Add a bit of brightness to a shady yard .

Containers offer a quick and easy way to brighten up a shady railyard . All you need are the right shade - lie with plant to occupy your tidy sum . apply these recipes to create the adept spectre container combinations that have interchangeable moisture and unaccented requirements .

Create Architectural Interest

Use plant forms tocreate architectural interestwhendesigning your landscape . Here , afull - synodic month maplemakes a wonderful direct contrast against mounding plants and its satisfying container .

A. Blackmondo grass(Ophiopogon planiscapus’Nigrescens ' ): 3

B. Full - moon maple ( Acer shirasawanum’Aureum ' ): 1

white Caladium, orange New Guinea Impatiens, coleus

Credit: David Goldberg

C.Oxalis’Zinfandel ' : 1

D.Foamflower(Tiarella’Pink Brushes ' ): 1

Make a Statement the Simple Way

This is a simple-minded yetdramatic conjugation for a umbrageous spot — with just two plant ( each with two leaf colours ) . The coloured coleus contrast with the shining caladium that illuminate up the centre of a pot .

A.Caladium’Gingerland ' : 1

B.Coleus(Solenostemon’Inky fingerbreadth ' ): 1

container garden for shade letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Look Up

Whenselecting a containerfor your potted plants , upright drainageand the ripe size of it for your flora ’s root system are the two most of import considerations , come after by the container cloth itself . Here , sleek , shiny pots trace your eye up to a bonanza of colour and grain .

A.Caladium’Florida Elise ' : 2

B.Perilla’Gage ’s Shadow ' : 1

shade container garden of coleus and Caladium letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

C.Asparagus fern(Asparagus densiflorus’Myersii ' ): 1

D.New Guinea impatiens(Impatiens’Sonic Cherry ' ): 1

E.Oxalis’Zinfandel ' : 1

container garden for shade letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Look for Fun Containers

Repurpose an average household particular into aone - of - a - kind container . This spectacular yet wide-eyed design trust upon foliage size and coloring contrasts for impact — all in a simple , salvaged bucket .

A.Coleus(Solenostemon’Sedona ' ): 1

B.Sweet potato vine(Ipomoea batatas’Sweet Caroline Bronze ' ): 2

container garden for shade letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

C.Elephant Ears(Colocasia’Red Stem Rhubarb ' ): 1

Play Off Your Container

If you ’re not sure how tostart designing your container , look at your container ’s color and then resolve if you want to complement it or counterpoint it with your plants ' color . Here , the opprobrious pots depend capital against bold , undimmed colors .

A.Coleus(Solenostemon’Daffy ' ): 1

B.Sedge(Carex hachijoensis ): 1

container garden selection for shade letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

C.Caladium’Florida Beauty ' : 1

D. Coleus ( Solenostemon’JoDonna ' ): 1

Employ Powerful Foliage

savor a beautiful container garden without flowers by choosing plant withdramatic foliage . Plantvarieties with textured leavesfor total interest .

A.Golden sedge(Carex elata’Aurea ' ): 1

B.Geranium(Pelargonium’Dolly Varden ' ): 1

Potted Geranium, Nandina, Bowles, Cerex letters

Credit: David McDonald

C.Elephant ears(Colocasia’Black Magic ' ): 1

D.Heavenly bamboo(Nandina’Sienna Sunrise ' ): 1

Grow Colorful Foliage

This ingathering of gutter and pots relies on various foliage shapes , sizes , and contrast for impact . If you do n’t want to growtropical plantslike these elephant ’s ears , groweasy houseplantsin the shade instead .

A.Coleus(Solenostemon’Inky Fingers ' ): 1

B.Elephant ’s ear(Alocasia amazonica ): 1

concrete paver planters letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

C. Elephant ’s spike ( Colocasia esculenta’Black Magic ' ): 1

D.Hosta’Pot of Gold ' : 1

E.Sedge(Carex’Beatlemania ' ): 1

container garden featuring variegated Hosta

Credit: Mike Jensen

Keep It Simple

you may have abeautiful container gardeneven with one kind of plant . Here , a single hosta in a classic container form a affirmation all its own . Thebest hosta varietiesoffer different colour , sizes , leaf shape and texture , and flowers , so opt the perfect one to match into your garden ’s invention .

