Container in the Woods
Debbie Teashon I live in the shadow of a forest filled with mostly towering Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). It’s a challenge for a garden. I am still learning what will grow under the canopy.
The best growing is in containers. As long as the plants tolerate shade conditions, they will thrive in pots, where there is no competition with tree roots.
I elevate the pots so the trees won’t invade their drainage holes in search of nutrients and water.
The brown container I purchased two decades ago is a hardy, old pot that sails through winter without frost damage. It’s housed many plants and plant combinations. For the 2020 fall container, I purchased a semi-weeping Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’ as its centerpiece. Then surrounded the shrub with plenty of spicy foliage. The plant list is at the end of the images.
I used my awful camera phone right after I planted this pot, so the photo quality is sad. I usually do this so I have a record of what I potted up. The plants fluffed out beautifully the following spring; unfortunately, I didn’t photograph them again.
Plant List
Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’
Carex ‘Feather Falls’
Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’
Helleborus argutifolius ‘COSEH900’
Heuchera ‘TNHEUFP’
Trachelospermum ‘Ogon Nishiki’