Tip-top Trailing Plants for Containers
By
James Kilkelly
Bidens ferulifolia
Within your containers, consider planting Bidens ferulifolia commonly known
as the "Tickseed" or "Apache beggar tick".
Gardeners who require trailing color for containers or hanging baskets often
opt for this native of North America and Mexico. Tickseed stems are quite
slender, these fine stems can be expected to trail and sprawl vigorously to
around 60cm (24 inches) from a container. The healthy green leaves produced on
the many-branched stems are elegantly divided and reminiscent of fern foliage.
During its extended flowering period from early summer to mid autumn, Bidens
ferulifolia can be relied upon to produce masses of bright yellow five petalled
flowers. Once its flowering is finished, the spent flower heads produce bristled
seedpods, which stick like Velcro to your clothes or a passing animal’s fur.
This form of seed dispersal led to some gardeners branding the plant with the
name "Burr marigold".
Bacopa
Consider planting Sutera cordata commonly known as the "Bacopa".
Just like Bidens, Bacopa is often selected by gardeners who require cascading
colour for containers or hanging baskets. This native of South Africa can
display flowers of white, blue, pink or purple depending on the cultivar
selected. One of the most popular and freely available of these cultivars is
Bacopa "Snow Flake", a white variety that I have seen in more than one or two
bridal baskets. The almost innumerable white blooms each comprise of five round
edged petals, with a yellow centre to the bloom. The vine-like stems are lushly
clothed in down covered jagged green leaves.
Consistent blooming is the order of the day with Bacopa, many gardeners
report of non-stop flowering from mid-spring up until early winter. If you plant
Bacopa in a position with sun to partial shade, regularly water and feed it,
then you too can achieve this amazing level of flowering.
Surfinia Petunias
Within your hanging baskets, consider planting Petunia X hybrida "Surfinia"
commonly known as the trailing Petunia. The Petunia is originally from South
America, among the plants closely related it are the tobacco plant, the tomato
and our humble potato. Every second hanging basket I saw last summer boasted
this colourful trailing plant, it indeed is common, but common for a good
reason. The velvet trumpeting funnels of colour produced when the plant is in
bloom are almost too good to be true. Colours available include white, purple
red or pink, all over dark green slightly hairy leaves. It is well within the
realm of even the most amateur of gardeners to grow a healthy specimen of this
plant. To produce quick growth and abundant blooming choose a location in full
sun and apply a liquid feed every second watering. If you are tired of the "Surfinia"
petunia, another great variety for hanging baskets that may suit you is Petunia
"Million Bells"
James Kilkelly runs a professional garden design service in Galway, Ireland.
He has a regular gardening column in an Irish regional newspaper. Visit his
website at http://www.gardenplansireland.com/ He also regularly posts his expert advice
to a gardening community at http://www.gardenstew.com/
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Tip-top Trailing Plants for Containers
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