A.Hosta’Aureomarginata ' : 1

Try Repetition

repeating is one of theelements of honest garden designthat is used by many gardeners . you may do the same affair with your container gardens . Here , bright begonias enliven a pot ofherbs for the kitchenand make echo item of color .

A.Begonia’Dragon Wing Red ' : 4

B. Goldensage(Salvia officinalis’Aurea ' ): 2

Plants rosemary topiary with dragon wing begonias letters

Credit: Kim Cornelison

C.Rosemary(Rosmarinus officinalis ): 1

Add Color Anywhere

This half wall - basket line with sphagnum moss exudes honest-to-god - world magical spell . You cancreate a erect gardenlike this anywhere — from a rampart to a gate or even a door .

A.Sweet alyssum(Lobularia maritima ): 2

B. Doubleimpatiens(Impatiens’Fiesta Sparkler Hot Pink ' ): 3

pink double impatiens in wire moss basket at garden letters

Credit: Ed Gohlich

Create an Explosion of Color

Similar pots in different sizes implant to echo each other present a light and elegant presentation . Grouped containerscan deform an ordinary outdoor space into a lush patio garden . Here , a fern is used to add height and extra interest .

A. Reigerbegonia(Begonia’Charisma Pink ' ): 6

B.Fuchsia’Hidcote Beauty ' : 3

Potted plants reiger begonias with fern and fuchsia letters

Credit: Kim Cornelison

C.Wood fern(Dryopteris clintoniana ): 1

Select Easy Plants

This unusual pairing of soft - growing but striking plants makes a statement in fond specter . Each container complements its contents absolutely .

A.Begonia’Dragon Wing Red ' : 3

B.Oxalisregnellii : 5

striped planter purple oxalis pink begonia letters

Credit: Richard Felber

Pick a Specimen Plant

Dramatic enough to abide alone , this wildly colored genus Perilla punctuates a corner of the landscape all on its own . Also make love by its Japanese name , shiso , this plant ’s leaves are a rattling addition to a salad . Trygrowing your own salad greens in container .

A.Perilla’Magilla ' : 1

Create Summer Cheer

A colorful combination ofeasy - flowering plantsthat will remain attractive all summer long for a smart room toadd pastime to any shaded areaof your garden .

A.Tuberous begonia(Begonia’Scentiment Blush ' ): 1

B.Impatiens’Accent Watermelon ' : 3

Container garden with Perilla ‘Magilla’ letters

Credit: Ed Gohlich

Create a Tower of Color

Tough , vigorous plants meet in a bluff , colorful container garden that looks good all the way to icing . Consider placing a plantation owner on a outdoor stage for extra summit .

A.Begonia’Dragon Wing Pink ' : 3

B.Impatiens’Showstopper Tropical Punch ' : 3

Container garden of Yellow Begonia, Pink Impatients letters

Credit: Mark Kane

Choose Fun Containers

Easy - to - grow plants commingle here tobrighten a dull fence . The metallic element container is unusual enough that it needs little embellishment , so lily-white flowers are a perfect accession .

A.Impatiens’Dazzler White ' : 2

B.Asparagus fern(Asparagus sprengeri ): 1

large container of red impatiens and begonias letters

Credit: Dean Schoeppner

Create a Rustic Mood

This bumpkinly container is complement by the unsubdivided plantings to create a perfect vignette fora shady woodlandor country - style garden .

A.Browalliaspeciosa’Blue Bells ' : 3

B.Asparagus fern(Asparagus sprengeri ): 2

White Impatiens In Garden Ornament Antique Top letters

Credit: King Au

C.Begonia’Prelude White ' : 2

D.Begonia’Prelude Rose ' : 2

E.Variegated ivy(Hedera helix’Gold Child ' ): 3

flowers in rustic container letters

Credit: Bryan E. McCay

Use Layers for Impact

Two layer of plants create extra pursuit in this container . The brightcaladium leavesare a perfect contrast to sheer impatiens and vinca blooms . Add even more interest to your container by includingplantings that attract butterflies .

