Container Plants and Gardening

In this article, we will be discussing how to grow Helichrysum in containers. Helichrysums are either an annual, evergreen perennial or shrub. They are small plants growing anywhere between 10cm to 50cm high depending on the species and varieties grown.  Some are grown for their flowers, whilst others are grown for the silvery-grey leaves that they produce (such as Helichrysum petiolare).

The ones grown for their flowers tend to produce long-lasting blooms that are paper-like and come in vibrant oranges, yellows, reds or whites. They can be bicoloured as well.

The ones familiar to gardeners in the UK is Helichrysum …

In this article, we will discover how to grow the architectural plant of Hemerocallis (Daylilies) in containers. It is a plant with large, strap-like green leaves and on top of these, strong upright stems that have sculptured flowers appear in summer.

The flowers are exotic-looking, trumpet-shaped and translates from the Greek meaning ‘Beautiful for one day’. This tells you that the flowers will only last one day, but they will be a succession throughout the summer months

Some flowers in fact will open late in the day and stay open to the next day, whilst others will open in the …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the tender perennial and half-hardy annuals in containers. The tender perennial, Felicia amelloides has the common name of Blue Daisy, whilst the half-hardy annual  Felicia bergeriana has the common name of Kingfisher Daisy. They are often grown for the truest blue flower that you can find in the container garden.

They are low growing tender perennials or annuals that originate from South Africa. The biggest problem with Daisies is that they come in many colours but not true blue and this is where Felicia comes into play. The flower may be …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow Chrysanthemums or pot mums in containers. In late summer to early autumn in September and October, where your bedding display is looking lacklustre, then these plants will provide welcome colour.

Chrysanthemums can be either hardy perennials or half-hardy plants. There are even annuals that can be found in summer bedding schemes but these are used like normal bedding plants for discarding in autumn.

The plants you normally buy in late summer and autumn are covered in a mass of flowering buds that have been treated with growth-regulating hormones to keep them …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow the not often seen plant of Pallenis maritima in containers. You may not see this delightful plant in gardens throughout the UK, but it is well worth seeking. You will properly find it sold under the synonym of Asteriscus maritimus and has the common name of Canary Island Daisy or Mediterranean Beach Daisy, or even the Gold Coin Daisy. It is a 25cm tall plant that is often found around the Mediterranean coastal areas.

Pallenis is a compact, low-spreading, matting sub-shrub that is famed for its bright golden, yellow flowers that …

In this article, we will discover how to grow the wonderful colourful plant of Ophiopogon in containers. It looks like grass but Lilyturf or Mondo grass as it is commonly called is not. It is a perennial that belongs to the Lily family and is grown for the handsome, evergreen leaves. The plants may look spidery, with its narrow arching leaves that make the plant. It spreads via underground runners that will soon fill a container and where in the future means that the plant will need to be divided.

In summer, small, white flowers appear that are followed by …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow Cosmos in containers. If you are looking for a container plant that is laden with blooms throughout summer and well into autumn before the frosts will kill it, then Cosmos is for you.

It is in general easy to grow from seed and if you do so, you will be rewarded with plenty of blooms in no time. It is one of the lowest demanding plants in the summer display scheme and will reward you will plenty of blooms provided you are prepared to deadhead regularly. They also make excellent cutting …

In this article, we will be discovering how to grow Helianthemums (Rock Rose) in containers. The plants of this genus are either half-hardy perennials or hardy shrub-like perennials. There is a gap in summer displays in containers, where small shrubs that flower in summer are far between. The rock rose thankfully fills this gap, where they grow up to 30cm in height. They are Mediterranean alpines where from late spring to late summer, the plant is covered in white, yellow, or orange disk-like blooms.  The flowers can also be scarlet or even bronze.

The flowers are spectacular but the leaves …

In this article, we will be discussing how to grow Imperata (Japanese Blood Grass) in containers. There is only one variety to grow in containers and this is Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’, which is sometimes known as Imperata cylindricia ‘Red Baron’.

This is moisture-loving grass where green shoots are suffused deep red towards the tip. The colour contrast becomes more noticeable in autumn, where the red colour is more vibrant. The leaves themselves become translucent with age, where they can be mixed with other grasses or brightly coloured flowers, grouped together in individual pots. They also …

In this article, we will discuss how to grow Calceolaria in containers. If you are looking for a plant that is showy, unique and brightly coloured then the slipper flower is for you. It gets its common name because the flowers have pouches at the bottom, giving a look of a purse or slipper.

To the inexperienced eye, it looks like a type of orchid but it is not. There are more than 300 different species in the genus, but all of them have been cultivated and hybridised from Calceolaria integrifolia. This has given rise to several compact varieties that …