Small Plants with a Large Impact

Melting Away the Confusion of Selecting Miniature Plants

It often starts with a “deer in the headlights” look on her face when she steps into the greenhouse, then it quickly melts into a confused, disoriented look of concern.  How am I going to choose from all these plants?  How will I know if the plant I purchased will quit blooming within a week or if it will become overgrown, in my miniature garden, by the middle of the summer?  Over the last 20 years I have seen the anxiety of selecting plants happening over and over again. 

Both men and women come into the miniature-gardening department at a greenhouse and they become so overwhelmed that I fear some feel dejected right away­­­­.­­­­ “There are so many darn choices,” they say.  In general, that is certainly true when it comes to the varieties of regular size garden plants, but it is also true about the choices available when you are shopping for and planting a fairy or miniature garden.­­­

During the summer we give several classes at our Northern Wisconsin greenhouse that address selecting miniature plants for the garden.  A common question is, “How do you choose plants and design a miniature garden layout that will be successful?”  It isn’t difficult when it comes down to it.  Not when you answer some initial questions and follow a few simple guidelines.

Let’s start with a few specifics you need to quiz yourself about:  

• Where will this garden be located?
• Will it be inside the house or outside in the ground?  
• What kind of sunlight will the miniature garden receive?  
• How much time per week do I want to spend working in the garden?
• What is the size of the container?  
• If it is in the ground or a landscaped garden, how much space do I have?  
• What is the theme of the garden?  

These are the main concerns that will need to be answered before you start selecting plants.  Once you know the details, your choices will be narrowed down considerably.

Next, let’s start with what most of us want in our gardens.  We want flowers…lots and lots of flowers.  Here is a list of my absolute favorite long-blooming and compact plants for the sunny indoor or outdoor miniature garden.

Four Tiny Long Blooming Cuties

Ageratum, ‘Hawaii Blue’, Floss Flower

If you like the color blue this one is for you.  Planted in the flower border or beside a small fairy house it looks like a lush blue Hydrangea bush.  Place any fairies, fences or benches in front of this flower and the miniature accessories immediately look great.  The soft blue flower color seems to complement anything you place in front of it – and the Hawaii Blue truly blooms its little blue heart out from spring till frost, non-stop.

Care: Fertilize weekly with a liquid fertilizer and occasionally remove the spent flowers.  Ageratum is an annual, so it cannot be brought inside, as a houseplant, over the winter.

 

 

Bellium-minutum, Miniature Daisy

What is not to like about daisies?  Everyone likes the simple white daisy type plant with the bright and cheery yellow center.  The bees love this one as well.  It blooms constantly and grows quite fast.  If allowed much space, the Belium-minutum will spread and grow an occasional division. Plant it close to a red barn in the farm theme garden or by a fairy house or in front of the schoolhouse.

Care: Fertilize weekly with a liquid fertilizer and deadhead or simply cut it back to the mounding green foliage. This plant can be kept growing in a sunny window during the winter, where it will continue to bloom.

 

 

Cuphea hyssopifolia, ‘Tiny Elfin Herb’, Mexican Heather

If you are familiar with the regular, old-fashioned Mexican Heather that easily grows to 8-10 inches tall, this 3-4 inch Tiny Elfin Herb might surprise you.  The flower color is much richer with a darker magenta everlasting bloom.  Color is what we are looking for in the miniature garden design and that is why this plant is so useful.

Care: Fertilize weekly with a liquid fertilizer.  It does not need dead heading.  The flowers seem to just drop and disappear on their own. This is also a great plant for growing in the house over the winter, providing it gets enough sun.

 

 

Erodium x variabile, ‘Flora Plena’, Heron Bill

Erodium or Heron’s Bill is really a miniature perennial geranium.  It is another long blooming variety that will delight you with its single and double flowers on the same plant. This Erodium stays small and compact during its first season, but it can grow up to 8-10 inches wide over several years.  

Care: Fertilize weekly with a liquid fertilizer.  Occasional dead heading is needed.

 

 

 

I hope you find these tips useful.  Bring this list with you when you visit your favorite greenhouse, garden center or online shopping site. Happy planting!