This shade container flower garden is now the focal point of the most recent extension of my flower gardens. The corner it is in is shaded by 6 ft stockade fence on the southern and western sides. Around the summer solstice it will get direct sun for a few hours a day, otherwise barely any. I wanted a container flower garden that would really stand out and add some color and interest to this drab shady corner.
Shade container garden featuring: Columbine, Ivy, Dead Nettle & Begonia
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.
To achieve the look I wanted, I chose a lovely cement-look urn garden planter from Home Depot. The planter adds nice height to the container garden (21 ½" tall) and compliments other features in my flower gardens. I also utilized the Thriller, Filler, Spiller technique shown on The Home Depot Garden Club page to help me select and assemble my shade container garden. The basic idea behind the technique is to feature a tall dramatic plant (Thriller), surrounded by some bushy mid-height plants (Filler) and a draping plant which will hang over the side of the pot (Spiller).
Even though it is still a little early in the planting season here in Southern New England, the plant selection was pretty good, and much more should be pouring in over the next couple weeks. I was having a little trouble finding a shade friendly plant to spill over the edge of my planter, then I remembered the big selection of houseplants Home Depot has in the enclosed area of the garden department. I’ve often used an interesting houseplant as an annual in my garden. They are great options for shade and part sun containers, since many popular ones don’t need a ton of sun. I chose some nice green ivy, which is actually an outdoor perennial in my zone. The variegated ivy which had taken over a good portion of one of my gardens started out as a small houseplant just like this one.
I chose this spiffy 21 and a half inch garden urn for the shade container garden. I went with the MiracleGro Moisture Control potting mix suggested by Home Depot for container gardening. I opted to get the big 64 qt bag rather than one of the smaller ones, since it was only $4 more than the 32 qt bag and I have other planters hanging around that need to be filled as well. I often forget to water enough in the dog days of summer, so this potting mix may make the difference between plants surviving or not.
If you are planting for full sun there are plenty of options for spiller plants. They had some nice variegated vinca in stock. I may be going back to get some for other planters.
Here are the plants I selected that day. Columbine, Dead Nettle, Ivy, Begonia and Rununculus (this last one is not for the container, it needs lots of sun, but was just too pretty to pass up).
This columbine while called red, is more of a deep pink in my eyes. The yellow centers pop nicely, and while tall enough to handle the “Thriller” position, it is not so much so to be likely to topple after a good rain. (perennial)
Despite having the unattractive name “Spotted Dead Nettle”, this is quite a lovely plant. The leaves have a silvery iridescent sheen to them, which will really pop in this shady corner. It will function as a filler plant at first, but may end out acting as a spiller as it becomes more established. It will get purple flowers too. (perennial)
As I’ve already mentioned this ivy I purchased in the Home Depot houseplant section will be going into the outdoor shade container garden. Don’t overlook some of the fun combinations you can put together, especially with vivid annual flowering plants that are often prolific bloomers, contrasting with the interesting leaves of some houseplants. (perennial)I don’t know why I’ve always turned away from begonias, but I have. This time the pink seemed just what I needed with the silvery leaves of the dead nettle and the deep pinkish red of the columbine. They will be a filler plant. (annual)
Once you have gathered all your supplies: garden planter, gravel (optional), potting soil, and Thriller, Filler Spiller plants, the assembly of the container flower garden itself, only takes a few minutes.
Why not assemble my shade container flower garden along with me. I'll also share a few tips and shade plant suggestions during the process too. It's all in this short video I put together this afternoon.
Note: I mentioned hostas while discussing spiller plants in the video, but was just bringing them up in general. Hostas leaves would work as a filler, and their tall floral spikes would work as a thriller. Since they flower later in the season they would be good with a spring flowering thriller, since the hosta could stand-in once the other flowers had gone by.
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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Home Depot.
Sara @SensiblySara says
Oh, I love that! I love the technique - it gives the eye so much to look at!
Robin Gagnon says
It certainly makes figuring out what to use and where to put it easier, doesn't it.
Nichol says
I need to get into liking gardening. I really love this!
Robin Gagnon says
Container gardening would be a good start.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Great technique - it turned out amazing! So pretty!
Penelope (NYC Blogger) says
It looks beautiful!
Angela says
I love what you did with that container. I am going to try to make it to the garden center this weekend.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
I have a big planter for the front of the house that I need to buy plants for, but I keep putting it off because I have no eye for this stuff. This totally makes it easy--THANK YOU!
Robin Gagnon says
Better option than tossing in bunch of marigolds and calling it a day, which I've done a few times.
Karen of 3G2S says
You make this look so easy Robin! I might dare to attempt it, even with my black thumb. 😛
Robin Gagnon says
Good soil & hardy plants... that is the reason most of my stuff manages to survive...lol
Kathleen says
That is gorgeous! We are just starting to get some planting done here too.
Jenn says
Beautiful! Love it.
Meghan @JaMonkey says
That looks fantastic
Theresa says
This turned out beautifully.
Rhonda says
A pretty combination. The planter on my porch didn't do well last year. I think it didn't get enough light. I'm going to try some of the flowers you suggested this year.
Robin Gagnon says
Good luck.I bet there are even more options available this week.
LyndaS says
If you run out of things to do in your yard, you are welcome to come work in mine. 🙂
Robin Gagnon says
and I was just going to ask you to come by and do some raking...lol
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
It looks gorgeous Robin and I loved your video!
Robin Gagnon says
Thanks, I don't have much experience doing video. It's kind of easy to ramble on about things you like though, isn't it.
Leilani says
That is gorgeous!
Marcie W. says
I adore the container you chose! I would love to incorporate one near our front door/porch area.
Robin Gagnon says
Go for it. I was surprised how lightweight they were, considering how solid they look. Easy to move around.
Sheri says
They're beautiful. I am great at growing vegetables, but flowers never live for me.
Robin Gagnon says
What about an herb planter? Many herbs can survive pretty much anything. I have variegated lemon thyme in one planter that has survived abuse I wouldn't even want to describe...lol
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
It turned out very beautiful!
Colleen says
Looks great, I like how it turned out.
Lolo says
That looks really pretty! I love how you added different plants in it to give it height!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs says
Now THAT's the way to get the ideal look you want if you can't decide - put them all together! So glad your garden is coming together.
Robin Gagnon says
More interesting that way 🙂
Denise says
Will these perennials bloom next year in this container?
Robin Gagnon says
The columbine should, though they tend to die out after a few years they seed themselves very well. The begonia is an annual, that won't come back at all.
Shell Feis says
That looks awesome! &I love that the technique is so easy to remember- otherwise I'd have no idea where to start!
Robin Gagnon says
It is pretty handy isn't it.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
It looks beautiful!
Toni says
I LOVE that, kind of adds an old world feel 🙂
Kelli Claypool says
I love container gardening. Even though we have a huge vegetable garden, I still grow my herbs in containers, not to mention flowers of all sorts.