Spring beauty Time to plant: any time of year
You will need:
1 × azalea
3 × campanula
25cm (10in) pot ericaceous compost
Azaleas will grow happily in pots, so if your garden soil isn’t acid you can still enjoy these plants. Just pop them into containers filled with ericaceous compost and they will feel right at home. Take your pick of flowers from varieties in almost any colour, from deep red and pink to orange, yellow or pure white. Some even have a wonderful, spicy scent which fills the air on a warm day. Do note that while some varieties of azalea retain their leaves all year round, others are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn.
For added colour, surround your azalea with three equally-spaced trailing campanulas. Again, you’re spoilt for choice with these plants as they have blooms in shades of purple, blue or white. Planted around the edge of the pot, they’ll tumble over the top and keep flowering after the azalea has finished, ensuring the display looks good well into the summer. Cut plants back if they begin to look messy.
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Azaleas don’t like drought conditions, so water them even when not in flower. Use rain water if possible, as tap water often contains calcium – which these acid lovers hate. Water regularly with a solution of ericaceous plant food too.
Tropical punch Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
2 × heuchera
2 × Japanese rush
4 × viola
25cm (10in) pot
Take your pick from the wide selection of colourful heuchera that are available. They stay looking good all year and work as well in the garden as in a pot. Position it at the back of the container and remove any leaves that die back. Replace the plant if its centre begins to push upwards with age.
Grasses are well worth considering for some winter interest, as many are evergreen and have an interesting structure. Japanese rush (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’) is perfectly hardy and looks good all year round. Plant it out in the garden in a moist spot when you eventually dismantle the container.
Although they’ll bloom on and off during winter, violas really come into their own in the spring. Plant them at the front of the container, beneath the heucheras and the rushes, and they’ll continue to bloom until the pots are ready to be replanted with summer-flowering plants.
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Continually remove the old flowers from violas as they fade, this stops them producing seed and keeps them blooming longer.
Spring sunshine Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
2 × pansy
2 × thyme
3 × ivy
medium-sized window box
The hardy winter-flowering varieties of pansy (Viola) are the best bet for both winter and spring containers as they’re rarely without blooms – even when other plants are shivering in the cold. Remove the flowers as they fade and the plants will produce more blooms, instead of diverting energy into making seeds.
Like most herbs, thyme (Thymus) is well adapted to the dry conditions often found in containers. In this arrangement we’ve used a gold-leaved variety, called ‘Archer’s Gold’, to reflect the colour theme.
Tough enough to cope with the extremes of spring weather, from cold days to warm ones, ivy is great for containers and there are lots of different varieties to choose from. Plant them close to the front of the container so they trail over the edge and so their foliage will act as a useful foil for the cheery flowers that rise above it.
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Using a window box for this display means you can enjoy the flowers from inside the house too, and just lean out to pick a sprig of thyme when you need it.
Zesty windows Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
4 × tulip
2 × primrose
2 × sage
1 × winter savory
2 × ivy
2 × thyme
2 × lonicera
1 × pine
large window box
Either plant tulip bulbs in autumn or buy plants that are just about to flower in spring and drop them into the display. The bulbs can be replanted for next year.
Much larger-flowered than their wild cousins, these specially bred primroses (Primula) create a splash of bright colour at this time of year.
We’ve used a golden-leaved variety of sage called Salvia officinalis ‘Icterina’ to fit in with the rest of the colour theme and another great herb for cooking, thyme.
With a flavour similar to sage and the thyme that also feature in this container, winter savory (Satureja montana) is as useful in cooking as it is in a display, and the plants produce attractive lavender flowers in summer.
The trailing stems of ivy spill out from either end of the window box. This golden-leaved variety echoes the yellows of other plants in this scheme.
Most commonly used as a hedging plant, this golden-leaved Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ makes a colourful addition to a container while young.
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Although not a vital ingredient, we’ve used a young pine seedling as an interesting focal point in the centre of this box. It can be planted out into the garden afterwards.
Rich tapestry Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
1 × hair grass
2 × thyme
2 × euonymus
2 × pansy
2 × curry plant
2 × ivy
large window box
In spring, hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) planted in the middle of the box, brings soft wispy foliage to the display. Planted out in the garden afterwards, it will produce shimmering flowers that last all summer.
Golden-leaved varieties of thyme, such as the ‘Aureus’ planted here behind the hair grass, are perfect for colour-themed displays. They’re also great for cooking and are just as tasty as green-leaved ones.
One of the best foliage plants for containers, euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) looks good all year round, so it can be moved from pot to pot through the seasons. Plant one each on either side of the hair grass, and choose from golden-or silver-leaved varieties.
Two red-flowered pansies add a rich splash of colour to this foliage scheme, but if you don’t want red you can take your pick from the huge range of colours available. All varieties will bloom for months on end.
