Purple and yellow always work well together, and the combination is particularly striking in this pairing of cowslip and anemone.
We’ve used a grey Moroccan trough, but a wooden or terracotta planter would look just a good. Once the display is over, the plants can all be planted out in the garden – both will do well in a cool, shady spot.
More spring garden projects:
Learn how to plant up this cheery cowslip and anemone pot display, below.
Add crocks to the trough to improve drainage, then fill it two-thirds full of compost mixed with water-retaining gel.
Plant the cowslips first, spacing them evenly along the length of the trough and positioning towards the back.
Add the anemones, placing them in the the gaps between the cowslips. Anemones are delicate so take care not to break them when planting.
Water your arrangement and ensure it never dries out. Deadhead faded cowslips to encourage new blooms.
The hardy winter-flowering varieties of pansy are the best bet for winter and spring containers as they’re rarely without blooms, even when other plants are shivering in the cold. The flowers look stunning set off against the golden foliage of the thyme, around the olive tree as a centrepiece. You Will Need
In this pretty container display we’ve combined the gorgeous foliage of Pelargonium ‘Frank Headley’ with Senecio cineraria ‘Silver Dust’, which contrasts beautifully with the dark-leaved sedge and ipomoea. Throughout summer, the pelargonium will flower continually, providing further colourful contrasts, while the ipomoeas will trail gently over the sides.
Add a touch of graceful charm to your patio, with this stylish display that combines the silvery foliage of plectranthus with the delicate beauty of Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’. The salvia and pelargonium add a splash of soft pink colour – they’ll flower until the first frosts, making this the perfect, low-maintenance container display to plant up and leave until late autumn.
There are fewer gardening jobs to keep you busy in winter, so make the most of extra time and plant up a stylish container to decorate a terrace or doorstep. This elegant cube-shaped container is filled with the curly sedge, Carex buchananii, and Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose, which starts to flush pink in January and February. You should be able to find both plants at the garden centre at this time of year. Here’s how to make this simple display.