EASY WINTER POTS
Mini cyclamen
Mini cyclamen perform well in outdoor pots where they receive good light but protection from weather extremes such as heavy rain, hail, hot sun and frost. With attractive foliage topped with dainty flowers these dependable little perennials grow from bulb-like structures called corms. Today’s modern minis are the result of extensive breeding to develop tough, prolific and long flowering plants for autumn and winter gardens. Choose pristine white or rich lipstick tones of pink, red and purple.
Polyanthus
These perky primula cousins put on a kaleidoscope of colours and dependable flowering performance right through the cooler months. The modern poly has come a long way since the English primrose was first crossed with the cowslip. Every year it seems, plant breeders are adding new fashion colours to the mix.
Pansy
Quaint faces in just about every colour keep smiling well into summer. They’re favourites as colour accents in containers. Today’s pansy strains tolerate a wide range of temperatures. They are fantastic in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes and great with bulbs. Protect them from snails and feed them to keep the mass of flowers coming.
Viola
Violas are baby pansies. They come in a myriad of colours and make fabulous companions for larger flowers, herbs, or bulbs.
Primula (Fairy primrose)
Cold hardy fairy primroses are lovely en masse. Their feminine flowers are formed in tiered clusters on upright stems in pretty shades of pink, magenta or snow white.
Ornamental Kale
These classy cabbages are increasingly popular as winter colour. Available in gorgeous shades of pink, green and creamy white, they tone beautifully with cyclamen and primulas, whether you grow them in pots or in the garden soil. If the seedlings are planted closer together, the heads will be smaller with stems long enough for picking.
Calendula
These bright orange or yellow cool weather flowers are often planted for a splash of colour among vege plants and will pop up from self-sown seed in autumn (easily removed if they appear where they are not wanted). They also help repel insect pests, and their petals are edible – extra colour for salads. Easy in the garden or in containers, calendulas are a traditional cottage garden flower in England, where they are known as ‘pot marigolds’.