Cool-Season Container Combos: Color from Fall Through Winter

Lisa Freed's Formula for Winter Pots

Lisa Freed, co-owner of Wells Medina Nursery in Medina, WA (425/454-1853), creates containers that deliver color from fall through winter using 24-inch lightweight plastic pots (faux terra-cotta, won't crack in freeze).

Method

1. Fill with potting soil + controlled-release fertilizer.
2. Start with a tall accent from a 2- or 5-gallon can (e.g., Phormium).
3. Surround with annuals/perennials from 4-inch or 1-gallon pots, contrasting colors and textures.

Plant Picks

Annuals

Pansies ('Delta Pure Red', 'Skyline Copperfield'), 'Rainbow' chard, 'Redbor' kale, violas ('Clear Sky Rose', 'Starlet Yellow').

Perennials

Bergenia cordifolia, Carex hachijoensis 'Evergold', Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue', Heuchera ('Bressingham Bronze', 'Green Spice', 'Plum Pudding'), Phormium ('Amazing Red', 'Duet', 'Maori Queen', 'Rainbow Warrior').

Shrubs

Aucuba japonica 'Mr. Goldstrike', Calluna vulgaris 'Wickwar Flame', Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide', Chamaecyparis pisifera 'True Blue', Euonymus japonicus ('Aureo-Marginatus', 'Aureo-Variegatus'), Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold', Mahonia × media 'Charity', Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream', Osmanthus heterophyllus ('Goshiki', 'Sasaba').

Mix and match for stunning cold-season containers.