A.Caladium’Candidum ' : 1

B.Vinca(Catharanthus’Titan Punch ' ): 3

Candidum and flowers in pot letters

Credit: Jay Wilde

C. Vinca ( Catharanthus’Titan Rose ' ): 3

D.Impatiens’Jungle amber ' : 3

Use Powerful Contrasts

ordinarily , the effective annual to set together come from the same color family . Here , this grouping stands out with itsrepetition of redsfrom thecoleusandimpatiensthat are contrasted with a white - variegatedcaladium .

A.Impatiens’Petticoat fervor ' : 1

B. Coleus ( Solenostemon’Atlas ' ): 1

white Caladium, orange New Guinea Impatiens, coleus letters

Credit: David Goldberg

C. Coleus ( Solenostemon’Kingwood Torch ' ): 1

D.Caladium’Candidum ' : 1

Grow a Mixed Planting

This container offer a little of everything : yearbook , perennials , and tropical vines . Mix and match different industrial plant types for gamey - impact combinations that are perfect forcreating an prosperous cottage gardenlook .

A.Hosta plantaginea : 1

B.Mandevilla’Alice du Pont ' : 1

Container plants with green and pink variety letters

Credit: Emily Followill

C.Sweet potato vine(Ipomoea batatas’Margarita ' ): 1

D.Licorice plant(Helichrysum petiolare ): 2

E. Algerian ivy ( Hedera algeriensis ): 2

Container shade garden with Corydalis lutea letters

Credit: Bert Klassen

F.Verbena’Superbena Burgundy ' : 3

Try Long-Blooming Perennials in Pots

lot are n’t just for annuals . recurrent container garden look keen with their gorgeous autumn colors . Here , a yellowcorydaliswill continue to bloom from leaping to the first free fall frost .

A. ( Corydalis lutea ): 2

Go with Groups

One pot by itself calculate with child — but more is better!Arrange several container togetherand followrecipes for beautiful container gardens , such as a mixture of colored annual and perennials or a monochromatic flavor create with flowers and foliage . This pinkish , white , and blue solicitation is fix off by the upstanding greenish leafage of the fern behind .

A.Impatiens’Accent Bright Eyed ' : 1

B. Waxbegonia(Begonia’Senator White ' ): 1

flowers in multiple planters letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

C.Browalliaspeciosa’Blue Bells ' : 3

D.Pentas lanceolata’New Look Pink ' : 1

Use Bright Colors

lite , bright colors show well in shade . In fact , you could grow colorful plants anywhere . The latestshade garden design ideasare filled with gorgeous plant life form . This planting trust on shimmer white with a touch of pink to stand out from its surroundings .

A.Caladium’Candidum ' : 3

B.Petunia’Supertunia Mini - Silver ' : 3

garden with caladium, cosmos, lamium, begonias letters

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul

C.Cosmos bipinnatus’White Sonata ' : 2

D.Reiger begonia(Begonia’Charisma Pink ' ): 3

E.Lamium galeobdolon’Herman ’s Pride ' : 3

3 Begonia Baskets On Wall letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

F.Asparagus fern(Asparagus densiflorus ): 2

Look for Unused Space

Just because your garden bed are full does n’t intend you do n’t have way for more plants . Vertical gardeningadds another dimension to your outdoor growing outer space . This collection of baskets is a great way to total an extra STD of color to a garage .

A.Tuberous begonia(Begonia’Nonstop Apricot ' ): 2

B. Tuberous begonia ( B.‘Nonstop Bright Red ' ): 2

container garden with Caladium, Begonia, ivy letters

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

C. Tuberous begonia ( B.‘Nonstop Yellow ' ): 2

Create a Festive Feel

This pleasing arrangement of easy - to - observe plants could decorate a shaded summertime deck or patio for several calendar month . If you ’re go togrow multiple plants in one container , keep in psyche that they ’ll need to have similar sun , water , and soil requirement so as to expand .

A.Caladium’Frieda Hemple ' : 1

B.Begonia’Victory Green Leaf White ' : 2

C.Ivy(Hedera helix’Duckfoot ' ): 3