Colourful containers add so much to our summer patios and decks, but it’s important to have plants which perform well in your particular location. Hot sun, heavy shade and wind are all factors in the success of your display, and there are plants that will thrive in all of these situations. Size matters! Larger containers — those measuring at least 16 to 18 inches (40-45 cm) wide and deep — will hold a critical soil mass sufficient to maintain moisture levels even in challenging circumstances.
Soil, too, is an important component. Professional blends, like ProMix and Sunshine Mix, are great, but the addition of moisture-retaining materials, like Sea Soil, can make all the difference. For those warm, sunny locations, I like to use showy focal plants.
Canna lilies, especially the colourful foliage varieties, are dramatic, and vibrant phormiums, like "Yellow Wave" and "Rainbow Summer," are great too, as are many of the new dracaenas, like "Chocolate Mint," "Torbay Dazzler" and "Lemon Surprise." Some of the nicest summer plants are the many varieties of salvias. "Blue Victoria" and "Misty Blue" add an important blue colour to the mix, and bi-colour reds, pinks and mauves of the "Summer Series" will certainly get people’s attention, as well as the attention of both hummingbirds and bees.
Fibrous begonias are pure gold in sunny locations, and I love their contrasting foliage and flower colours. As well as the traditional varieties, for a change try the larger growing and flo.