Gardening with Allen: Add some color for fall, winter pots

I need help in replanting my containers with plants for the fall and winter. What kinds of plants would you suggest?

While we have many flowers that bloom during the summer, the number of fall and winter blooming flowers is much more limited.

However there are a number of other plants which make attractive displays for the fall and winter. I like to include a dwarf evergreen tree or shrub. While there are evergreens such as Butterball Hinoki Cypress which mature at 2 feet or less, many others can be planted temporarily in a large container for a year and then moved to another location when they become too large. A one gallon size Niagara Falls eastern White Pine is typically less than 2 feet tall. Golden Spreader Caucasian Fir, Thuja pilea Whipcord and Thunderbird Black Japanese Pine would be good temporary choices in pots. Check other varieties on display at full service nurseries in the area.

Variegated boxwood is another good choice as a temporary container plant.

There are a number of Euphorbias with different leaf colors that make excellent specimen plants in containers.

Ferns are excellent choices for containers in shady areas.

One of my favorite plants for containers is the colored leaf Heucheras. They range in color from lime green to deep purple with shades of cherry and peach in between. Variegated leaf varieties are also available. Heuchera keeps its leaves all winter, especially in protected locations.

Lamium has evergreen variegated leaves and flowers in early spring.

Vining plants with attractive leaves include English Ivy and Creeping Jenny.

There are a number of ornamental grasses which can be purchased in bloom now for fall performance. Sedges are grass-like plants in the Carex genus with attractive leaf colors.

Pansy is the work horse of flowering plants for fall and winter containers. Some Hellebores will bloom by December. Chrysanthemums and Asters give temporary fall color.

I like to include bulbs such as miniature daffodil, crocus, hyacinth and even tulips to give early spring color. Bulbs can be planted between other flowers.

Full service nurseries can give you additional help in selecting plants for containers.

Allen Wilson is a Vancouver gardening specialist. Email Allen Wilson at allenw98663@yahoo.com.

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