At Vivero Growers nursery in southwest Austin, big containers are planted as eye-catching showpieces. I oohed and aahed over them, including this one with hot-pink ice plant and a giant hesperaloe, during a recent visit.
Sizzling pink ice plant flowers
Check this one out: a potted Mexican grass tree — like a shimmering fiber-optic sphere!
Lantana mounds in this container, with flowers as hot as the Texas sun.
A cooler combo — chocolatey-purple pennisetum and silver ponyfoot — make a hammered-silver pairing.
Vivero has some new-to-me salvias, which I drooled over: ‘Plum Crazy’ (left) and ‘Blue Chill’ (right). They look terrific together, especially paired with a burgundy Japanese maple. I couldn’t help thinking, though, that the maple would want shade in our hot climate while the salvias would want sun. It works for staging though!
A butterfly appreciating ‘Blue Chill’ salvia
Bees like it too.
I’m plumb crazy for ‘Plum Crazy’ salvia.
Outside the succulent greenhouses, a container bursting with slipper plant, silver ponyfoot, and something flowering hot pink — pelargonium? — caught my eye.
I’m a sucker for all kinds of prickly pear, especially ‘Santa Rita’ with violet pads and yellow flowers.
Ooh, ‘Silver Dollar’ prickly pear, with round pads like Mickey Mouse silhouettes!
Tree cholla with a handsome fuchsia flower
A prickly pear-like plant in a succulent trough also caught my eye. I think it’s Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis.
The other succulents are fab too.
In the shade area, I admired this handsome planter with foxtail fern, variegated baby sun rose, Mexican heather, and a burgundy-leaved something.
Vivero has smaller planters too, perfect for a porch table.
They’ll make you happy!
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