Annuals Pennisetum Calibrachoa and Coleus Potted
Container Planting Attracts Pollinators and Winter Interest
Oct 25, 2009
Gardeners can create a container planting that attracts pollinating hummingbirds and beneficial butterflies and bees with annual plants. Pennisetum for height and movement, Calibrachoa for trailing over the edge of a pot and color echoing off the coleus that has an upright habit, all become an idea for a potted garden.
Coleus in Plant Combinations
Coleus can be the basis of many plant combinations for its variety of leaf colors and varying characteristics available. By choosing a leaf color of a large multi-colored coleus plant, gardeners can create color echoing in the garden. The biggest challenge to using coleus will be in positioning the plant in an accurate amount of light required to maintain the color.
Solenostemon ‘Peter Wonder’ has a vivid color pattern of creamy yellow veining on green ruffled leaves. The back of each leaf and the stems are a burgundy-purple color. To keep these colors, the plant requires strong light but not a hot sunny site. The normally cream colored sections will turn red and the green areas brown if Solenostemon ‘Peter Wonder’ receives too much direct sun.
Annual Ornamental Grass Pennisetum
The annual ornamental grass, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ is a fountain grass with a feathery tail shaped bloom that will add movement to a potted garden. Pennisetum grows up to 3’ tall, likes full to part sun and planted in moist well draining soil.
Like other ornamental grasses, the Pennisetum plant stays intact over winter adding interest to any dormant flower garden. This annual grass is a low maintenance choice.
Annual Trailing Plant Calibrachoa
The annual trailing plant Calibrachoa is commonly called Million Bells®. Calibrachoa ‘Terra Cotta’ has many blooms with varying shades ranging from yellow to orange to rose. The plant is generally treated as an annual because it is only hardy in zones 9 – 11, or is called a tender perennial. Calibrachoa plants thrive in full sun and moist well-draining soil.
Calibrachoa is a useful flowering plant for many types of gardens. The petite petunia shaped blooms attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Million Bells® can be used for a temporary summertime planting in sustainable gardens, for creeping among perennial plants and draping over the edge of pots.
Plant Fillers in Container Gardens
Gardeners use plant fillers in extra space left among plants in a container garden. This can be in a mixed planting in one pot or using smaller pots next to a large single container. Here are several plant examples:
- Antirrhinum majus ‘Long Shot Pink’ is a 24” tall snapdragon that attracts pollinators and is useful in a cutting garden. Snapdragons do reseed in gardens; plan for regular deadheading to limit the number of plants in next year’s garden.
- Festuca cimerea ‘Elijah Blue’ is a type of small ornamental grass called blue fescue. However, it is only hardy to zone 4, maintaining evergreen foliage in a perennial bed.
- Portulaca grandiflora ‘Tequila Peppermint’ has variegated flower petals of pink and white with a yellow center. The plant is very short with fleshy leaves and reseeds readily. Moss roses grow best in full sun and thrive in hot dry locations.
Container gardens can be made up of an unending combination of plants. Pennisetum, Calibrachoa and coleus, together is an easy to grow annual combination for a garden location that receives morning sun. Coleus can also be combined with angel wing begonia and sweet potato vine.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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