Article: Many perennials work well in containers, nursery owner says.

Byline: Kathy Van Mullekom

There's no rule that says you can only plant summer annuals in patio and deck containers.

Many perennials work just as well, if not better, says Sandy McDougle of Sandy's Plants, a nursery in Mechanicsville, just outside Richmond, Va.

Shorter forms of gaura _ such as 18-inch-tall Crimson Butterflies _ bloom as profusely as any annual, and they never need pinching or cutting back, says Sandy. Around gaura, plant Delosperma nubigerum _ commonly called ice plant _ and you have a stunning bouquet suitable for any sizeable pot.

"I now buy cheap plastic pots and cover them with plant material that will grow and ...

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