Below are the various designs and planting plans incorporated into various barrels and plant photos. Many members and visitors have used these plans as a guide in planting a personal container or barrel in or around their own home garden.
Many of the schemes that follow incorporate native or low water use perennials for repeat
performance in subsequent years and lower maintenance. Add some annual bedding plants
for a little early instant color while waiting for perennials to bloom. These schemes are ideal
for the club beautification program where containers such as barrels are used.
1. Pink Ever bloomer for Sun/Partial Shade:
a Laurentia axillaris ‘Starshine’(Blue Stars, Blue Star Creeper) ) 12”h x 18”w (edging plant in barrel)
b. Agastache x Acapulco Salmon and Pink (multi-colored Hummingbird Mint) 24-30”h x 15”w,
perennial(center)
c. Salvia coahuilensis (soft blue-flowered sage, Coahuila Sage) 24”h x 24”w, violet/purple flower (center)
d. Diascia integerrima‘Coral Canyon’ (salmon colored Twinspur) 15”h x18”w, compact/perennial(alternate
with Blue Stars)
a b
c d
2. Shades of Blue & Pink for Sun/Partial Shade:
a Pennisetum setacum rubrum, ‘Red Riding Hood’ (Dwarf Purple Fountain Grass) 18-30”h (center in barrel)
b. Oreganum x ‘Rotkugel’ (Ornamental Oregano), 15”h x 18”w, large loose flower heads bicolor deep pink/purple
c. Monarda didyma ‘Pink Lace’ (Pink Lace Bee Balm), 16-18”h x 12-15”w, compact, light pink/purple center
d. Salvia coahuilensis (soft blue sage, Coahuila Sage) 24-30”h x 24”w, violet/purple flower; to drape over sides
a b
c d
3. Azure Spires for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Penstemon azureus (Azure Penstemon)18”x 20”w hardy native or P. strictus,(Rocky Mountain Penstemon)
24”h x 30”w to anchor center of barrel
b. Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass), 10”h(24” with plumes) (use 2-3)
c. Lantana camara ‘Landmark’“Rose Glow”, 15”hx24”w, annual/not winter hardy (use 3/ form skirt around edges)
a (azureus) a (strictus)
b c
4. Black Scallops for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Calamagrostis “Overdam” (Variegated Feather Reed Grass), 36-40”hx15”w , creamy white vertical stripes on green leaf blades, ivory colored flower spikes mid-summer (1 plant in center of barrel)
b. Agastache x Acapulco Salmon and Pink (multi-colored Hummingbird Mint) 24-30”h x 15”w, perennial
c. Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallops’ (Carpet Bugle), 6”h x 12”w, blue flower spikes in spring (trails over side)
d. Oreganum x ‘Rotkugel’ (Ornamental Oregano), 15”h x 18”w, large loose flower heads bicolor deep pink/purple
a b
c d
5. Orange and Purple Symphony for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Echinachea x Big Sky “Sunset” or ‘Orange Meadowbrite’(Coneflower), 30”h x 16-20”w, orange with brownish cone
b. Thunbergia battiscombei “Blue Glory”, 24-30”h x trailing up & around stems of coneflower; bushy green heart shaped leaves, blue-purple trumpet shaped flower; hardy to 20 F.
c. Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart) 12-15”h, narrow, pointed purple foliage; small pink flower (spills over edges)
a b
c
6. The Burgundy and Blue Gem for Sun/Partial Shade
a. Panicum virgatum “Shenandoah” (Burgundy Leaf Switch Grass), use 1 central plant
b. Felicia amelloides (Blue Marguerite Daisy) ,12-18”h, treat as annual; use 2 plants
c. Ipomea batatas“Blackie” (Trailing Sweet Potato Vine), 6-12”hx72”l, annual, dark purple/black cascading over edge.
