One of my all-time favorite low-maintenance plants for beautiful outdoor planters is the “Purple Pixie” Weeping Loropetalum. If you’re on the hunt for yard planter ideas, this dwarf variety is perfect because it won’t turn into a jungle and take over the whole planter like some of its wilder relatives! It’s truly one of those set it and forget it outside planter ideas.
For this setup, I grabbed my trusty (and slightly rusty) metal garden spheres and popped them into my urns, then planted them with the 2-gallon “Purple Pixie.” The goal? I wanted the plant to look like it had naturally grown up and around the sphere, giving it a well-established look. So here’s how I made that happen for a little outdoor planter inspiration:
I wanted the plant to look like it had grown up and over the orb, so here’s what I did:
- Fill urn almost to the top with potting soil.
- Sit metal orb (some call them garden spheres) on top of urn.
- Carefully place the rootball of the loropetalum through one of the orb’s openings, then guide it down through the bottom opening into the dirt.
- Gently pull all the leaves and stems through each opening in the orb.
- Finally, fill in with more dirt around the sides to secure plant and the metal sphere in place together.
And voila! Doesn’t it look like it’s been happily growing around that garden sphere for years?
I’m beyond thrilled with how these urns turned out—total garden planter DIY vibes! I’ve had a weeping loropetalum growing in a whiskey barrel for about five years, and it’s been an absolute superstar, so I know these beauties will last a long time.
The best part? These dwarf varieties grow low and slow, which means zero trimming required. No more battling giant, unruly shrubs! Unlike the Chinese Loropetalum that would swallow a house whole if I didn’t trim them regularly—seriously, those things are relentless.
So if you’re looking for yard planter ideas or outside planter ideas that add some creativity and low-maintenance beauty to your space, definitely try incorporating a garden sphere with a slow-growing plant like this. It’s the perfect outdoor planter inspiration for anyone who loves a little whimsy with their gardening!
More Outdoor Decorating Ideas for Fall
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