At Vivero Growers nursery in southwest Austin, big containers are planted as eye-catching showpieces. I oohed and aahed over them, including this one with hot-pink ice plant and a giant hesperaloe, during a recent visit.

Sizzling pink ice plant flowers

Check this one out: a potted Mexican grass tree — like a shimmering fiber-optic sphere!

Lantana mounds in this container, with flowers as hot as the Texas sun.

A cooler combo — chocolatey-purple pennisetum and silver ponyfoot — make a hammered-silver pairing.

Vivero has some new-to-me salvias, which I drooled over: ‘Plum Crazy’ (left) and ‘Blue Chill’ (right). They look terrific together, especially paired with a burgundy Japanese maple. I couldn’t help thinking, though, that the maple would want shade in our hot climate while the salvias would want sun. It works for staging though!

A butterfly appreciating ‘Blue Chill’ salvia

Bees like it too.

I’m plumb crazy for ‘Plum Crazy’ salvia.

Outside the succulent greenhouses, a container bursting with slipper plant, silver ponyfoot, and something flowering hot pink — pelargonium? — caught my eye.

I’m a sucker for all kinds of prickly pear, especially ‘Santa Rita’ with violet pads and yellow flowers.

Ooh, ‘Silver Dollar’ prickly pear, with round pads like Mickey Mouse silhouettes!

Tree cholla with a handsome fuchsia flower

A prickly pear-like plant in a succulent trough also caught my eye. I think it’s Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis.

The other succulents are fab too.

In the shade area, I admired this handsome planter with foxtail fern, variegated baby sun rose, Mexican heather, and a burgundy-leaved something.

Vivero has smaller planters too, perfect for a porch table.

They’ll make you happy!

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Digging Deeper

June 1-2: Take a self-guided, 2-day tour of ponds and gardens in and around Austin on the annual Austin Pond and Garden Tour, held 6/1 and 6/2, 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets are $20 to $25.

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!

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