How to achieve the look

A deep, metal container lends itself well to planting as it can accommodate a generous quantity of compost and a decent layer of drainage. As this container was for a gift, I wanted it to be light, so I covered the drainage holes with crocks and filled a third of the planter with hydroleca, a useful aggregate used in horticulture for drainage. I used a good-quality, multi-purpose compost with added slow-release fertiliser to give the plants sufficient nutrients for the first few weeks. Persicaria runcinata ‘Purple Fantasy’ is the star of this arrangement. I love its leaves and it develops small, white flowers in late summer. Hibiscus ‘Mahogany Splendor’ picks up the colour of the markings on the leaves of Persicaria, but its deeply lobed, serrated outline contrasts with their shape. Both Calibrachoa and Sanvitalia are reliable performers and will flower all summer long. I use stronger plants as support, and weave them through the display for effect. These plants are generally not frost tolerant, so keep them in a sheltered position or cover them with horticultural fleece or any light fabric overnight until the danger of frost has passed. If you tease some shoots of Persicaria and Hibiscus through the other plants, and vice versa, to slightly control their growth, and feed weekly with liquid food, you will create a stunning display.