INDUSTRIAL DECAY
I spotted this cast iron wheel in our local reclamation yard and loved the chunky dimensions as well as the soft, rusted tones. It would have worked equally well in a gravel garden planting, but I had my eye on some ferns so chose to site it in an area of dappled shade under a tree where it could nestle among the groundcover and autumn leaves, almost as if it had been abandoned there as a piece of industrial heritage.
How to achieve the look
Container and composition
As the wheel doesn’t have a base as such, I cleared a small area so that it could sit directly on the ground and the plants could eventually root into the soil below. I then filled it with rich garden compost and some leaf mould. I’ve always loved the striking fern Dryopteris erythrosora for its distinctly copper-tinged, young foliage, which slowly matures to a deep green. I love the way it pairs really well with the orange, spiky form of the Digitalis. The bold, glossy, almost holly-shaped leaves of the Cyrtomium set up a good textural contrast to the wispy Carex, and the velvety, strongly marked foliage of the Impatiens (which will also produce yellow flowers) adds an exotic twist.
Cultivation and care
The Digitalis and Impatiens are borderline hardy so while they will survive a mild winter you may want to protect them or lift them over the colder months. Remove the old leaves of the Dryopteris and Cyrtomium in late winter, if they haven’t already died back, to allow the new, fresh fronds to emerge. The Carex shouldn’t need any attention. Ensure that the planter doesn’t dry out, even in winter when it’s easy to forget to check whether planters have enough moisture. A light application of fresh compost as a mulch in early spring will help to retain moisture and feed the soil. Aquilegia canadensis or Tulipa ‘Cornuta’ (also sold as Tulipa acuminata) might be good additions for spring interest.
Plants
1 Digitalis isabelliana Bella (= ‘Isob007’) An exotic foxglove from the Canary Islands. Full sun but will take partial shade. 90cm. RHS H3.
2 Cyrtomium falcatum Evergreen fern with glossy foliage. 50cm. AGM. RHS H3, USDA 6a-10b.
3 Impatiens omeiana Grown mainly for its foliage. Prefers partial or full shade. 40cm. RHS H3, USDA 6a-9b. 4 Dryopteris erythrosora Semievergreen fern that can take full sun or full shade. 60cm. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 5a-8b.
5 Carex testacea Evergreen grass with fine, arching, olive-green to bronze foliage. Prefers sun but tolerates light shade. 50cm. RHS H5.