Am planning on concentrating on a red and white container garden this spring. Thinking portulaca, impatience, vinca, zinnias, petunias, geraniums and verbena. What other color or colors would help to minimize the sharp contrast between deep red and white? Don't want blue and think shades of pink would not be right either. Thinking maybe lime, but limited to types of plants available in that color. Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

I like purple with red. Irish Bells (Moluccella laevis) are lime green.

I agree, I love lavender with reds and white. I like the lighter blue trailing lobelia with red and white too.

There's a lime green coleus.

https://parkseed.com/limelight...

There is a black-ish variety, too, which might be interesting. Or even just a variegated red and green one. They usually have purple flower stalks.

I say yellow.
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I agree with Philip, yellow will make all your colors POP

Thanks, Daisy, Laurie, Sue, Philip and Christine for your responses. I was already thinking about coleus as many might be suitable. Also was leaning heavily on sweet potato vines - have never tried them, but always greatly admired them.

Never, ever even thought of yellow going with white and red!
This would open up a wide range of plant choices. Yellows come in so many shades, but I prefer the warm buttercup shades. Please give me suggestions as to which shades of yellow would go best with deep red and white - as I still have trouble associating yellow with red and white.

Pale lavender also sounds as if it would work.

Please keep the ideas coming - and thanks for your help - much appreciated.

Silver - Dusty Miller, Lambs Ear...

Hi porkpal,

Dusty Miller and Lambs' Ear. Have never tried Lambs' Ear but very fond of Dusty Miller. Haven't grown Dusty Miller for quite some time, but will definitely try some this year. Thanks for the suggestion.

Don ! Break, thy o'l seed catologs out. 👍
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Just grabbed this pic off the web for a view of colors, I love red & yellow, they really compliment each other

Yes, I agree, Christine. Thanks for the pic.

OK, Christine and Philip, proponents of yellow and red - you've convinced me. The two colors do make a wonderful display. Now thinking of possibly discarding the red and white idea and replacing it with red and yellow. It opens the door for possibly also bringing in some coral and apricot colors which have always been my favorite colors but never got around to using them much. I think the coral and apricot would go nicely with the yellow but too sure about the deep red. Can't discard the deep red choice, however, as a local nursery offers a wonderful variety of petunias that we purchase every spring and it is the focal point of our container garden. Starting to get more than a little excited as must make a decision on what seeds to order. Unfortunately the choice of plants in my local area are mostly just "run of the mill" plants and selections. Probably have to travel a bit to find something a little out of the ordinary.

I'm thinking Marigolds in orange/yellow to bring out the reds (white will stand out on it's own), but you may have too many colors at once. How about limiting each planter to 3 flowers and colors and different combinations in each pot set near each other but not quite touching? There is also beauty in simplicity.

Yardenman - I thoroughly agree with you that there is beauty in simplicity. Although in the early planning stage I'm kicking around a lot of ideas in my mind right now - in the end I always end up with just a few different kind of plants and just a few colors.

Although I'm fond of marigolds (and really like the combination of yellow and orange) my wife doesn't like the smell of them so I'll probably need to be somewhat creative. I think there may be a few varieties that have a lessened aroma - will need to google to find out what's available in today's offering of marigolds in that respect.

Appreciate your comments along with several other members who were kind enough to offer some suggestions.

Show off your end result, I know I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with

Have you thought of plain o'l, good o'l reliable, Zinnia's ?😮???👍

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Sedum 'Lemon Coral' would make a bright yellow-green contrast that spills over the edges of the pot:
Stonecrop (Petrosedum Lemon Coral™)
I think a silver-leaved plant (e.g., Dusty Miller or something that color) would add a particularly dramatic and beautiful contrast with red and white.

Philip - Thought of zinnias? Oh, yes. I follow ZenMan's postings a lot. Planning on a short-stemmed variety for a couple of containers, but still undecided on exactly what color to go with. Swallowtail Garden has several that have caught my attention.

All the friendly suggestions from fellow gardeners has my head spinning - now looking at Burpee's Strawberry Blond marigold - like the looks of that, and I've had a lot of luck with raising marigolds from seed - unfortunately not so lucky with some other annuals.

Carol - thanks for your suggestion on the sedum 'Lemon Coral' - I like plants that cascade over the sides of containers - will follow up on that one. Been also thinking of trying some sweet potato vine plants as they are readily available locally.

Don't receive many seed catalogs nowadays - but have a few favorite seed companies on the internet that I usually buy from.

Philip - Thought of zinnias? Oh, yes! I follow ZenMan's postings closely and am planning on some short-stemmed ones since they will be in containers, but undecided right now as to color.

With all the interesting suggestions I've received so far I'm pretty much wavering back and forth as whether to go with my original red and white theme -or- introduce some yellow.
Burpee's is offering Strawberry Blond marigold which has caught my attention.

Main problem I have as usual is 'making up my mind'. Will probably go with predominantly red and white - with a little yellow (zinnias) and Burpee's Strawberry Blond marigold thrown in for good measure.

Will let all you friendly fellow gardeners of my final decision.

Christine - will get my daughter to take and post some pictures later on this summer - a little too technical for this old-timer.