The silvery foliage of the handsome curry plant (Helichrysum italicum subsp. serotinum), not only looks good but also has a distinctive curry-like scent. Plant one at at either end of the box above trailing ivy.
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Always plant containers generously, cramming in plenty of small plants to create instant impact. However, be prepared to remove some as they grow, to leave more room for the remaining ones.
Cool blues Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
1 × cordyline
1 × ivy
1 × purple sage
1 × curry plant
2 × pansy
1 × primrose
1 × lonicera
large, deep pot
The spiky outline of the central cordyline transforms this container. The trailing stems of the ivy at the front of the pot contrast dramatically with the cordyline’s rigid, upright shape.
A purple-leaved sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’) tucked beside the cordyline echoes the colour scheme of this container, but it’s just as tasty as the ordinary kind and looks good all year round.
The silvery leaves of the curry plant (Helichrysum italicum subsp. serotinum), which balances the sage on the other side of the pot, have a distinctive curry-like scent.
Pale blue pansies add colour and surround the cordyline. They’ll rarely be without a bloom until the end of the season.
A world apart from the small-flowered wild form, a hybrid primrose is perfect nestled into the front of this spring container. Keep plants tidy by removing any yellowing leaves.
Young lonicera shrubs, such as this Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’, can be picked up cheaply from the garden centre and are perfect for pots while still small. Clip it regularly to maintain its compact shape and size.
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This container includes some young shrubs which work well here when small, and will then get a new lease of life when planted out into your garden once the season is over.
Pretty primulas Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
3 × hybrid primrose
3 × drumstick
primula a wide, shallow pot
Primulas are one of the most popular spring bedding plants, thanks to their cheery flowers, which come in rich colours. For the best plants, buy ones in individual pots, as these tend to have stronger rootballs than those grown in trays. Remove the flowers after they fade and take off any leaves that turn yellow.
As soon as they flower, you can see where this attractive species gets the common name of the drumstick primula (Primula denticulata). Take your pick from lilac- or white-flowered varieties. We’ve used both here and they sway above the flowerheads of the primulas.
Once you’ve finished with this display, all these primulas can be planted in a damp spot in the garden where they’ll gradually spread over time.
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Use equal numbers of the two types of primulas in this pot and echo or contrast the colours of the flowers, depending on the effect you want to create.
Fresh foliage Time to plant: any time of year
You will need:
1 × hosta
1 × fern
1 × Japanese painted fern
1 × violet
large pot
Take your pick from the hundreds of colourful varieties of hosta available. After the plant’s winter rest, the young, emerging leaves unfurl to reveal their brightest colours. Slugs and snails also find them very attractive, so be sure to protect them or you’ll be left with leaves that look like doilies at the front of the display.
Any green fern will fit the bill here; sit it at the back of the pot and it will provide contrast for the colours of the other plants.
One of the most colourful ferns around, the Japanese painted fern, Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’, looks especially attractive when its fronds first unfurl in spring. Compare plants before buying, as some are more colourful than others. Tuck it to the side of the pot with the plain green fern behind it to best highlight its foliage.
Violets bloom all spring long and are incredibly adaptable about where they’ll live, enjoying sun or shade and really any type of soil. This variety, Viola soraria ‘Freckles’, has pretty white flowers which are covered in lavender-coloured spots. Over time it will spread to make a large clump, but it can easily be chopped back if it goes too far.
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All these ferns will happily transfer into a shady spot in the garden once their work in the container is done.
Woodland wonder Time to plant: spring
You will need:
2 × ranunculus
1 × viola
1 × spurge
1 × hosta
25cm (10in) pot
Ranunculus is one of the most voluptuous of all the spring bedding plants, thanks to its huge, silky blooms. It can be raised from seed, but if you buy plants, then wait until they’re just about to flower so you can choose the best colours.
Their smaller blooms make violas a useful alternative to pansies if you want something more subtle at the front of your display. Available in an equally beautiful range of colours, many also have a wonderful scent that’s worth bending down to enjoy. Either use plants or sow seed.
A classic woodland plant, spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides) thrives in a semi-shaded spot where it will seed around to form large drifts. A young plant will be happy at the back of a container where its lime-green flowers will add height to spring displays.
Equally at home in a container or in a border, hostas are one of the most versatile foliage plants. Take your pick from the huge range of leaf colours, sizes and markings that are available. They perform from spring to autumn, returning each year after a winter’s rest.
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To get the best from this display, position it where it is protected from heavy rain and slugs and snails, this will prevent ranunculus flowers and hostas looking battered.
