10 PALETTES FOR POTS

Match a covetable container with the perfect combination of plants to create glorious, versatile displays

- Mary Lovell-Smith

So many plants, so many pots. The sky’s the limit when it comes to growing plants in containers. Indulge your imagination and let it only be impeded by some trifling practicalities, such as giving the plants what they desire, be it sun, shade, heat or water. Remember that soil in containers – and especially in terracotta pots – dries out faster than in the ground or in metal or glazed containers. While cramming plants in looks the best in most cases, they will be vying for a limited amount of nutrients in the soil, so plan on feeding them more often as well. Unless you're a soil aficionado, buying in potting mix is usually the most sensible, especially given the range of targeted mixes now available.

FOLIAGE GOALS

For those with a penchant for the different is this striking composition composed predominantly of foliage. The central green plant, a compact Skimmia japonica ‘Finchy’, has lime-green buds, which will open into small, fragrant, white flowers. The surrounding circle is comprised of Celosia plumosa, of which the eponymous green and gold plumes are the actual flowers. The silver foliage is Jacobaea maritima ‘Silver Dust’, more commonly known by its former name Senecio cineraria, or dusty miller. The perennial heuchera provides the red leaves, and dripping casually over the sides are green dichondra ‘Emerald Falls’ and a small-leafed ivy.

BEST SPOT

Light shade or sheltered from the hot noon sun, which will bleach the celosia, upset the skimmia and damage the heuchera leaves.

SHADE AID