Brighten up!
Bold container plants
Burning crimson, letterbox scarlet, golden amber and juicy orange – these are the solar shades that ignite the magic of the summer season. And what better way to incorporate them into the garden than in containers of blazing colour dotted around the patio or positioned close to the front door.
Non stop heat
Succession planting is the art of thinking ahead, choosing a selection of plants that will ensure your pots have a long season of interest and colour. For instance, incorporate evergreens and grasses that look good in the autumn, as well as late-flowering and long-flowering plants. Add dahlias, dwarf sunflowers, fuchsias, begonias, pelargoniums, penstemons or Delosperma (Mesembryanthemum) for flaming colour into autumn.
Combine yellow and apricot cannas that blaze away with exotic magenta dahlias and orange ginger lilies (Hedychium) to add a touch of tropical heat. Fill terracotta pots with carmine and sienna orange marigolds, pelargoniums and nasturtiums, and conjure up the ochre warmth of Tuscany. Or fill a hanging basket with every shade of yellow – it will shine bright even on dark days.
Softer tones
By using paler tones of the same palette – think primrose yellow, soft apricot and gentle pink – you’ll dial down the overall heat while boosting the impact of the strong colours, showcasing them to an even greater effect.
Grasses such as carex and pennisetum are useful foils that temper the fire of bright flowers. Similarly, burgundy foliage or flowers make great complementary container companions. Try the bold reds of Crocosmia ‘Hellfire’ and ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ dahlias with Miscanthus sinensis ‘Red Cloud’ and the dark-chocolate scabious ‘Black Knight’.
Once you’ve decided the contents of your pot, you’ll need to get planting. Annuals can be direct sown in late April and early May; bedding and perennials can be bought from nurseries to pot up; and it’s not too late to container-plant late-summer flowering bulbs, corms and tubers (such as dahlias).