Ideas for tall, slim plant for summer container please

I have a lovely 53cm terracotta planter I will use for summer bedding this year while trying to decide what to do with it going forwards. (A Quince or Arbutus perhaps? What a lovely dilemma to have )

It will go in the front, facing North but with open sides so will get nice light without midday sun.

I'm leaning towards trailing begonias. I'd perhaps like to add an upright, slim plant in the middle for contrast.

Any suggestions?

I'd like something tall and slim with narrow foliage. Early flowers would be a bonus to get colour before the begonias really get going after midsummer.

I have some Acidanthera corms, and Matthiola column Stock seeds, purple Pennisetum already growing and a small climber on an obelisk is also a possibility (subject to inspiration/ availability...).

The pot is quite tall so a plant up to 1m should be ok.



Thanks for ideas

 

Do you want something permeant? the siting of the pot may be an issue for various plants but some of these maybe worth a try .

What about a cornus coloured bark variety's ? they are lots to pick from I got one late last year with black foliage ( Nightfall ) or you could go with a variegated or alba aurea a yellow foliage plant. Maybe a mahonia softcress / winter sweet - physocarpus variety's - taxus aurea / other confiers - phormium upright types - Euomymus japonica variety's . Its keep a slim upright plant the main problem the pot sound quite a size but not to big when shrubs are involved .

I tend to use dahlia - canna - banana for vertical interest in pots for summer displays. well I hope this has helped.

 

If you want a temporary addition with your Begonias, a tallish option could be a sedge like Carex Red Rooster which has shades of orange and red and will tolerate light shade. A variegated Hosta is another option, some medium sized varieties here:

Medium Hostas

The location without full sun will limit many flowering options but a small Clematis on your obelisk might work.

 

Alstroemerias ?

Ours seem almost non stop flowering

 

Salvia Amistad could contrast well with the begonias.

 

Its just for this summer, hopefully by autumn the back garden is past the heavy building stage so the pot will get into the final position with the permanent planting I'm yet to decide.

A Dahlia is a very good idea if I can find a medium tall one. A pompom would look good, or one of those dark leaved ones.

Salvia appeals to me very much, a nice shape and appearance. I'm not sure if the light is enough though, aren't they sun lovers?

 

Dahlias and Salvias are sun lovers @Selleri, but I’ve grown them in shade with reduced flowering. In containers they can be happier with a bit of shade when it gets hot as the compost doesn’t dry out too quickly.

 

How about a compact astilbe?

 

Fuchsias do well in shade (but aren't early flowerers).
The taller salvias like Amistad I find do need some sun but not necessarily for the whole day, so for example west-facing is OK. They're not early flowerers either though - they start around the same time as fuchsias for me. Same goes for dahlias (mine tend to be even later because I leave them in the ground).

Early-flowerers seem to flower for short-ish periods, while the salvias, fuchsias and dahlias start later but keep going until they get frosted. Maybe you could plunge a pot of something earlier-flowering like aquilegia in your big pot with the begonias around the edge, then lift it out when it's done its thing and plant something else in the space.

 

Thanks all!

Now this is a very good idea. I'll have a think- thanks @JennyJB

 

Polygonatum x hybridum. You could lift it in the autumn and find a permanent spot for it then. Or Dicentra.