Perennial Combo for Container or Shady Nook

Perfect for showing off in a container or tuck this foliage-first vignette into a sheltered, shady nook in a garden bed. This planting combination provides months of garden enjoyment thanks to its varied leaf texture, shape and color—all enhanced by the coral pink flowers and foliage.

I assembled this arrangement on a recent trip to Cornell Farm nursery in Portland. So yes, that's a shopping cart that it's displayed on. When you're shopping in your favorite nursery, don't be be shy about pulling together all the plants you're considering. It's easy to experiment with alternates until you find the combination that resonates most with you. For instance, you could easily take this combo in a different direction by changing the underlying color story; for example a heuchera with deep purple foliage and a begonia in zippier pink color. Have fun!


Growing Conditions

Zone: 8
Exposure: Open Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun
Water Needs: Average

Design Considerations

Style: City and Courtyard, Container, Northwest Eclectic, Tropical
Features: Varied Foliage, Texture, and Form, Fabulous Foliage, Low Maintenance
Focus: Small Space, Efficient Use of Space
Seasons of Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall, Pleasing Seasonal Changes, Three Seasons of Interest

Care and Maintenance


Maintenance Level: medium



Plants In this Combo

  • Adiantum venustum

    Himalayan maidenhair fern

    Type: Fern, Groundcover, Perennial
    Exposure: Full Shade, Part Shade, Deep Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8

    view plant

  • Begonia 'Funky Pink'

    Funky Pink Begonia

    Type: Annual or Biennial
    Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone:

    view plant

  • Farfugium japonicum var. giganteum

    FARFUGIUM TUSSILAGINEA 'GIGANTEA'

    Type: Perennial, Tender Perennial
    Exposure: Full Shade, Part Shade, Deep Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 8, 9, 10

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  • Heuchera 'Rio'

    FANCY LEAF CORAL BELLS

    Type: Perennial
    Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Morning Sun
    Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

    view plant

  • Solenostemon 'Fiona'

    Coleus

    Type: Annual or Biennial, Tender Perennial
    Exposure: Full Shade, Part Shade, Filtered Sun, Open Shade
    Zone: 10, 11

    view plant