a b
c
7. Diamond and Indigo Splash in Sun/Partial Shade :
a. Ceanothus ‘Diamond Heights’(Variegated Carmel Creeper) 12”h x spreading to 40”(less in container),
yellow/lime green foliage with splashes of dark green (use 1 plant)
b. Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’(Sage), 24”hx18”w, deep indigo purple spikes/rebloomer/deadhead
c. Achillea taygetya (Greek Yarrow), 18-24”h, pale yellow flowerheads, reblooms with deadhead
d. Coreopsis x‘Crème Brulee’, 18-21”h x 18”w, long period of bloom, rebloom by
deadhead or Hymenoxys caulis(Sundancer daisy), 15”x15”, xeric, ever-blooming(late spring-fall)
yellow daisy-like wildflower (intermingle either one with yarrow)
a b
c d
8. All California Native, for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Zauschineria californica ‘Everett’s Choice’ (California Fuchsia) 8”h x 24”w, scarlet orange tubular flowers
(plant around edges) CA native
b. ), 18”h x 24”w mounder with yellow, large umbels;
evergreen foliage turns burgundy in winter. CA. native
c. Penstemon heterophylla ‘Margarita BOP’ (Blue Bedder), 22”hx30”w, blue to purplish-pink blooms spring to fall; CA native
d. Echinacea x Big Sky ‘Sundown’ (Coneflower), 32”h, huge fragrant reddish-orange blooms/brown cone; hybrid cross between E. purpurea & E. paradoxa & native to the plains states; use 1 or 2 as accents if desired
a b
c d
9. “Blaze, Salvia & Lanterns” Combination for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Blaze’ (Blaze Little Bluestem Grass), 2-3’h x 15”w, place at center to add verticality, texture and color.
b. Salvia juriscicii ‘Blue’(European Cutleaf Sage) 12”h x 12-15”w, plume-like late spring blue flower spikes(use 2) and Salvia officinalis ‘Minima’, ( Little Leaf Culinary Sage) 15”h x 18”w, dense mound of finely textured leaves with showy deep lavender-blue tubular flowers(use 2) Combined around the Blue stem Grass above.
c. (Cascading Ornamental Oregano) 18” x 18”, wiry stems hold hundreds of pendulous paper lantern-like bracts, each with small rose-pink flowers by mid-summer. (plant around edges & it will hang down)
a b
c
10. May Nights & Sundancer Days Combo for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Agastache x ‘Black Adder’, (Black Adder Hyssop), 21/2-3’ x 15”w, smoky violet-blue flowers with dark purple bud on long spikes.(place at back or center of barrel)
b. Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’(Purple Coneflower), 30-36”h x 24”w, (place near the center)
c. Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’, ( May Night Meadow Sage), 18”x 18”, compact with deep purple flower spikes beginning late spring & vigorous rebloom; Combine with Diascia integerrina ‘Coral Canyon’(Twinspur), 15”h x 18”w, pink flowers all summer (use 2 of each in ring around the coneflower & hyssop)
d. Artemesia versicolor ‘Seafoam (Curlicue Sage), 8”h x 24”w, frothy curled silver foliage and Hymenoxys acaulis ‘Sundancer Daisy’, 15”h x 15”w, a xeric ever-blooming western wildflower with thread leaf foliage & large, bright yellow long stemmed daisies, late spring through fall. (alternate several of each around edge)
a b
c d
11. More CA & North American Natives for Sun/Partial Shade:
a. Heuchera hirsutissima (Idyllwild Rock Flower, Shaggy Haired Alumroot), 6”hx10”w clump with 8-10”h
flower spike, pink bud/white flower/late spring. Native to San Jacinto Mountains. (plant around edges)
b. Schizachryrium scoparium ‘The Blues’ (Blue Little Bluestem Grass), 24-36’h x 15”w; foliage is intense blue until fall when it turns shades of purple. Place at center to add verticality, texture & color. North American native.
c. Achillea millefolium rosea (‘Island Pink’Yarrow), native from Channel Islands off coast from Ventura, 18-24”h x 24”w; 3-4” sized flower clusters range from white to pink to red; June/July (use 2 at sides of Bluestem Grass)
d. Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’(May Night Meadow Sage), 18”x18”, compact with deep purple flower spikes beginning late spring & vigorous rebloom with deadhead. (use 2 & alternate with yarrow)
e. Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart/Wandering Jew)), 12-15”h x 12”w, narrow, purple pointed foliage, small pink flower; spills over edge(alternate with heuchera above). OK, it’s native to northeast Mexico, but fairly xeric.
a b c
d e
12. Strike Up Bold Color in the Sun:
a. Centranthus ruber ‘Coccineus’, (Jupiter’s Beard), 24-30”h x 24”w, showy rose-red flower heads from late spring through summer (longer if deadheaded); very xeric/not fussy! (1 or 2, planted in center in barrel)
b. Linum perenne ‘Appar’, ( Appar Blue Flax), 18” x 18”, a xeric Western wildflower with true blue flowers; a vigorous, long bloomer. (use 2 & alternate with coreopsis around the center plant)
c. Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Sunray’ ( Sunray Tickseed), 24”h x 18”w, large golden- yellow double flowers, continuously all summer;xeric, not picky; keep deadheaded
for more blooms.(use 2, alternate with Linum)
a b c