Color--it can make us feel cool, hot, jazzy, or serene. And, more often than not, it's the first thing we think about when choosing plants for containers. Don't let color intimidate you--it's easy and fun to work with.

Cues and Clues
We face important choices with containers, especially those placed in prominent locations such as an entrance. Flower shades, foliage hues, and even a pot's glaze can be vital in determining a container's design success in the landscape.

Look to your surroundings for color clues. House and trim paint are important factors to take into account. Choose plants that complement the facade with similar shades for a quiet look, or take a contrary position with vibrant opposites. The first approach creates a dressy, disciplined assembly, while the second look is more casual and fun loving.

Architecture also factors into this equation. A bungalow is more attuned to riotous color, while a home with a classic facade benefits from the single-shade approach.

Mix and Match
Color comes in numerous forms. Flowers are the instant inclination, but foliage also offers a broad palette of options. The beauty of coleus, Persian shield, caladiums, and other lively leaves is their constant, never-out-of-bloom growth pattern. Combine these plants with flowers for tremendous nonstop seasonal splash.

Vary the sizes and shapes of the foliage. Use light and dark leaves, as well as smooth and textured ones. "Great interest is created by choosing different textured leaves. For example, pair the fuzzy foliage of a begonia with a lacy fern for a fascinating effect," says Tracy Sumney at B.B. Barns in Asheville, North Carolina.