Last year I tried Evergold Carex, Carex oshimensis 'Evergold', in a container with an assortment of annuals. I selected it for the combination because I loved the variegated foliage. Unfortunately, it ended up getting crowded out by the other plants.
This year, it is all alone. Evergold Carex has grass-like variegated foliage. The edges are medium green with a pale yellow stripe down the center of the blade. The container that it is in this year is a light terra-cotta with touches of dark green. It is really a pretty combination. All alone, the Evergold will have a chance to reach its mature size. Already, the ends of the blades are cascading over the edge of the container.
If you too are thinking about potting up a simple container, there are a few things to consider. You might want to choose a plant with a long season of flowers. Or, pick a plant with interesting foliage. This could also be a good place for a plant that might get out of control in the garden such as bamboo. A shrub that I'm going to try one of these days is Tiger Eye Sumac. I love the lines of the trunk and the bright chartreuse foliage. Since it has a colonizing habit in the ground, I think a large container might be just the right home for it.
© Susan Mertz, June 2006. All rights reserved.
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