Containing the Unconventional - Ben Pope

Written By Pippa Chapman

8th October 2024

Inspiration

  • plant choice, opens up more possibilities as can use tender plants like Arisarmas (Cobra lily)

  • containers

  • location

Plant Choice

  • timing & hardiness

    • Seasonal - Nemesia ‘Woolley vanilla’, Bacopa, Pelagonium, Helichrysum, Plectranthus, Dianthus, Bagonia luxurians.

    • Permanent - Maidenhead ferns, Solomon’s Seal, Beesia calthfolia, Corydalis.  

  • annuals & biannuals

  • herbaceous perennials

  • shrubs, can begin in a container

  • colour & texture - Solomon’s Seal, Corydalis, Maidenhead ferns, Beesia calthifolia, Canna, Persicaria ‘passion’, Asparagus ferns, Bagonia luxurians, Thrift

                                Plus bronze Fennel, Kale, Salvia argentea for textural foliage.

  • scale : small or large - Aeonium Schwarzkopf, Helichrysum

Tulips - Margarita

             Jan Reus 

             or mixed : Helmar, Rococo, Princess Irene (parrot)

      Nandina 

      Heuchera ‘marmalade’

      Plectranthus cillatus

      Leptinella ofipohum - good ground over for shade.  

     Euonymus stellata ‘Blade runner’

     Bergenia

     Evergreen ferns - Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Angustufolium’

Different coloured stems - Cornus, Scarlet curls-corkscrew willow especially for Christmas with Ajuga

CONTAINERS  

  • traditional, stone, lead, glazed, timber, terracotta 

  • contemporary, resin, metal, concrete, fibreglass

  • alternatives, brick casts, junk shop items

Jimmy Blake creates unusual + interesting container planting using cactus + salads in  

  big metal containers. 

LOCATION  

  • formal or informal

  • exposed or sheltered

  • isolated or grouped, Silene ‘Blue Angel’ flowers spring to mid summer, looks good grouped.

Practicalities

  • materials

  • planting

  • maintenance

Materials

  • crocks, use only 2 or 3 as can create adverse microclimate otherwise

  • potting medium/compost add loam to peat free John Innes No 3

  • mulches are attractive & prevent evaporation

  • supports

  • drill bits for making drainage holes

  • Hori Hori & Snips

Planting

  • placement, front or back

  • contrast/compliment shapes & colour

  • firm & water - add chicken pellet fertiliser to revitalise old compost then liquid feed.

Maintenance 

  • watering, thorough but less frequently, feed every 2 weeks.

  • deadhead & thin

  • refresh & feed

Pippa Chapman
Next

Ground Cover - Geoff Hawkins