Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary fall container idea? Try this autumn stunner! Butterflies can't resist the butterfly bush and asters, and the cool hues of this eye-catching container make a real splash. Jazz up a combination of plants with similar colors by throwing in different textures and plant forms. Long, arching stems of butterfly bush contrast well with the bunchy New York asters, round ornamental kale and the ivy trailing over the edges of the urn. And the blocky kale and asters keep it all from looking messy.
See also Butterfly-friendly garden plan
If cast iron is too heavy for you, look for fiberglass alternatives. They’re lightweight and less expensive, and you often have to touch one to distinguish it from the real thing.
Fall container planting plan (16 in. diameter container)
A) Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii ‘Attraction’)
Type Shrub Blooms Red-purple late summer through fall Size 4 to 6 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide Light Full sun Hardiness Cold-hardy in zones 5 to 9, heat-tolerant in zones 9 to 1
B) New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Purple Viking’)
Type Perennial Blooms Blue-purple daisy-shaped flowers late summer to early fall Size 1 to 2 ft. tall and wide Light Full sun Hardiness Cold-hardy in zones 3 to 8, heat-tolerant in zones 8 to 1
C) Variegated ivy (Hedera helix ‘Variegata’)
Type Perennial Blooms None significant Size 6 to 8 in. tall, spreading Light Full sun to full shade Hardiness Cold-hardy in zones 4 to 9, heat-tolerant in zones 9 to a
D) Ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Color-Up Purple’)
Type Biennial Blooms Insignificant Size 10 to 12 in. tall and wide Light Full sun to part shade Hardiness Cold-hardy in zones 7 to 11, heat-tolerant in zones 11 to 1
See also Containers
