In last week’s column I focused on how to buy quality bedding plants at the garden centre this month.  This assumes that there is a plan to what you’re buying when you grab your cart.  If you have a plan, congratulations.  You’re one step up on me!
Many of us base our purchases on rational thinking, knowledge of each plant’s likes and dislikes, and a plan for where each plant will be placed in the garden.  But, some of our decisions will be based on more nebulous concepts, such as “I just like the colour.”
In an effort to help with your bedding plant shopping this spring here is my bedding plant shopping list.  Carry it with you when you head to the garden centre and hopefully it will help you to make good shopping decisions.
 
PLANTS FOR HOT, DRY AREAS
Portulaca
Gazania
Petunias
Vinca
Marigolds
Zinnia
 
PLANTS FOR SHADE
Impatiens
Coleus
Tuberous Begonias
Fuchsia
Mimulus
New Guinea Impatiens
Browallia
 
PLANTS WHICH DO BETTER IN LIGHT SHADE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT
Geraniums
Lobelia
Nemesia
Schizanthus
Dusty Miller
Snapdragons
 
 
PLANTS WITH GREY FOLIAGE
Dusty Miller
Lotus Vine
Helichrysum
 
PLANTS THAT GO TO SEED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NEVER NEED TO BE REPLANTED
Marigolds
Cosmos
Calendula
Bachelor’s Buttons
Snapdragons
Viola
 
PLANTS WITH GOOD VERTICAL FORM
Salvia
Snapdragons
Nicotiana
Cleome
Celosia
Angelonia
Lavatera
 
BEST TYPES OF PETUNIAS
For containers-Grandifloras
For groundcover-Supertunias
Good weather tolerance-Multifloras
Best named series-Madness
Most popular-Sugar Daddy
 
GREAT ALTERNATIVES TO THE GREEN DRACAENA SPIKES AS “THRILLER PLANTS” FOR CONTAINERS
Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’-Purple Fountain Grass
Stipa tenuissima-Mexican Feather Grass
Carex comans ‘Bronze’ and ‘Frosty Curls’
Carex buchananii
Cordyline ‘Red Star’
Canna lilies
Phormium-New Zealand Flax