Unusual Basket Plants
Gardeners know the most popular plants grown in hanging baskets. Today I’m back at JDS Nursery taking a look at some unusual hanging basket plants. Look at this New Wonder Scaevola basket. The violet-blue fan-shaped flowers have bright yellow centers displayed on compact flowering spikes. The spreading growth habit of New Wonder Scaevola makes it a winner in this basket just as it was in 1997 when it was named a Mississippi Medallion winner. A basket plant that deserves to be grown by more gardeners is the black-eyed Susan vine, known botanically as Thunbergia alata. The flowers produced by this climbing plant all a black centers. Here we have petal colors of yellow and orange. Plants for hanging baskets don’t all have to flower to catch the eye. Golden creeping Jenny is typically grown as a ground cover. Grown in a basket this rampant spreader is starting to hang and trail over the basket edge. What may be the most interesting plant is the chenille or fire tails. Commonly grown as an indoor plant, chenille is perfectly happy outdoors after all chance of frost is past. This full sun plant loves the hot and humid summers in Mississippi. The unusual finger-sized red tassels draw attention and are produced all summer long. Don’t think you have to go with the crowd with your hanging baskets. Be a little daring and try some of these unusual plants. I’m Gary Bachman for Southern Gardening.