This sunny container looks so bright and cheery against the fence. The Mandevilla vine provides vertical appeal to the arrangement.

RECIPE:
• (1) Mandevilla vine “Sun Parasol Giant Pink”
• (1) Angelonia “Angelface Perfectly Pink”
• (1) Calibrachoa “Superbells Holy Cow”
• (1) Lantana “Luscious Bananarama”
• (1) Vinca “Cora Strawberry”
• (1) Petunia “Potunia Plus Pinkalicious”

TIPS:
• Mandevilla vines are vigorous easy-to-grow plants. The vines easily climb 10 feet or more if provided trellising.
• Trim the petunia and calibrachoa plants occasionally to keep them full and fresh.
• Remove spent flowers from the lantana plant to encourage continuous blooms.
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I love to use Silver Falls Dichondra as a spiller plant in mixed containers, but it is also attractive by itself in a hanging container. This plant is perfectly named as its small silvery leaves cascade like a water fall!

RECIPE:
• (4) Dichondra “Silver Falls.”

TIPS:
• I grow Dichondra from seed in large 4-paks. These plants are also easy to find at greenhouses. If purchasing in a 3” to 4” container, only 1-2 plants are needed.
• This container needs a lot of water as the plants mature.
• Click here to go to a PDF version of this post. https://sdsu.box.com/s/rgpm00dtu90897k3jyldetjgabwoq38m

Everything about this container is rosy! The thriller plant is a fountain grass named “Fireworks.” It is surrounded by a variety of rose-shaded plants and topped off by a rosy solar ornament.

RECIPE:
• (1) Fountain Grass “Fireworks”
• (2) Petunias “Surfinia Summer Double Salmon”
• (4) Gazania “New Day Pink Shades”
• (6) Vinca “Tattoo Papaya”

TIPS:
• Fountain grass will grow as large as your container allows. Select a good-sized container with an ample amount of soil.
• Do not use a container that is narrow at the bottom as it will be subject to blowing over. A container such as the barrel shown in this photo has a wider base and will not blow over.
• The root system of the fountain grass is extensive and requires a lot of water.
• I use a DIY plant support ring around my fountain grass to lift the blades above the soil and allow the other flowers to grow without being smothered. To make the support ring, I purchase an inexpensive small tomato cage and cut it off above the lowest ring. Place the ring around the grass about 4”-6” above the soil. As the grass grows, pull the new blades up through the support ring.
• Remove spend blossoms from the gazania plants to encourage continuous flowering.
• Click here to go to a PDF version of this post. https://sdsu.box.com/s/a35tnr4kcpv8t8peqlddprir14o5tsbn

This grouping in our shaded patio area gives a cool inviting touch using a water feature and shade plants. The sound of cascading water adds to the tranquil atmosphere.

RECIPE:
• This grouping incorporates a variety of ferns, shade annuals, and houseplants including:
o Blue Star Fern
o Green Fantasy Fern
o Lemon Button Fern
o Pepperomia graveolens
o Creeping Fig
o Hypostes “Polka Dot Plant”
o Dragon Wing Begonia
o Various Ivy

TIPS:
• Use a variety of container sizes, shapes and colors when grouping containers.
• Elevate some containers (I use bricks) to add height to the grouping and to feature all plants.
• Shade groupings require much less water.
• Nearly all these plants can be grown as house plants.
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