Container garden for fall with these dark plant combos

 Create a covered container garden 

While brightly colored flowers in containers are always eye-catching, darker colored plants and containers can be stunning. Choosing a dark-hued planter instantly gives a sleek, modern feel to a container garden, but filling it with equally bold red, purple or bronze plants really makes an impact. Here are the best thrillers, fillers and spillers for dark containers, and some of our favorite ways to mix and match these plants to create the perfect mood for fall or any time of year.

Purple basil

The dark colored leaves of purple basil are ornamental and edible (with a clove-like flavor). Place purple basil plants in full sun, making sure the soil is moist but well-drained.

'Red Star' Cordyline

'Red Star' Cordyline has deep red leaves that are 6 feet or more tall. But, in smaller containers, the fountain-like leaves are a bit shorter. This thriller plant requires full sun and is a low-maintenance plant suitable for temperate to warm climates.

'Dragon Wing' is a pink bronze-leaf begonia

Shiny, bronze leaves are punctuated with bright pink flowers on the pink bronze-leaf begonia 'Dragon Wing'. The plant is drought and heat tolerant and blooms from spring to fall.

Take inspiration from our favorite mix of thriller, filler and spoiler to create your own moody container look.

1. Cordyline + Sweet Alyssum + Sweet Potato Vine

This trio perfectly fills a moody, black container. A tall, architectural cordine adds height to the back, while a sweet potato vine fills (and spills over) the front of the container. 'White Stream' Sweet Alyssum adds light color and soft texture to the mix. Keep the container full to separate the sun and water regularly.

2. Coleus + Petunia

Different types of coleus are easy to mix and match. Here, 'Wino' acts as a goliath thriller and 'Inky Fingers' acts as a goliath filler and spoiler. 'Black Ray' petunias round out this dark, but colorful container arrangement. Place these plants in full sun for best leaf color and flowering.

3. Elephant's Ears + Heechara + Irisin

This thick blend is stunning in size, texture and color. 'Obsidian' heuchera and iresine fill the bottom of the container with their deep purple, red and pink foliage. Above them rises an elephant ear plant with large burgundy and green leaves. This container combination is great for a shady spot.

4. Sudaranthem + rex begonia + inch plant

Greens, silvers, and burgundy create delightful contrasts in this container garden. A burgundy-hot Pteranthemum Flute sweeps up the back of the dark container, while rex begonias and inch plants fill the spaces and add a touch of silver to the arrangement. A location with bright but indirect light is best for these plants.