Container gardening choices

Our Plants that Work® program offers premium plant material for creating incredible container gardens. With more than 125 varieties available in a multitude of genera, Sunbelt is an excellent source for that "just right" filler, spiller and thriller. Each 4.3" pot contains an oversized tag with details concerning growth habit, sun tolerance and water needs.

Set your garden center apart by offering some of the more unusual varieties, like Brachyscome 'Radiant Magenta', Cuphea 'Cuphoric Pink', Mercardonia Bright Yellow, Nierembergia 'Lara White', Ruellia 'Ragin' Cajun™' and Sanvitalia 'Tsavo™ Golden Yellow', each of which adds a unique touch to mixed containers. They can also be planted in single-variety clusters for a specimen display.

Encourage customers to include interesting color and texture and in their mixed containers by displaying our 3.5" Accents. Shown above are just a few terrific examples: Ajuga, Asparagus Plumosa, Duranta, Hedera Helix, Hypoestes, Lysimachia, Sedum, Setcresea, Variegated Oregano and Vinca Vine variegata. Sunbelt also grows Alternanthera, Dichondra, Dracaena, Helichrysum, Ipomoea, Iresine, Lamium and Sprengerii Fern in the Accent program. 

Cross-merchandise these attractive plants with flowering annuals, placing them near your container potting area for add-on sales. Use signage that designates their purpose, and be sure to include accents in your mixed container recipes. Alternatively, create a few mixed accent containers to show off their range of colors, textures and growth habits.

For easy-care color, look no further than Calibrachoa. Most varieties work well planted alone or as part of a combo in baskets, patio pots and window boxes - virtually anywhere it can tumble. Calibrachoa also performs well in landscape beds; sunny and cool locations are better than sunny and hot. Although less fussy than its petunia cousin, calibrachoa likes to be watered and fed. Deadheading will encourage plants to re-bloom.

Sunbelt produces calibrachoa in 4.3" 10-ct Plants that Work® and 11" hanging baskets.

Need magnificent color?

Colorful caladiums are long-time favorites for planting under trees and in other deeply shaded areas, and now they can now be enjoyed almost anywhere in the garden. New sun-tolerant varieties perform well in the landscape, especially as a border or as a backdrop for shorter garden annuals. Caladiums also provide texture, height and color in mixed containers – just be sure to pair them with plants that have similar light and water requirements.

Sunbelt's caladium program includes both sun and shade varieties in quart 8-packs as well as larger landscape varieties in 6.5" pots. POP is available, and we have a video for more information.

Choosing plants for mixed containers is easy with the "one and done" philosophy behind Kwik Kombos™. Particularly useful for larger patio pots or hanging baskets, each Kwik Kombos 3-in-1 plant recipe is designed to provide a fully balanced and strikingly beautiful finished container with exceptional outdoor performance.

Our Kwik Kombos are available in 1-gallon pots and 11" hanging baskets. Combinations include three calibrachoa Callie® mixes: Citrus Fire™, Pink Bliss™ and Pure Joy™. Other mixes include Pink Vibrations™, Cascading Waterfall™, Fire & Ice™ and Night in Pompeii™.  POP is a available as well as our video.

The unique, spiky blooms of Celosia Intenz add a tremendous pop of color in landscape beds, especially when clustered in groups of 3 to 5 plants. Reaching a height of 15-18 inches with a spread of approximately 12 inches, Intenz also works well as a “thriller" in mixed containers.

Intenz blooms throughout summer and tolerates cooler weather in fall. It’s easy to grow and low maintenance, requiring little to no deadheading. Full sun exposure encourages the most vivid bloom color.

Sunbelt produces Celosia Intenz in 1-gallon Plants that Work® 6-packs. POP is available in addition to our video.

Driver spotlight: Jerry Flynn

Approximately three years ago, Jerry Flynn "retired" from the transportation industry and moved from Florida to South Georgia. A short time later, he began working part-time at Sunbelt Greenhouses to assist with product delivery during peak weeks.

A professional truck driver since 1960, Jerry especially likes meeting new people and servicing Sunbelt customers during his travels.

Between stops, he enjoys listening to country music and planning his next hunting or fishing trip. (We believe he is a Georgia boy at heart.)

Jerry is shown here in Sunbelt's newest truck, which he says "drives like a dream." Be on the lookout for his friendly face when you receive your next delivery!

Jerry Flynn

Jerry Flynn