Novelty window box planters

I have been attending the Mast Young Plants annual trial in Michigan for over 15 years and have incorporated many of their new varieties in my trial articles. This is an extensive trial incorporating trials beds, hanging baskets, deco pots, saddle planters and window planters. I want to highlight and focus on window planters that have been a part of the trial since its inception.

This is the most extensive window box trial I have seen in all my years of trial evaluations. The components of these planters include genera and varieties from multiple breeding companies, and Mast offers many of them in their liner program. This gives the Mast team team the opportunity to display and trial many diverse accent plants in their creative designs, incorporating and combining multiple components.

The use of window boxes or planters may have begun with the Romans, but throughout history we see the utilization of window boxes for growing herbs, food, medicinals and ornamental plants. In the current marketplace, we see many different styles of window or porch planters including wire frames, terra cotta, wood, wrought iron and many different colors. They offer practicality and functionality in many urban settings where space is limited, and provide consumers with utility and aesthetics. The window planters in the Mast trial are mostly 36 inches long and were planted as liners directly into the garden week 24. The soil mix is Berger BM6, and the planters were fed twice a day during July and August with 17-5-17.

I am highlighting planters that comprised assorted components and demonstrated the attributes of texture, color, form and uniqueness when I visited in mid-August. There may be plants that I list that are not visible in the planter, and that is because they did not have the vigor to compete with the other components later in the summer. I hope you will find inspiration from these planters and glean design ideas for the spring season. Since these planters were created by the Mast team and incorporate assorted varieties from many breeders, they are listed only by number, and that's how I will refer to them.

WINDOW BOX #3
Components: Coleus 'Campfire', coleus 'Great Falls Niagara', alternanthera 'Little Ruby' and Muehlenbeckia axillaris Creeping Wire Vine

This design manifests the upright habit and striking coppery orange leaf color of coleus 'Campfire' from Ball Floraplant. This upright variety is complemented by the trailing coleus 'Great Falls Niagara' from Du?mmen Orange, which exhibits bright bicolor leaves and is an outstanding filler for partial shade or full sun with excellent color stability. Alternanthera 'Little Ruby' is one of the best low-maintenance warm-season accent plants, with foliage shades of purple and burgundy. It is adaptable in containers, baskets and landscape beds. The Creeping Wire Vine is a ubiquitous component in mixed containers and baskets with its vining habit, lustrous small leaves and season long durability.

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Photo Courtesy of Greenhouse Product News

Source: Greenhouse Product News