Can you ID the plants in this container?

Hi there. I just joined Dave's Garden and still have a lot to learn. While browsing the web, I came across the container pictured in the photo (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=752430). It's the most beautiful container arrangement I've ever seen! Unfortunately, aside from the heucheras (the one on the bottom right is a Peach Flambé, I think) I can't identify any other plants. Does anybody know what the plant on the top (bamboo-like reddish leaves) and the variegated one on the bottom left are?

Thank you!

This message was edited Jun 15, 2008 4:04 PM

Welcome, GerBo! I'm sorry that I can't help you with your ID, but WELCOME to DAVE'S GARDEN, you'll love it!!!

Carrie

I'll ask my gardening friend to drop in and try and help with identifying the plants, GerBo. In the meantime welcome to DG.

The top plant is nandina, but the others are unfamiliar.

Yes, the red foliage plant in the background is a nandina. I think the variegated one on the left is an accanthus...but I'm not positive. Great color and texture combo !

The one in the lower left with the variegated leaves looks like Acanthus mollis 'Tasmanian Angel' http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/189342/ The other little one behind your peach Heuchera is probably going to be tough to ID without a closer shot. I have a variegated Arabis that from this distance and without flowers would look similar, but there are probably at least a dozen other things that would look like that from this distance too.

The darkest one, on the right, is a Heuchera but it's not close enough to identify. It is a wonderful arrangement.

Pirl: The colors and textures look like one of your trademark combinations !

Thanks for the compliment, JD, but I can only dream that mine looked like that.

Wow, I'm blown away by everybody's reponses. Thank you all so much. dp72 and JasperDale, what kind of nandina is that? I'm only familar with the "regular" nandina domestica that grows to 5-6 ft or even taller. Are there varieties that are a) smaller and b) red year round?

There are several dwarf cultivars. I don't know if there are any that stay red year round, chances are the one in the picture got greener sometime after the picture was taken.

The nandina certainly isn't 'Nana' or any of its descendents such as 'Firepower.' They have shorter, wider leaves that are somewhat curly like spinach, even though they do color up nicely in the fall when grown where the temperatures are moderate to cold. They suffer badly and show it when grown in areas where summers are hot.

This plant was used during a relatively brief period in the fall when they often turn red like this one. No variety stays this color year-round. Remember, this planting was staged for a magazine layout. (I don't mean to detract from its beauty!) For what it's worth, the leaves of this nandina have the classic appearance of those of 'Domestica,' and is likely 'Wood's Dwarf,' Gulf Stream,'or 'Harbor Dwarf.'

ecrane3 and dp72, thank you for the info. I love the red color, but the leaves are so striking, they would look great year round. I will definitely look into these varieties.

I forgot to mention 'Compacta.' It is the most like the standard nandina 'Domestica' but compact.
One man's treasure....I see lists of the most hated plants, and sometimes Domestica appears on them. It is naturalizing in parts of Florida and possibly other places. I think it is a near-perfect shrub- for the right spot, of course. Sun or shade, drought tolerant, and if you cut back the tallest 1/3 of the canes every February it stays a good height and stays full. Ninety-five percent of the nandinas I see are denuded up about 2 to 3 feet, and unattractive. These need to be cut to the ground- completely- in February and allowed to come back new and full. The difference is amazing.