Last month I wrote about the new patio clemetis Rebecca. (having Rebecca on the patio 17/5/10). Last week I found her on a stand in the Pavillion planted on a large container happily growing up a tripod and intertwining with a pure white clemetis. Simple yet very stylish.
Blog posted here.
The new patio clemetis Rebecca has stunning red flowers from early summer through to late summer. It can be grown in a large container in a loam base compost such as John Innes No.3. Needs an obelisk or simple frame for support.
Look out for it now in your local garden centre. £14.99
Agapanthus are great container plants that will grow and flower for many years in the same pot. They have wonderful strap like deep green shiny leaves that last from early spring to the first frosts. Above these leaves the flowers are bourne on tall stems, normally in shades of blue but look out for the more stylish white varieties. The flowers start in late spring on into early summer so fill a gap between spring bedding and summer bedding.
Blog posted here.
It was interesting to see this weekend Leucojum flowering amongst clipped box balls in the shaded avenues of Canary wharf in London. As they were quite tall and enjoying the shade I expect they were Leucojum aestivum Gravetye which is tallen than the more commomly grown Leucojum vernum.
Leucojums are grown from autumn planted bulbs but in suitable situations will increase and flower year on year.
A great new introduction for growing in containers, Hebe Goldrush, grows to only 60cm in 4 years. It is a compact evergreen shrub with super spear shaped variegated leaves. An extra bonus are the pink flower clusters in spring and early summer.
Should be available in garden centres now or online.
www.shrubsdirect.com £8.50
For real dazzling spring colour in containers nothing beats Senetti -bright daisy like flowers in amazing colours. It flowers early in the year and can be planted out from about march. Its not frost hardy but with tolerate mild frost so covering with garden fleece with keep it chipper on cold nights. Senetti has been bred from the houseplant Cineraria and is becoming more popular being available in DIY stores and supermarkets as well as garden centres.
The Chinese Redbud, Cercis chinensis Avondale, is a great tree for small spaces. Its pink pea like flowers are in blossom, covering bare stems. The Chinese Redbud makes a small multi-stemmed tree or shrub that carries heart shaped leaves that are bronze/burgundy when young, green in summer and turning yellow in the autumn.
If grown in a large container it needs a well drained loam based compost and positioned in a sheltered sunny spot.
A few days of sunshine this week has brought the crocus into flower in the hanging cones. The evergreen winter flowering heathers and grasses have given some colour and interest through this hard winter, but now these bright crocus have given the hope that springs here.
Sometimes over looked as a plant for spring containers (though I have seen them used as bedding at Canary Wharf, London), Helleborus are looking amazing this spring. Not only are their flowers stunning, their dark green cut leaves also provide a wonderful backing for the flowers. They are not cheap but a good sized plant in full flower should be around £15.00.
There are some super varieties of Helleborus niger about and available for cheering up containers that are looking rather ragged after the hard winter. Look out for the pink flowered H.Winter Sunshine, the brilliant white H.Josef Lamper and the pretty freckled white. H.Cinderella.
After flowering they can be left in containers or moved to a shady part of the yard for the summer.
As spring starts to take hold in the yards, the early spring bulbs start to show above the ground and flower. Some of the earliest are the Grape Hyacinths or Muscari. These low growing charming bulbs are normally seen in their blue form but one of the best varieties is the white form, Muscari White Magic.
White Magic has pale green flower buds opening to white. Initially the buds are quite pointed but becomes more rounded when in flower. It is not as vigorous as some varieties which make them perfect for growing in containers.
They are planted as small bulbs in the late autumn.
http://www.avonbulbs.co.uk/muscari-aucheri-white-magic_414_416.htm
