For the 2009 Container Challenge, we asked our readers to create a container design based on a theme of either ice or fire. The idea was to show that plantings can actually change not only the look but also the feel of a space. A collection of silver plants, for example, can make a patio seem cool and calming, while an explosion of hot colors can turn up the heat and excitement.

The finalists featured here successfully demonstrated this theory. Thanks to all who entered. The readers of Fine Gardening continue to astound and impress us. To see more finalists, check out this article from Fine Gardening #133.

The winner: Todd Holloway, Vancouver, British Columbia

We chose this design for our winner because it’s easy, incredibly effective, and simply stunning. Tropicanna^® canna is a no-brainer for a hot container. Its orange- and red-striped flame-shaped leaves and hot tangerine blooms are a blaze of fire. The fiery leaves of the ‘Sky Fire’ coleus in this combo are just as hot, while the deep red mass of the sweet potato vine is the perfect pairing to add some weight. The creamy tips of the plectranthus leaves can either be seen as a cooling influence or a white-hot accent. Congratulations, Todd!

• Tropicanna^® canna (Canna ‘Tropicanna’, Zones 8–11)
• ‘Sky Fire’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Sky Fire’, Zone 11)
• Leatherleaf sedge (Carex buchananii , Zones 6–9)
• ‘Lemon Twist’ plectranthus (Plectranthus ‘Lemon Twist’, Zones 10–11)
• ‘Blackie’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’, Zone 11)

Fire: Julie Davis, Edmonds, Washington

Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrical ‘Rubra’, Zones 5–9)

‘Peach Flambe’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Peach Flambe’, Zones 4–9)

Dolce^® Licorice heuchera (Heuchera ‘TNHEU044’, Zones 4–9)

‘Kingwood Torch’ coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides ‘Kingwood Torch’, Zone 11)

Geranium (Pelargonium cv., annual)

‘Colorburst Chocolate’ calibrachoa (Calibrachoa ‘Colorburst Chocolate’, annual)

‘Margarita’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Margarita’, Zone 11)

Ice: Christy Erikson, Lake Forest Park, Washington

Large black planter (back right)

• ‘Morning Light’ miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’, Zones 4–9)
• ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’, Zones 10–11)
• Paddle plant (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Zone 11)
• ‘Searchlight’ flowering maple (Abutilon ‘Searchlight’, Zones 8–11)
• Silverbush (Convolvulus cneorum , Zones 8–11)
• Astelia (Astelia nervosa var. chathamica , Zones 8–9)

River rock planter (left)

• Astelia (Astelia nervosa var. chathamica , Zones 8–9)
• Rex begonia (Begonia cv., Zone 11)
• ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra (Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’, Zones 10–11)
• Felt bush (Kalanchoe beharensis, Zone 11)
• Canberra grass (Scleranthus biflorus, Zones 9–11)

Vintage cement planter (forward right)

• Aloe (Aloe vera, Zones 10–11)
• Echeveria (Echeveria cv., Zones 10–11)