I was just looking over my container plants, and decided that a few of the plants that I was experimenting with in containers were really not too happy in containers, so I planted those and now have some empty containers. You know what that means.... time for new plants! :)
What are you favorite container plants that can take the brutal Texas summers with a minimum of care? I am quite happy with my larger container plants (esperanza, firebush, satsuma orange, and a plumeria that will hopefully someday qualify as big), but I'm in need of advice in the small and medium categories. I really haven't had anything that I would say has done great except for purslane, sedums, and an amaryllis of unknown variety that my wife inherited from her grandmother over 10 years ago. What container plants are a must for you?
Thanks!
Dennis
Favorite container plants?
One has to be careful of pots in the heat of summer. The size, color and type of pot can affect the root system. Clays require excessive amounts of water thru aspiration. Too moist roots in a plastic or sealed pot can boil the roots. Dark colors only excascerbate the heat problem. During the heat of summer, I've found plants under this stress need far less fertilizers. Most all of my plants have spent time in the "pot slammer". I have used a blooming, trailing verbena and also succulents for a green mulch. I also do use mulches to help water retention. Sadly heat stress seems to reduce blooms in a lot of the showier bloomers. As well as a Satsuma, another favorite of mine is a Bay laurel tree. You didn't mention, are your pots in full sun? Some shade?
Perilla, Caladiums, Coleus, Purselane, Portulaca, Ferns, Sweet Potatoe vine....come to mind.
"eyes"
Elephant ears, Crouton plant is pretty in a pot, Vinca, impatians, petunias, trailing verbena, and even morning glories.
Lin
My wife was talking about how great it would be to have a bay tree for leaves, so I'll definitely have to see if I can make space for one more large pot... :)
The area that I have my pots in is a courtyard, with some on an east facing wall and some on a west facing wall. The courtyard is only about 15 feet across, so it doesn't get early morning or late evening direct sun.
Thanks for the great suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming!
Do any cacti do well in pots in north Texas, or do they die off during our winters? Are there any that would survive outside, under a south facing overhang? Do any smaller yucca do well in pots?
Dennis
You don't wnat no Yucca in No Pot!!!!! Prickley Pear will survive anything...
"eyes"
Plant Slammer...got that right. At least for me, too. The only plant I have in a container is the pictured thornless cactus. A cactus bought and planted at the same time in the ground is way outperforming the potted plant. I'm just not attentive to the potted plant as I outta be. My hat's off to those who do this well.
You don't wnat no Yucca in No Pot!!!!!
I actually have had a spineless Yucca elephantipes potted for a many years. It is over 6 feet tall and doing fine. It is a very stately plant. All it receives is benign neglect and I won't show the terrible pot I have it in. I want nothing with thorns myself.
Dennis ~ your courtyard sounds delightful. The evening shade is a blessing for your plants. I love the Bay Laurel and have purple trailing Verbena around the base of it for a green mulch. I use the leaves and really like the intense fragrance of fresh leaves.
Nice Pod........but theat ain't your typical Yucca...LOL...I do love Bay Leaves in cooking though...
"eyes"
oops, forgot these guys. That's how carefree these cacti are. Don't walk by them often.
This is a favorite container plant that blooms freely thru the summer. It does favor afternoon shade tho.
Angelwing begonia
One of my friends lived in Grapevine and had a huge Bay plant at her east facing doorway.
I have a pot with coneflowers and dwarf ruella and another with dwarf maiden grass and blue daze. They get about 3 hours overhead sun and a little more at the end of the day.I water them every few days.
Like the idea of succulent mulch.Do you think I can put my Hen(no chicks) in the Slammer? It is not doing very well in a shady spot.
If you have some shade , there is a plant "silver bells" that cascades down. It is beautiful in a pot. My didn't die over the winter.
Anna, is that the little silver duncecap? Mine grows in a pot in full sun. In shade it will get tall and leggy, instead of spreading and multiplying. I have a larger echie in part shade, and it also stays pretty leggy.
I respectfully disagree about containers in Texas summers. Clay is absolutely the best, unless you are growing a high-moisture requiring plant (which would probably best be in ground anyway); every commercial grower in the state uses black plastic--they just need sun intensity cut (shade cloth part of day or semi-shady conditions due to trees)--don't over water plastic containers (the main mistake made by most folks) ; and container grown plants always require a lot more fertilizer than ground grown, whether winter, spring, summer, or fall.
=)
I will take a picture when I get my camera working. I don't think it is the same thing. This hangs over the side.If you break off a piece you can root it like sedum and ends up looking like a waterfall.
That sounds very cool. I'll keep an eye out for it at the nursery. Is it something that you would find at Lowe's, or more of something to look for at a good, native plant nursery?
I think I found it at Calloways. I doubt it's native, but atleast it's not invasive or high maintenance.
These plants have been on the back deck for the last 2 years. The varigated yucca stayed outside over the winter. The aloe vera and star aloe went into the garage for the winter. They get full afternoon sun and are watered whenever it rains or whenever I think about giving them a drink.
These pots are on the same deck, but are shaded a bit from the worst of the afternoon sun. Two pots of Autumn Joy sedum, gopher plant and a cactus. In areas where I don't have direct sun I have ornamental peppers, basil, a lemon tree, and kalanchoe growing in pots. Also other pots with bulbine, sedums, etc. mixed in the flower beds to add some variety.
Jon I like all the different shaped pots you are using and the colors. The froggie too. ;)
Lin
I really like the variegated yucca. I'll have to keep an eye out for that and silver falls! :)
Dennis
Oops . . . that should be variegated agave, not yucca. Senior moment!
When we moved into this house I said that I would not have container plants any longer because of the time required in building and maintaining beds in the huge yard. However, I find that I have MORE instead of fewer pots. They fill a need in certain areas and make a statement in flower beds. Just be sure to match the plant to the location and water accordingly.