Front Planting with Fall in Mind

While the back deck plantings were a choice between tropical colors, the front planter has a fall theme with oranges, reds and yellows.  The yellow-gold Stella De Oro daylilies set the tone here with a brilliant, chartreuse low-growing cedar and the deep green of the upright holly bush.

The thriller is a Sundaze Flame Strawflower by Proven Winners. It's only 10 -14 inches high but it is in a footed urn planter which has height of its own.  From the Australian outback, it is sun and drought and heat tolerant which it will need to be in the front of the house facing west.  Smart Look Red Celosia will also provide some spikes of brilliant plumes about a foot tall.

The fillers include Festive Dance Coleus and Blush Euphorbia by Breathless. The red is in the green leaves of the Euphorbia and the blooms are white touched with a bit of pink.  The coleus may not have been a good choice. As I read more about it, I found that it cannot tolerate sun.  Too bad because it has orange, olive, carmine and parrot green edges IN THE SHADE!

The spillers are Superbells Dreamsicle in orange by Proven Winners

 and Marguerite Sweet Potato Vine in chartreuse green.

My hummingbird spike and some metal bell chimes complete the area.

Now I'll need to watch the planter as we go through the growing season 

to see if the plants can stand the same environment: hot, sunny afternoons, quick to dry out 

and the drainage isn't great in an urn.

Maybe I should drill some small holes in the lower part of the base?

Check out growing environment details at: 

Proven Winners

BloomIQ

Dave's Garden