JOLLY GOOD SHOW
I like to embellish paved areas of the garden with seasonal pot displays – an idea inherited from working at Great Dixter. Plants are put into terracotta pots, preferably old and weathered, and placed in groups next to doorways, on steps or near a table, where they can be enjoyed and easily maintained. To prevent the show from being too fussy, each pot is restricted to one species. This enables you to add new plants and subtract older ones without upsetting the arrangement too much. This display use a limited palette of grey, green and white, with different shapes and textures.
How to achieve the look
The five plants highlighted above are woven into a larger display. I place larger plants on bricks at the back so they’re not hidden, with small plants at the front and a mixture of sizes in the middle. Beschorneria septentrionalis, with its stiff, sword-shaped leaves makes a strong focal point at the back. Without it, the focus would shift to the fat, silvery leaves of the Salvia argentea, so I keep these elements apart to maintain balance. In the centre, the perpendicular stems and oval flowers of Tulipa ‘Evergreen’ contrast with the small flowers and glaucous leaves of the Omphalodes linifolia. Next to the Beschorneria, a small Aralia elata ‘Variegata’ with sparse, leafy branches reaches above the compact, prickly Berkheya purpurea. At the front is the rigid, succulent Echeveria secunda with a bloomy texture. Beside it is Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’. Above this is a Disporopsis pernyi with upright, curved stems bearing white, pendent flowers, and next to this is Pinus strobus with long, pendent strands of thin silvery needles. Then, Astelia banksii with clean, upward slivers of glistening silver, and beyond is Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Alba’, its arching racemes decked in pendent, white flowers showing up well against the yew.
Plants
1 Tulipa ‘Evergreen’ This green-flowered tulip is the longest flowering of all tulips and can go on for two months – it should be more widely grown. I’ve used 25 bulbs per pot. April – May. 60cm. 2 Omphalodes linifolia Charming annual with forget-menot-like flowers in pure white. Twelve plants per pot. March – June. 40cm. AGM. RHS H3. 3 Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Alba’ Very elegant, white-flowered form of the bleeding heart (formerly known as Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’). Three plants per pot. April – June. 50cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-9b. 4 Salvia argentea A biennial, grown chiefly for its foliage, which is best in the first year. Three plants per pot. 50cm. AGM. RHS H5. 5 Disporopsis pernyi A slowly spreading woodland perennial, with glossy foliage and pendent, white flowers. Three plants per pot. May – July. 30cm.