Alocasia and Company

by Debbie Teashon

I love foliage, no; I ADORE FOLIAGE! Yes, that was I, shouting, I can't get enough of fabulous foliage, and this newly planted pot is steeped in frondescence! As this pot fills out over the summer months, it will go from beautiful to stunning.

I started with a container glazed with streaks of green and topped with a woven rim in warm brown and terra cotta hues. I chose the elephant ear—Alocasia x amazonica— because it adorns itself with glossy, green leaves marked by large white veining that makes it a striking centerpiece. Next I chose two coleus—Solenostemon 'Big Red Judy' and 'Sedona'—that will fill out the mid-section of the arrangement with vibrant warm tones that echo the rim's hues. The licorice plant—Helichrysum 'Limelight'— will grow and flow down the sides of the pot with soft fuzzy, lime-green leaves. Plectranthus 'Dark Purple' will also spill over the rim with a deep green hue, which gives a place to rest the eye.

I planted this pot at the end of April and took these photos. Later I will come back and photograph it after the serry plants take over. Anarchists!

Here's the plant list: