The winners of our 2009 Container Challenge provided plenty of hot and cool designs
For the 2009Container Challenge , we asked our readers to create a container design found on a composition of either methamphetamine or fire . The melodic theme was to show that plantings can actually change not only the look but also the look of a space . A collection of silver plants , for case , can make a patio seem coolheaded and calming , while an burst of blistering coloring can move around up the heat and excitation . The winner and finalist feature here successfully exhibit this hypothesis . Thanks to all who entered . The readers ofFine Gardeningcontinue to astound and shanghai us .
Going up in flames
Todd Holloway , Vancouver , British Columbia
We choose this design for our succeeder because it ’s tastefully gaudy , evocative , and simply sensational . Tropicanna ® canna is a no - brainer for a hot container : Its flame - shaped , orange- and red - stripy leave of absence and live tangerine bloom are a blazing of flack . The leaves of ‘ Sky Fire ’ flame nettle are just as spicy , while the deep crimson mountain of the sweet potato vine is the thoroughgoing choice to add some exercising weight to the jazz band . The creamy tips of the plectranthus parting can be seen as either a cooling influence or a white - hot accent . Congratulations , Todd !
1.Tropicanna ® canna(Canna indica‘Phasion ’ , USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11 )
2.‘Sky Fire ’ coleus(Solenostemon scutellarioides‘Sky Fire ’ , Zone 11 )
3.Leatherleaf sedge(Carex buchananii , Zones 6–9 )
4.‘Lemon Twist ’ plectranthus(Plectranthus‘Lemon Twist ’ , Zones 10–11 )
5.‘Blackie ’ sweet-smelling white potato vine(Ipomoea batatas‘Blackie ’ , Zone 11 )
Icy plants can take the heat
Sheila Schultz , Denver , Colorado
Metallic containers can wait cold-blooded or hot , depending on how you employ them . Sheila turned down the thermostat in this tan container , using nerveless flatware succulents and a deep black aeonium peeking through the middle like a inhuman black jam in outer infinite . These tough succulent , ironically , flourish in the heat .
1.‘Touch of Class ’ Jacob ’s ladder(Polemonium reptans‘Touch of Class ’ , Zones 3–8 )
2.‘Icicles ’ helichrysum(Helichrysum thianschanicum‘Icicles ’ , Zones 10–11 )
3.‘Cape Blanco ’ sedum(Sedum spathulifolium‘Cape Blanco ’ , Zones 5–9 )
4.‘Zwartkop ’ aeonium(Aeonium arboreum‘Zwartkop ’ , Zones 9–11 )
5.‘Tricolor ’ sedum(Sedum spurium‘Tricolor ’ , Zones 4–9 )
Pair a pot with its setting
Kat White , San Luis Obispo , California
Kat not only make a gently smolder planting but also made certain it ordinate perfectly with its backdrop . The strong color contrast , along with the heuchera that match the paries behind the jazz band , make for an galvanizing aspect .
1.‘Royal Purple ’ smoke bush(Cotinus coggygria‘Royal Purple ’ , Zones 5–9 )
2.Festival Grass ™ cordyline(Cordyline‘Jurred ’ , Zones 9–11 )
3.‘Southern Comfort ’ heuchera(Heuchera‘Southern Comfort ’ , Zones 4–8 )
4.‘Henna ’ coleus(Solenostemon scutellarioides‘Henna ’ , Zone 11 )
5.‘Profusion fervidness ’ zinnia(Zinnia‘Profusion Fire ’ , annual )
6.‘Blackie ’ sweet potato vine(Ipomoea batatas‘Blackie ’ , Zone 11 )
Muscle-car colors
Moira McQuarrie , Hanson , Massachusetts
Moira entered both fire- and ice - themed containers , and when we front at her picture , we were impressed that she had organize her invention with a couple of her husband ’s vintage gondola : an orange crush pearl 1969 Mustang Mach I and a royal peacock blue 1966 Chrysler 300 . We could n’t make up one’s mind which we like well , so they both made the cut .
1.Tropicanna ® canna(Canna indica‘Phasion ’ , geographical zone 8–11 )
2.‘Indian Dunes ’ geranium(Pelargonium‘Indian Dunes ’ , yearly )
3.‘Dancing Flame ’ salvia(Salvia vanhouttei‘Dancing Flame ’ , Zones 9–11 )
4.Bonfire ® begonia(Begonia boliviensis‘Bonfire ’ , yearly )
5.‘Gold Lace ’ coleus(Solenostemon scutellarioides‘Gold Lace ’ , Zone 11 )
6.‘Kingwood Torch ’ coleus(Solenostemon scutellarioides‘Kingwood Torch ’ , Zone 11 )
7.Trailing abutilon(Abutilon megapotamicum , Zones 8–10 )
8.‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt ’ fuchsia(Fuchsia‘Gartenmeister Bonstedt ’ , Zones 9–10 )
1.Silver sage(Salvia argentea , zone 5–8 )
2.‘Shorty ’ euphorbia(Euphorbia‘Shorty ’ , Zones 7–10 )
3.African mask(Alocasiaamazonica , Zone 11 )
4.Persian shield(Strobilanthes dyerianus , zona 9–11 )
5.‘Silver fall ’ dichondra(Dichondra argentea‘Silver Falls ’ , Zones 10–11 )
6.Silver plectranthus(Plectranthus argentatus , Zones 10–11 )
7.Snake plant(Sansevieria trifasciatacv . , Zone 11 )
Neat and tidy
Heather Geiser , Charlotte , North Carolina
We care the tight , specify nature of this warm combo . The plant have clear boundaries but blend together seamlessly . Crocosmia is always a hot trade good in a container , and this orange cultivar sizzles with its rosy red and creamy yellow neighbors .
1.‘Bright Eyes ’ crocosmia(Crocosmia‘Bright eye ’ , Zones 6–9 )
2.‘Tricolor ’ St. John ’s wort(Hypericummoserianum‘Tricolor ’ , Zones 7–9 )
3.Painted Paradise ™ Pink Improved New Guinea impatiens(ImpatiensPainted Paradise ™ Pink ameliorate , one-year )
4.‘New Look ’ cockscomb(Celosia argentea‘New Look ’ , annual )
5.Rapunzel ® Red verbena(VerbenahybridaRapunzel ® Red , annual )
6.‘Rumba Fire ’ geranium(Pelargonium‘Rumba Fire ’ , one-year )
Icy in looks and name
Michael Leonard , Pismo Beach , California
We get it on how Michael select plants with frosty looks and glacial names . Even his potentiometer looks like it just came out of the deep-freeze . This frosty jazz band is just the right blend of blue , gray , and silvers .
1.Icee Blue ® podocarpus(Podocarpus elongatus‘Monmal ’ , Zones 9–11 )
2.Diamond Frost ® euphorbia(Euphorbia‘Inneuphdia ’ , Zones 10–11 )
3.‘Glacier spicy ’ euphorbia(Euphorbia characias‘Glacier Blue ’ , Zones 7–10 )
4.‘Jade Frost ’ sea holly(Eryngium planum‘Jade Frost ’ , Zones 5–9 )
6.‘Frosted Curls ’ sedge(Carex‘Frosted Curls ’ , Zones 7–9 )
Michelle Gervais is an associate editor .
photograph : courtesy of the contestants
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