I Want to Try This for Next Canada Day: Heart's on Fire Recipe for Balcony Planter from Proven Winners

• ExposureSun
• Season
  • Summer
• Container Size
  • 36 Inches

• Filler
  Graceful Grasses^® Fiber Optic GrassIsolepsis (Scirpus) cernus

  Qty:2
• Filler
  Supertunia^® Watermelon CharmPetunia hybrid

  Qty:3
• Spiller
  Snowstorm^® Giant Snowflake^®Bacopa Sutera cordata

  Qty:2

What's New in Perennials With Proven Winners 2016

Zones 4-9 with the exceptions of Leading Lady Lilac Monarda, Opening Act White Phlox,  Opening Act Blush Phlox, and Magic Show White Wands Veronica, all of which are zones 4-8.  

For details on size and colour please see:

https://www.provenwinners.com/sites/provenwinners.com/files/catalogs_pdfs/cast_preview_2016_singlepgs_w.pdf

New Flowering Shrubs for 2016 with Proven Winners

Hardy for zone 3 and up:
Little Quick Fire Hydrangea paniculata
Tiny Wine Physocarpus opulifius
Lemony Lace Sambucus racemosa
Bloomerang Dark Purple Syringa

Hardy for zone 4 and up:
Spilled Wine Weigela florida
Sonic Blooms Weigela florida
Show Off Sugar Baby Forsythia


Please scroll through Proven Winners new spring booklet for zones and other pertinent information:
https://www.provenwinners.com/sites/provenwinners.com/files/catalogs_pdfs/cast_preview_2016_singlepgs_w.pdf

Thriller, Filler, Spiller

http://www.portlandnursery.com/plants/container-gardens/images/thriller-diagram495.png

Thriller, Filler, Spiller is a concept Frankie Flowers, aka Frank Ferragine, endorses when he advises on planting containers.  The above diagram, from Portland Nursery's site, demonstrates the concept. 

First, start with your thriller.  The thriller is the focal point and is usually tall and/or very colourful.  Used here is a dracaena but any grasses, millet, etc. will suffice.  The more stunning in formation and colour, the better.  Remember this is your thriller.

Secondly, select your fillers.  These are mid-level fill ins.  Something somewhat busy but lower growing, but not sprawling or trailing.  Depending on the light and wind, these could be begonias, marigolds, osteospermum, fuchsias, pansies, etc.  Go traditional or original, the choices are limitless.

Third, fill in around the edge of the container with your spillers.  These are trailing plants that soften the overall appearance of the container, flowing over and beyond the container, anchoring it to the garden or surrounding area.  I love to use sweet potato vine, but try bacopa, ivy, trailing osteospermum, trailing geranium, bamboo, licorice vine, etc.  Use complementary colours and textures to your advantage to make a stunning arrangement.  Here are some more photos for inspiration:

Proven Winners

Flamenco Dancer Container Design by Proven Winners - full sun

Flamenco Dancer


Foliage can be every bit as colorful as flowers as shown by this vibrant combination.

The recipe:
A. Graceful Grasses® Purple Fountain Grass Pennisetum (Fountain Grass)
Qty: 1

B. Dwarf Garters Phalaris (Dwarf Ribbon Grass)
Qty: 1

C. Dappled Apple™ Solenostemon (Coleus)
Qty: 1

D. Religious Radish Solenostemon (Coleus)
Qty: 1

Container Recipe Details:
Exposure: Sun
Pot Size: 14 inches
Pot Style Shown: Upright Container
This design can be adapted for:  Window Box, Wall Sconce, Upright Container
Color Scheme: Tropical

This recipe assumes that 4.5" plants are being used. To make the recipe work using larger plants, you will need to choose a pot that is larger than our suggested size or use fewer plants of each variety in the recipe.