• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Colorful Foliage Containers

Colorful flowers brighten our landscapes, but don’t overlook interesting foliage that can provide season long beauty in containers.

Add color and vertical interest to the shade garden with a container of coleus (Henna Coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Balcenna’) and Rex begonias (Begonia rex-cultorum).  Just set it among shade lovers.

The fine texture of fiber optic grass (Isolepsis cernus syn. Scirpus cernus) makes a nice filler or trailer.  The spikey red dracaena (Red Star Dracaena, Cordyline australis ‘Red Star) combines nicely with the yellow coleus (Gay’s Delight Coleus Solenostemon scutellariodes ‘Gay’s Deight’) and edible blue green leaves of Lacinata kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Lacinato’).  The colorful croton (Codiaeum) ties it all together.

A combination of reds, greens and purple make this an outstanding beauty. 

Sun loving coleus, sweet potato vine and variegated Plectranthus are a stand out combination in front of the blue spruce.

The purple leaves and fruit of black pearl pepper (Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl’) provide a colorful bridge between the bold leaves of Mojito elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta ‘Mojito’) and trailing sweet potato (Marguerite Sweet potato vine, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’).

A bit more information: These plants are featured in the container with combinations of reds, greens and purple. The spikey Red Star Dracaena (Cordyline australis ‘Red Star) makes a nice vertical accent. The Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), Fiber optic grass (Isolepsis cernus syn. Scirpus cernus) and Rex begonias (Begonia rex-cultorum) fill in the middle while the ornamental clover (Triflorum) cascades over the edge.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


Jan. 18, 2025
Garden Visions
Wausau, WI and Virtual

Feb. 7-9, 2025
PBS Wisconsin's
Garden & Green Living Expo

Madison, WI

Feb. 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Organic Insect Pest Management for Vegetable and Flower Gardens

Register here

Feb. 14-16, 2025
NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show
West Allis, WI

Feb. 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants

Register here

Feb. 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Create a Beautiful Shade Garden

Register here

March 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Grow Pollinator-friendly Spring and Summer Flowering Bulbs

Register here

March 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Register here

March 26, 2025

FREE WEBINAR:
Succession Planting & Crop Rotation

Register here

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win Melinda's Food Gardening for Everyone DVD set

ENTER NOW