x
Breaking News
More () »

Proctor's Garden: Create a shady oasis

Container plants can be used to make your shady retreat a colorful oasis. Great foliage plants complement shade-loving flowers.

DENVER — On a hot summer day, a shady retreat is welcome.

Container plants can be used to make your shady retreat a colorful oasis. Great foliage plants complement shade-loving flowers. 

Cordyline, ferns, caladiums, spider plants, ivy and oxalis can be used to provide a tropical backdrop. They will enhance the floral beauty of impatiens, begonias and flowering maples.

Many of these plants can be saved from year to year by bringing them inside in winter. They can be also be grown from cuttings taken in the fall. I tried my hand at growing flowering maples from seed this year. 

Members of the hibiscus family and are properly know as Abutilon have exceeded my expectations and have bloomed in colors ranging from pink and red to salmon, peach and yellow. Each is unique and beautiful.

Keep flowering maples deadheaded to keep them blooming, although you may want to let a few pods ripen if you want to try growing them from seed. When you bring the plants inside in fall, they'll continue to delight you in a sunny window.

RELATED: These cool daisies thrive in Colorado's hot weather

RELATED: Tips to get rid of those pesky Japanese beetles

> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox. 

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Animals and Wildlife

MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS

Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER

Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n 

HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE

ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.

For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.

Before You Leave, Check This Out