Romance Your Pots: Jill Goodsell's Container Design Secrets

Stylish Succulents

Jill Goodsell of Woodinville, Washington, uses “bling for the garden”—captivating containers that invite lingering. A 9x12-inch pot on a rusted iron pedestal holds frosty pink Echeveria gibbiflora ‘Metallica’, icy blue chalk fingers (Senecio vitalis), cascading string of pearls (S. rowleyanus), and fragrant common heliotrope.

Q&A with Jill

• Why single pots? Clusters look contrived; single pots punctuate the landscape.
• Choosing plants? Certain plants always work; test combinations at the nursery—if they “dance,” it’s a winner.
• Color pairing? Opposites on spectrum: green/purple, red/blue, tangerine/blue. Also harmonious blends like succulent blues/greens punched up with bright foliage.
• Planting tips? Drill more drain holes; cover with coffee filter to hold soil. Mix Dr. Earth Organic Flower Garden Fertilizer at planting; supplement with liquid fish emulsion.