Container 1
Sun-loving plants, Desert Escape and succulents thrive in hot, dry spots -- spots where you might have trouble growing more
traditional annual flowers like geraniums and petunias.
In this container garden, we started with bright
green Crassula 'Campfire' a gorgeous succulent that
develops orange and red edges in autumn when the days get shorter and temperatures start to cool. We accented it with
Senecio , an upright-growing succulent with gray-green leaves often edged in red or purple.
Opposite the is one of our favorites: panda plant (aka Kalanchoe ), which features gray leaves covered in soft
bronzy-brown fuzz. Panda plant is perfect to look at and touch! Then right in we added a silver echeveria. The four succulents combine to create an
interesting, intriguing mix of colors and textures.
Container 2
In our second container, we started with variegated agave, which has blue-green leaves edged in creamy gold.
We love the way the variegation plays off the golden-tan detail of the container!
Opposite
the agave, we put in a green euphorbia. It was an easy choice: The euphorbia draws the eye up -- and gets
more dramatic as time passes and the plant grows. Next to the euphorbia we planted another variety -- E.
'Red', which features burgundy-purple stems and leaves. We love the playful effect of the two
euphorbias.
In the center of the container went an echeveria with frilly leaves. The texture
adds movement to the grouping, and the purple-red leaf edges are an ideal complement to the red
euphorbia.
We topped it off with variegated baby jade (Portulacaria), which as it
grows, will act as a spiller, cascading over the side of the pottery and softening the edges. Its variegated
foliage adds lightness to the planting while its red stems are a lovely accent to the red
euphorbia.
Container 3
In our third container, we used African milk tree, an easy outdoor plant that has an upright, candelabra-type
growth. Its stems are variegated with milky white, adding color and texture.
Next to the
African milk tree went another 'Campfire'
crassula. The bright green adds a lively touch now during the summer -- and this fall it will create
an out-of-this-world effect when it shows off its bright red and orange tones.
Opposite the
crassula is flapjacks plant (Kalanchoe ), and we selected it for its unique texture. While so many
succulents have either a tight, rosette-type growth or spiny look, flapjacks paddle-like leaves in a soft
shade of gray-green. They're edged in a soft ring of rosy purple, so it contributes both color and texture
to the planting.
As with the other containers, our border plant is a silvery echeveria
(because they're such a beautiful plant!). The is a fun counterpoint to the flapjacks while playing off the
variegation of the African milk tree.
Container 4
Our fourth container features three different varieties of echeveria -- each with a different color and
texture. By they're as pretty as a picture, but when you add a charming variegated baby jade to the mix, the
effect these succulent plants offers is downright fun. It may not offer as much color as a basket full of
petunias, but it will hold off a whole lot longer through the heat of the summer!
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Written by Justin Hancock
