Relies on color theory as a recipe for front-stoop success
1. High contrast
There are endless complementary colors, but Thompson chose a very important combination — red and green — for this planter. “We usually associate this pairing with Christmas, so it’s a nice change to see it used in a way that feels very summery,” he says. This English-inspired container calls for two types of asparagus ferns (plumosa and foxtail) and an assortment of red flowers (‘Solenia Red’ begonias, ivy geraniums, and New Guinea impatiens). “When planting, I always work from the largest to the smallest,” Thompson says. Here, he positioned the begonias first so they would gently fall over the edge, then added other plants around them to fill in the gaps and provide dimension.
2. Hat Trick
If you’ve ever wondered why certain colors look good together, it all comes down to the color wheel. Just as a painter considers shade pairs in art, a gardener can use the same rules when choosing plants. For this container in full sun, Thompson chose a triangular scheme, using colors that are equidistant on the wheel. “In the old-school way, [I combined] three different growth habits in this design — a shrub as a filler, a spiller at the bottom, and a thriller at the top that emerges toward you,” she says. Start by planting yellow melampodiums as a focal point and some ‘Truffula Pink’ comfrey behind for height. Then add two blue branches — plumbagos and ‘Blue Days’ evolutives — to drip down the front.
3. Bursts of brilliance
Guided by a palette of similar colors (one after the other on the wheel), Thompson chose vibrant pinks and oranges for the main elements of this container and yellow-greens for its accents. “Designed against a wall, it descends from the highest growth
to the west,” she says. Starting at the back, plant an ‘Electric Lime’ coleus; then add coral-colored pentas and two-toned lantanas on either side of it. To complete the look, ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra bamboo goes in the front of the container. “It’s a fun plant that grows very tall. If you want to cut it back, trim it with scissors,” says Thompson. If you’re placing the container where it will be seen from all sides, surround it with additional lantana and dichondra in the back.
4. Plenty of Purple
“There are no leaves other than the greenery of the flowering plants, which gives it a monochromatic feel,” says the garden expert, who chose three purple blooms for the hanging basket on the left. To layer more texture, she lined the plant with sheet moss. Inside, a piece of burlap helps to bind the contents. (You can also use foil or plastic with holes for this.) Fill the container with loose-packed soil to about 2 1⁄2 inches from the top, then plant the flowers—angelonias, fan flowers, and
million bells. Hanging baskets do best when watered twice a day, so it’s important to fertilize regularly, Thompson advises. “When you water frequently, nutrients naturally leach out, meaning you have to reapply them,” she explains.
5. Goes well together
For this combination, a pair of rust-colored terra-cotta pots help add color in a split-fill method approach. In the planter on the left, purple angelonias stand tall with summer-loving 'Orange Marmalade' crossandras in the middle and cool-green ornamental oregano at the edge. To keep things simple, purple fan flowers (scaevolas) fill the second vase perfectly. "When grouping pots, I like to break it up with a plant in a container to give the eye a place to rest," says Thompson.
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