping focal point.
Basil
Growing Fresh Basil
Herbs are nice filler choices. You will have them handy for harvesting and the more you pinch them, the fuller the plants will get. Basil gives you the choice of rich green or many shades of burgundy and purple.
Caladium
Caladium plants add color without the worry of flowers and deadheading. They always look their best. The heart-shaped leaves will soften a spikier focal point. Caladium makes a great houseplant, or you can simply store the tubers for winter.
Celosia
Celosia adds a burst of uproarious color. These annuals bloom virtually nonstop, looking good all season. Since they are annuals, their root system won't need excessive space in the container.
Coleus
Coleus offers an almost limitless choice of leaf form and
color choices. You can even find varieties that prefer either sun or shade. Periodically pinching them back will develop full, bushy plants.
Euphorbia marginata (Snow-on-the-mountain)
For a soothing, cool feel to your container, try the icy white and green combination of Snow-on-the-mountain. This is an annual plant that grows quickly from seed. It looks cool but can handle heat well.
Firecracker Plant (Cuphea cyanea)
The unusual flowers of Cuphea have been likened to firecrackers and cigars. This is a small dense plant that flowers profusely all summer, especially if you are willing to deadhead it. Cuphea prefers some shade, on hot days.
Flowering Maple (Abutilon)
The flowering or parlor maple, isn't a maple at all, so do not worry that you'll have a tall tree on your hands. The lovely crepe-paper like flowers comes in brilliant red and an assortment of pastels. They bloom continually and are favorites of hummingbirds.
Lantana (Lantana camara)
In warmer climates, lantana will be a perennial that can grow quite large and can even be trained into a standard. It is often sold as an annual plant with exuberant blooms, often in festive tri-color combinations.
Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
Flowering cabbage and kale are perfect for fall containers. The colorful leaves are not affected by frost or even light snow. Most offer some combination of purple-pink and green. Removing browning leaves is the only maintenance required.
Perilla frutescens (Shiso)
Perilla often gets confused with basil, probably because they are both in the mint family. Perilla is an annual and won't spread as quickly as mint, but it does self-sow profusely. In a container, it adds lush green or purple color and a spicy scent.
Plectranthus
Fuzzy leaves and subtle variegation and patterns make Plectranthus a popular choice for containers. They will fill your container with texture and color, with no effort on your part, other than planting them.
Salpiglossis sinuata (Painted Tongue)
Salpiglossis is a wonderful upright annual plant with an abundance of trumpet-shaped flowers that come in shades ranging from mahogany through purple, pink, and yellow. They also make great cut flowers.
Dusty Miller (Senecio)
That old standby, Dusty Miller, is an excellent choice for containers. The silvery-blue, lacy leaves are the perfect frame for all kinds of tall, focal points. They can handle dry conditions and some shade.
Strobilanthes dyeranus (Persian shield)
Persian shield is a tropical perennial. With its iridescent purple leaves, it is often grown as a houseplant, but it also makes a great annual outdoor plant and using it in containers gives you the best of both worlds. Enjoy it outdoors and bring it in, when the weather changes.
Swiss Chard
You know how beautiful chard is in the vegetable garden, especially when the sun shines through it. You can also use it as a foliage plant, in containers. Harvesting the outer leaves will keep it attractive and full. Watch out for groundhogs, who love chard as much as you do.
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/best-filler-plants-to-grow-in-containers-
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell phone 641-906-9365
I found this article about fillers for the concept of thriller, fillers and spillers in containers. I am going to try some of these, and you will find the plants very unusual. Thanks for all that have been here and thank you for all of you that have shared, liked and pass this posting.
I am going to adding one more plant to use CELERY….so this gives you an idea of what they are using.
GARDENING PLANTS & FLOWERS
The Best Filler Plants for Container Gardens Written by Marie Iannotti
Salpiglossis sinuata (Painted Tongue)
To get a balanced looking container garden, consider following the old garden adage: Thrillers, spillers, fillers. After selecting your tall, eye-catching "thriller" plants, and your trailing "spiller" plants, fill in the gaps with shorter filler plants. Your fillers will help to create a full, pleasing arrangement without taking away from the showier blooms.
Agastache (Hyssop)
Agastache is a great plant for making the bulk of your container lush and colorful, The long blooming, spiky flowers offset a rounded or weeping focal point.
Basil
Growing Fresh Basil
Herbs are nice filler choices. You will have them handy for harvesting and the more you pinch them, the fuller the plants will get. Basil gives you the choice of rich green or many shades of burgundy and purple.
Caladium
Caladium plants add color without the worry of flowers and deadheading. They always look their best. The heart-shaped leaves will soften a spikier focal point. Caladium makes a great houseplant, or you can simply store the tubers for winter.
Celosia
Celosia adds a burst of uproarious color. These annuals bloom virtually nonstop, looking good all season. Since they are annuals, their root system won't need excessive space in the container.
Coleus
Coleus offers an almost limitless choice of leaf form and
color choices. You can even find varieties that prefer either sun or shade. Periodically pinching them back will develop full, bushy plants.
Euphorbia marginata (Snow-on-the-mountain)
For a soothing, cool feel to your container, try the icy white and green combination of Snow-on-the-mountain. This is an annual plant that grows quickly from seed. It looks cool but can handle heat well.
Firecracker Plant (Cuphea cyanea)
The unusual flowers of Cuphea have been likened to firecrackers and cigars. This is a small dense plant that flowers profusely all summer, especially if you are willing to deadhead it. Cuphea prefers some shade, on hot days.
Flowering Maple (Abutilon)
The flowering or parlor maple, isn't a maple at all, so do not worry that you'll have a tall tree on your hands. The lovely crepe-paper like flowers comes in brilliant red and an assortment of pastels. They bloom continually and are favorites of hummingbirds.
Lantana (Lantana camara)
In warmer climates, lantana will be a perennial that can grow quite large and can even be trained into a standard. It is often sold as an annual plant with exuberant blooms, often in festive tri-color combinations.
Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
Flowering cabbage and kale are perfect for fall containers. The colorful leaves are not affected by frost or even light snow. Most offer some combination of purple-pink and green. Removing browning leaves is the only maintenance required.
Perilla frutescens (Shiso)
Perilla often gets confused with basil, probably because they are both in the mint family. Perilla is an annual and won't spread as quickly as mint, but it does self-sow profusely. In a container, it adds lush green or purple color and a spicy scent.
Plectranthus
Fuzzy leaves and subtle variegation and patterns make Plectranthus a popular choice for containers. They will fill your container with texture and color, with no effort on your part, other than planting them.
Salpiglossis sinuata (Painted Tongue)
Salpiglossis is a wonderful upright annual plant with an abundance of trumpet-shaped flowers that come in shades ranging from mahogany through purple, pink, and yellow. They also make great cut flowers.
Dusty Miller (Senecio)
That old standby, Dusty Miller, is an excellent choice for containers. The silvery-blue, lacy leaves are the perfect frame for all kinds of tall, focal points. They can handle dry conditions and some shade.
Strobilanthes dyeranus (Persian shield)
Persian shield is a tropical perennial. With its iridescent purple leaves, it is often grown as a houseplant, but it also makes a great annual outdoor plant and using it in containers gives you the best of both worlds. Enjoy it outdoors and bring it in, when the weather changes.
Swiss Chard
You know how beautiful chard is in the vegetable garden, especially when the sun shines through it. You can also use it as a foliage plant, in containers. Harvesting the outer leaves will keep it attractive and full. Watch out for groundhogs, who love chard as much as you do.
Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/best-filler-plants-to-grow-in-containers-
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell phone 641-906-9365
