Spring Green Mix

The most difficult part of planting and caring for container plants is making sure that the varieties you chose all have similar sun and water needs.

Gardenzilla offers the following plant "recipe," which features a striking assortment of colors, including yellow, purple, and various shades of greens. All of the following plants do best in full sun to partial shade and prefer moist soil.

Blackie Sweet Potato: This plant's foliage is deep purplish-black in color and can act as a striking contrast to lighter hued plants, especially green foliar varieties. Growing to a length of 12-18 inches, this plant is classified as a vine and will dangle over the sides of a container.

Hostas: Originating from Japan, China, and Korea, the Hosta is a low maintenance plant that is extremely popular with North American gardeners. Hosta leaves may be a solid color, such as green, gold, or yellow, or may show seasonal foliar changes. Leaf color may also be affected by the amount of sun the plant receives. Hostas reach full maturity in 4-8 years.

Euphorbia Polychroma: Also known as"'Cushion Spurge," this perennial boasts three-quarter inch clusters of petite yellow flowers that provide color from early spring to late fall. Commonly classified as a shrub, this plant can grow up to 18" tall.

Immortelle Helichysum: This tender perennial is usually grown for its foliage, which has a silvery hue and is velvet-textured. However, this plant does bloom bright yellow flowers in two-inch wide clusters from July to September.

New Zealand Flax: Long-strap-like leaves distinguish this evergreen perennial that can grow as tall as nine feet. Though not traditionally grown for its flowers, it will often offer blooms in the late spring and early summer. Depending on the variety, flowers can be orange-red or greenish-yellow.

The Spring Green mix works well with a variety of urns and containers. For example consider using the Ironzilla wall fountain planter to add color and life to a dull outdoor wall. However, this mix is just as effective in a free-standing container such as the Rustilla traditional-style urn, which can bring a elegant flair to any garden setting.