When fall rolls in, most folks reach for mums to fill their pots, but there are plenty of other cool-weather plants just waiting to shine including ornamental kale and cabbage. These varieties offer bold texture, vibrant color, and hardiness that’ll carry your containers all the way into spring. These easy fall plant swaps are perfect for refreshing tired summer pots and creating long-lasting displays with minimal effort.
With just a few simple tricks and thoughtful plant pairings, these eye-catching container gardens can brighten porches, patios, and even outdoor tablescapes. Mark Thompson, garden expert and co-owner of Shoppe in Birmingham, Alabama, shares his favorite low-maintenance combinations that are as striking as they are easy to grow.
Brighten Up
Credit:
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Mark Thompson
To add a splash of color while maintaining a monochromatic look, Thompson incorporated a mix of purple-and-white pansies and violas, but any shades will do. Begin by breaking up the roots of two ‘Peacock White’ kale plants and pushing them into the soil at the center. Next, place creeping wire vines all the way around, tucking them in toward the outer edges. Fill in the remaining space with pansies and violas. “Use your pointer and index fingers to press each plant down into the soil really well so you get out all the air pockets,” he says. This helps with water flow, letting the roots absorb nutrients properly.
Turn it into a centerpiece by surrounding the vessel with moss to dress up an outdoor tablescape. “Mood moss is great to use in the late fall and winter because it’ll look good all winter long,” he says.
Pique Interest
Credit:
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Mark Thompson
Low-lift brassica plants make an impact and are known for withstanding light freezes (the cool weather enhances their coloring). Nestle ‘Redbor’ kale in the center of the vessel, and then add ornamental cabbage around it. “The kale grows taller and is more showy, while the cabbage stays lower and rounder,” Thompson explains. In this 16-inch pot, the garden expert included one kale and five cabbages, but for larger containers, he suggests positioning two or three kale plants in the center.
While the plants shown here are low-maintenance and hardy, they thrive in part to full sun, requiring at least four hours.
Bold and Beautiful
Credit:
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Mark Thompson
Traditional Osaka ornamental cabbages are the stars of this container. Fill a large pot nearly to the top with loose potting soil, and press in each plant firmly, leaving plenty of room for growth underneath. “Be sure to break up the roots with your fingers, because they come root-bound in the nursery pots,” advises Thompson. Here, he used seven cabbages in 6- and 8-inch sizes. “When it’s still fairly warm outside, be sure to keep them consistently watered but well drained,” he says. Although cold tolerant, they should be covered during hard freezes.
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