Daffodil delight Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
10 × daffodil
1 × celandine
2 × corydalis
25cm (10in) pot
Years of breeding have created a huge range of different shapes and sizes of daffodil to choose from. Buy your bulbs in August or September for the best selection at the garden centre. Plant a group of 10 daffodil bulbs in autumn, in the centre of the pot, to ensure a bold clump of flowers develop.
The celandines we grow in our gardens are really only selections of the wild type that colonises damp areas of ground. There are some beautiful forms available, including double-flowered ones like this Ranunculus ficaria, and others with colourful leaves. Their dwarf sizes make them perfect for containers.
Another woodland plant that works well in a pot is Corydalis flexuosa. Look out for named varieties, such as ‘Père David’, as their flowers have the most intense colour. If you’re moving the plant to the border after the pot is dismantled, position it next to something that performs in summer, as the ferny leaves of the corydalis naturally die down after the blooms fade, before returning in autumn.
We have popped in a few fir cones around the edge of the pot to fill gaps and add interest.
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Dwarf varieties of daffodil look best in a pot display as they are in proportion to it. Once they have flowered they can be planted out in the garden or potted up and kept to one side for next year’s container.
Tulip time Time to plant: autumn
You will need:
10 × early-flowering tulip
10 × late-flowering tulip
5 × viola
30cm (12in) pot
A visit to the garden centre in early autumn will reveal an Aladdin’s cave of spring bulbs. Choose from a huge range of colours, sizes and shapes of tulips, co-ordinating or contrasting them as suits your taste and display. It’s best to plant tulips in late autumn, as this helps avoid the risk of a disease called tulip fire. Regularly water and feed tulips and, after their flowers fade, let their leaves die down naturally. Then you’ll be able to move the bulbs to plant them again in autumn.
Not many plants can beat violas and pansies for their ability to flower all through the winter and into the spring. Position them around the edge of the pot to provide colour until the tulips bloom. The secret to continuous flowering is to remove the old blooms as soon as they fade to discourage the plant from wasting its energy making seeds. Most varieties have the added bonus of a sweet scent that fills the air on a warm day.
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Use both early- and late-flowering varieties of tulip in the same container to keep the show going on longer.
Woodland gems Time to plant: any time of year
You will need:
1 × foamflower
1 × bleeding heart
1 × brunnera
wide, shallow pot
Easily mistaken for a heuchera, thanks to its attractive leaves, the foamflower or Tiarella tends to have larger blooms than its close cousin. There are many varieties available; all can be planted out into a moist, shady spot in the garden once the pot is dismantled, where they’ll continue to look good all year round.
The common name of Dicentra spectabilis, the bleeding heart, is no surprise when you see the perfect heart shapes of its flowers. We’ve used the pure white form here, rising above the other plants at the back of the display, but you could use one of the equally attractive pink types.
The small blue flowers of brunnera look very similar to forget-me-nots, but this plant has the advantage of being a perennial, so it returns year after year. Look out for varieties such as ‘Jack Frost’ which have leaves with attractive silver markings instead of the plain green of the ordinary kind. In the garden it will grow in both dry and moist soils.
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If planting in cooler weather, keep this pot in a sheltered spot, as the elegant foliage of the dicentra is vulnerable to damage from spring frosts.
School colours Time to plant: spring
You will need:
3 × ranunculus
3 × viola
medium-sized window box
A showy cousin of the buttercups that grow in our lawns, ranunculus makes a spectacular spring bedding plant. We’ve chosen a bright orange one here, but you’ll find plenty of other colours at the garden centre.
A colourful underplanting of violas sets off the ranunculus that sway above them. Take your pick from the rainbow of colours available. All will flower for months on end, going on until you’re ready to dismantle the pot to make way for a new summer display. Either raise plants from seed or buy them from the garden centre.
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Ranunculus flowers are a little delicate, so position your pot carefully and protect the plants from heavy rain. Remove them once they’ve gone over.
Cliff hanger Time to plant: spring
You will need:
1 × thrift
1 × alpine phlox
1 × saxifrage
wall container
Found growing wild on sea cliffs and mountain sides, thrift (Armeria maritima) is a tough little plant with short, tufty foliage. It looks good placed centrally in this display where its bright pink flowers on long stems provide a focal point from late spring to summer. You’ll also find a pretty white-flowered form on offer.
The low-growing alpine phloxes are a far cry from their towering cousins that grow in herbaceous borders. Equally as pretty, they are covered in blooms from late spring to early summer which tumble towards the front of the pot. Like the other plants in this container, they love a sunny spot. In this container we’ve used Phlox douglasii ‘Lilac Cloud’.
Saxifrage provides dense cushions of green leaves from which brightly-coloured flowers shoot up in spring. Take your pick from the many colours available; this deep pink variety is Saxifraga ‘Triumph’.
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Alpine plants thrive in well-drained soil, so plant them in a pot filled with John Innes No. 2 compost with extra grit added.
