WELCOMING GREENS

This old water tank sits near my front door so it has to work hard to look good all year round. The hellebore and ferns were planted in November but were still looking so good I didn’t have the heart to remove them. There was a sarcoccoca planted centrally, which is a classic shrub to include for winter scent, but I wanted to introduce some height so replaced it with the Soloman’s seal (Polygonatum x hybridum) and added the lychnis for some seasonal sparkle.

How to achieve the look

Container and composition

Old, galvanised water tanks are fairly easy to find at reclamation yards and it’s worth looking out for the ones with the riveted edges. As they’re relatively large, they’re useful for more permanent planting. I like to use plants that arch over to soften edges and the ferns are useful for this. The muehlenbeckia drapes well too and draws the eye down. I could have used Libertia chilensis instead of the Solomon’s seal for its tall strappy leaves and white flowers as well as having the advantage of being evergreen. White flowers can sometimes disappear against a pale wall, so I’ve often included dark-red tulips in this container, as they pick up the pink tone in the hellebores and show up well against the pale stone.

Cultivation and care

The seedheads of the hellebores are really attractive so I don’t tend to deadhead them. Hellebore foliage often attracts fungal disease so keep an eye on this and remove any damaged foliage to prevent it from spreading further. The muehlenbeckia looks demure and delicate, but will eventually want to become a vigorous climber so needs keeping in check if it’s to be contained within a planter. If the ferns are left in position permanently, cut back the old foliage early in the spring to allow the fresh, new foliage to emerge. It takes much longer to remove them once they become mingled with the young leaves so it’s worth tackling it sooner rather than later.