Expert: C.L. Fornari - 5/28/2005

Question
Can you reccomend some colorful and upright annuals to go at the back of my shady windowbox? Also I have a small oranament for my door which will hold a six inch pot. What annual could I put in it?  It faces west but gets a lot of shade. Would pansies do well there?

Answer
Helen,
As for colorful and upright in shade, you can't go wrong with Coleus.  You can get many colors, and although most of them don't bloom, the foliage is extremely colorful!  

In the ornament, it depends on the look you want to go for.  If you want a grass-like look, use one of the variegated spider plants.  (you might even have one as a houseplant and then you can clip off one of the "babies" and put it in a six inch pot.)  If soft textured green will do, use a small fern - asparagus or other fern - from your local greenhouse.  If you want flowers, you could plant one of the new "mini impatiens" such as the Firefly series.  (see "I Love This Plant" on my website: www.gardenlady.com)

Pansies would be fine unless you live in a place where it gets hot in the summer.  Pansies tend to stop blooming in temperatures over 75 degrees f.

I hope this helps!
C.L.