Allergy-Friendly Container Gardening Suggestions

Allergy-friendly container gardening is not promoted as much as it should be. Being outside, surrounded by allergy-causing plants, can be very uncomfortable for allergy sufferers.

To accommodate those with asthma and allergies, I have prepared a list of suggested allergy-friendly plants for your container garden.

Spring Container:

Centre of container: Iceland poppy (Papaver croceum)

Surround with: Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), Dwarf snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), Primroses (Primula spp.), Bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.)

Trailing: Periwinkle (Vinca spp.), Million bells

Photo courtesy of Freeimages.com

Summer Container:

Centre of container: Spanish bayonet (Yucca glauca)

Surround with: Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.), New Guinea impatiens, Salvia, Pansy, Zinnia

Trailing: Cup flower (Nierembergia repens), Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)

Fall Container:

Centre of container: Bright edge (Yucca filamentosa)

Surround with: Periwinkle (Vinca major), Blue Verbena (Verbena hastate), Double chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.)

Trailing: Variegated lilyturf (Liriope muscari)

Planting Instructions:

Before adding planting or potting soil into the container, place an old bath towel trimmed to the size of the pot. This prevents soil from draining out of the bottom hole(s) of the container when water is added. In addition to watering regularly, you will want to add liquid fertilizer per the package instructions to give the plants a good start.

Happy Gardening! Peter