SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PLANTER AND WINDOW BOX PLANTS.

FOR A SUNNY POSITION

Ornamental Kale – 30cm tall and wide. Green, white, pink or purple foliage. Good foliage colour in winter. Plant in autumn for colour in frosty conditions.

Ornamental Pepper – 30 -75cm tall and wide. Fruits range in colour from yellow through orange, red to near black. Flowers midsummer to frost. The fruits are edible but extremely hot.

Rose Periwinkle – 15-60cm tall. White, pink, rose, lavender, red and salmon. Flowers early summer to frost. Very heat and drought tolerant.

Coleus – 30- 90cm tall and wide. Colourful foliage often with lobed or cut margins. Summer to frost. Remove flowers for best foliage. Select sun-tolerant cultivars.

Creeping Zinnia – 15-60cm tall and wide. Tiny golden, daisy like flowers. Summer to frost. Not suitable for coastal climate. Suitable for dry areas.

Ipomoea, Mixed Feathers – Climbs or trails up or down to 200cm. Tiny brilliant red flowers above delicate fern-like foliage. Summer to frost. Very resilient despite delicate appearance.

Senecio, Dusty Miller – 15-30cm tall and wide. Soft, finely cut, whitish-silver leaves. Foliage colour from spring until frost. Excellent foliage contrast.

Sweet Pea – Vines up to 180cm, bush type 30-60cm tall. Fragrant colourful flowers, bush types are suitable for window boxes. Flowering in spring, pick blooms before they have chance to set seed to prolong flowering season. They grow best in cool conditions. Plant in late winter for early spring bloom.

Liquorice Plant, Helichrysum – 15-30cm tall 90-120cm wide. Trailing plant with frilly round leaves that are silver grey variegated or lime green. Foliage colour all summer. Used as contrasting foliage. Very tolerant of hot, dry weather.

Sweet Alyssum – 10-20cm tall-30cm wide. Honey scented flowers in pink, rose or purple. Late spring until frost. Alyssum may decline in midsummer. Cut back, feed and water to rejuvenate.

Lotus Vine – 15-20cm tall 90-120cm wide. Feathery foliage on grey trailing vines followed by bright red flowers. Late summer. Likes hot, dry weather.

Petunia – 10-30cm tall 120cm wide. Virtually all colours are available. All summer. Require ample moisture and fertility to thrive. Trailing cultivars are excellent in window boxes.

Moss Rose – 15-22.5cm tall30-45cm wide. Wide variety of colours in single and double flowers. All summer until frost. Thrives in hot, dry locations. New hybrid types stay open longer.

Fairy Fan-Flower – 15cm tall 120cm wide. Blue or white flowers on long trailing stems. Prolific from spring until frost. Very heat and drought tolerant.

Wallflower – 15-60cm tall and wide. Cream, yellow, orange, purple and maroon. Spring to early summer. Plant in the autumn for spring flowering.

French marigold – 15-45cm tall and wide. Yellow, gold, orange and mahogany red. Late spring to frost. Dead head for continued bloom.

Gazania – 15-30cm tall and wide. Daisy-like flower in yellow, orange, pink or red. All summer. Good choice for hot, dry locations.

Geranium – 30-90cm tall and wide. White, pink, salmon or red flowers. Many cultivars have variegated leaves. All summer. Dead head for continued flowering.

Heliotrope, Heliotropum arborescens – 30-90cm tall and wide. Scented purple or lavender blooms in clusters (attracts butterflies). All summer. The species is more sweetly scented and larger than modern cultivars.

Ivy-Leaved Geranium – 30cm tall and 90-120cm wide. Colours range from white to pink, salmon and red. The stems trail like vines. All summer, till frost. Best with some afternoon shade.

Trailing Lantana – 15-30cm tall and 120cm wide. Lavender or white flowers on trailing stems. All summer. Tolerates hot, dry, windy conditions.

Variegated Periwinkle – 15cm tall and 90 to 120cm wide. White-edged or lime centred green leaves on trailing stems. Blue flowers in spring; grown for foliage. Excellent foliage contrast.

Verbena – 15-30cm tall and 30-60cm wide. Red, purple, pink and white flowers on bushy or spreading plants. Mid spring to frost. Thrives in hot weather.

PLANTS FOR FULL OR PART SHADE.

Pansy – 15-20cm tall and wide. Available in nearly all colours. Autumn to spring. Plant in autumn. Blooms through the winter. Peak blooming time spring.

Impatience – 15-180cm tall and wide. Almost all colours are available except blue. Continuous flowering from spring until frost. Keep constantly moist.

Purple Shamrocks – 22.5cm tall and wide. Large purple leaves and white or pink flowers. Spring. Grown for its foliage.

Tuberous begonia – 30-45cm tall and wide. Large flowers in red, pink, orange, yellow and white and in bi-colours. Spring through summer. Lift tubers in autumn and store; replant in spring.

Angels Wings – 30-75cm tall and wide. Arrow-shaped leaves patterned in red, pink, white and green. Grown for colourful summer foliage. Keep evenly moist, fertilize frequently.

Coleus – 30-90cm tall and wide. Leaf colour mixtures include magenta, red, copper, orange, yellow, chartreuse and green. Pinch off flower spikes. Most cultivars grow best in shade or part shade.

Polka Dot Plant – 30-45cm tall and wide. Pink or white speckles on green leaves. Grown for summer foliage. Beautiful foliage with white or pink flowers. Very tough.

Fuchsia – 60-90cm wide (trailing). Drooping tear shaped buds that open to frilly interiors. Flowers in red, pink, purple, coral, white and combinations. Spring through summer. Keep evenly moist. Flowering will slow in heat.