Creating a Perennial Pot

I love creating perennial pots for my clients and myself. You can create Perennial pots for shade or sun, but plants that go in the shade are so beautiful and vibrant in a very elegant way! My client needed something that was going to be placed in a very dark area, so I decided to plant shade perennials that had a lot of color and texture. Also, I chose white pots for the shaded area that would shine even in the dark.

Beautiful Inspirations

Dryopteris Erythrosora 'Brilliance Autumn Fern'
​(zone 5 - 8)
Sun exposure
Full to part shade
Bloom time
N/A
Flower color
​N/A
Foliage color
Mid - green
Height
18 - 24 inches

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​Sara Says...this beauty in the shade, in a pot, comes back year after year! 

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​Tuberous Begonia (annual)
Sun exposure
Part sun to part shade
Bloom time
N/A
Flower color
​​Varities
Foliage color
​Varities
Height
Varities

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​Sara Says...one of the easiest of the annuals! 
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Brunnera macrophylla 'Heartleaf'
​(zone 3 - 7)
Sun exposure
Full to part shade
Bloom time
Spring
Flower color
Blue
Foliage color
Deep green - white attributes
Height
12 - 15 inches

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​Sara Says...so underrated! The white really sparkles in the shade! 
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Lysimachia Nummularia' Creeping Jenny'
(zone 2 - 10)
Sun exposure
Full sun to part shade
Bloom time
Spring
Flower color
N/A
Foliage color
Golden green
Height
Less than 6 inches/ spreader/ ground cover

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​Sara Says...one of my all time favorites! Sun or shade. Caution-can take over if planted in the ground! 
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​Pulmonaria Little Star 'Lungwort'  (zone  3 - 8)
Sun exposure
Part sun to light shade
Bloom time
Spring
Flower color
​Light Pink
Foliage color
Deep green - star like texture
Height
6 - 8 inches

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​Sara Says...if planted in the ground, needs a good loamy organic soil...will not do good in clay. 
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I absolutely adore shopping at my local nursery! They give the plants so much love and attention. As I was walking down the 'Shade Perennials' section, I noticed all of the beautiful ferns. They will give the pot wonderful texture and elegance. I chose an 'Autumn Fern' that will add height, but not take over the soil in the pot. That is something to remember when purchasing plants, be sure that you don't buy plants that will take over the soil nutrients or the other plants. The fern will give the pot such a beautiful chartreuse and rosy glow!

​The Brunerra and Lungwort I found together and immediately fell in love with how the colors and textures complimented each other! When you are looking for shade plants like these, remember to think about the foliage as often times the flowers will only bloom for a short time.

​I love the way all of these plants work together. From the foliage, texture, height, and color combinations.

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​Next I wanted to look at the 'trailers', or plants that will be spilling out of the pot. There are lot of varieties, but my absolute favorite is "Creeping Jenny". Creeping Jenny is a very fast grower and provides years of enjoyment as they are a perennial.

​Now that I had all of my perennials, I just need one more thing. Something that would give a big pop of color.

​I decided to pick a tuberous Begonia that would play off of the red and purple tints in the shades of their leaves. I could have picked a white Begonia but it would not have popped as well since the client's pot is white. Keep that in mind as well, you don't want to choose plants that will not do well because of the color of the container. This is  an annual and can be changed out every year to add a different pop of color.

​I absolutely love the way that the pot turned out! I have a lot of different colors and foliage that play off of one another perfectly.

​This is where the pots were to be placed and I think all of the textures play off of each other in such great harmony, From the moss of the roof, to the beautiful textures of the building and bench.
I love it...I hope you love it too!