Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter

      7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter

      Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Read More
    • Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      One has conquered the world of plant-based baking. Another runs a microbakery from her home. Two own businesses with their spouses. And the fifth is a James Beard finalist chef. The common thread? Absolutely delicious cakes. Read More
    • The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      For many Midwesterners, holiday feasting kicks off with a relish tray. We dare not mess with an icon—at least, not too much. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age

    Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age

    At Wisconsin supper clubs, the steak is served rare and the traditions are well done. Like the brandy in an Old-Fashioned, these timeless institutions only get better with age.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

    Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

    This sleeper hit of a weeknight dinner comes from Food Network star Molly Yeh's cookbook Home is Where the Eggs Are—and is basically a vehicle for Parmesan and garlic toast. No complaints! (The alternate version, with ham and cream, is excellent too.)
    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time

    Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time

    With visions of dinner parties and game nights dancing in their heads, a Chicago couple renovated their historic (and first) home, one DIY project at a time.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    How to Care for Flowering Houseplants

    How to Care for Flowering Houseplants

    Author Lisa Eldred Steinkopf shares how to make blooms last longer—and repeat.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Unique Midwest Light Displays to See This Winter

    Unique Midwest Light Displays to See This Winter

    Buses, trains and very few automobiles—check out these out-of-the-ordinary holiday lights displays.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Tamales are a project, but many hands—even tiny ones—make lighter work.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • DIY Pistachio Wheat Stalks for Fall Decorating
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    About Us

    About Us

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
    • Fall 2022 Issue
    • Winter 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Garden
  3. Container Gardens
  4. Three-Plant Pots

Three-Plant Pots

June 01, 2012
Skip gallery slides
Pin
A trio to beat the heat
Get a great container garden look in minutes by mixing a favorite plant with just two other kinds. Buy extra of one of them for a smaller matching pot.
Start Slideshow

1 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sassy succulents

Sassy succulents

One of the biggest challenges in creating container designs is matching plants with the same sun, soil and water requirements. You can eliminate that issue by selecting from a wide assortment of sedums and other succulents.The larger container includes 'Bon Bon' (Sedum reflexum) for height with 'Angelina' (Sedum rupestre) and hens and chicks (Sempervivum) to fill. More 'Angelina' fills a companion pot.

1 of 5

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

For color, try impatiens

For color, try impatiens

The large flowers of New Guinea impatiens brighten a lightly shaded spot. Here, a pure white impatiens (repeated in the companion pot) is accented with the frilly burgundy and pink leaves of 'hilo holiday' rex begonias, part of the Great American Cities series of rex begonias. The feltlike, gray-green leaves of 'Silver shield' plectranthus argentatus (also called silver plectranthus) grow on long stems that will trail downward. The neutral color of the plectranthus pairs well with many other plants.All three of these do well with bright shade (morning sun is OK). Keep the soil evenly moist but not overwatered. Fertilize once or twice a month.

2 of 5

3 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A mix of textures

A mix of textures

In areas that are bright but receive no direct sun, the large blossoms of tuberous begonias make striking container plants. The round blooms contrast well with the spiky variegated leaves of common spider plants Chlorophytum comosum). The tiny leaves and blooms of 'palace blue' lobelia add a third texture and dimension. Lobelia may go dormant during the heat of summer but will perk up when temperatures cool.Let the container get barely dry to the touch before watering. Add a slow-release fertilizer to your potting soil, or fertilize about once a week with a liquid bloom booster.

3 of 5

Advertisement

4 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Dragons and herbs

Dragons and herbs

Containers are an easy way to house an herb garden. Here, a rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) topiary tree centers the container. The rosemary's short spikes complement the elongated, shiny leaves and prolific red blooms of 'Dragon wing' begonias. The third spot goes to 'icterina' golden variegated sage (Salvia officinalis). Herbs do best in full sun, but the begonia likes just a little bit less intensity.To keep all three happy, expose them to about four hours of sun per day with the rest of the time in bright, indirect light. Snip the sage and rosemary for cooking. A few weeks before fall frost, you can transplant the sage into the ground, or bring the herbs indoors for the winter.

4 of 5

5 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

A trio to beat the heat

A trio to beat the heat

This tough combination is nearly foolproof. It stands up well to intense, direct sun as long as you keep it watered. The centerpiece is a spiky 'variegatum' new zealand flax (Phormium tenax). Clustered around the edge are purple ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) and yellow lantana (Lantana camara). The number of plants you'll need depends on the size of your container.

5 of 5

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 5 Sassy succulents
    2 of 5 For color, try impatiens
    3 of 5 A mix of textures
    4 of 5 Dragons and herbs
    5 of 5 A trio to beat the heat

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Three-Plant Pots
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.