Planting up Pots for Summer Colour - Shrubs

Erysimum Bowles Mauve

​The perennial Wallflower – Erysimum is a fab plant for colour and it flowers for such a long time with no need for tricky deadheading.  E. ‘Bowles Mauve’ is rightly a firm favourite amongst gardeners with its bright mauve flower spikes and glaucous evergreen foliage. One trim after it has finished flowering and that’s it.  Erysimum come in lots of colours so there’s yellow, orange, deep red and pinky-apricot versions to try too.
Lavender is a must for any garden and it survives very well in pots.  Many gardeners struggle to grow it in our region due to our heavy soil, but in a pot with free-draining compost it will thrive (use John Innes no.2 available from garden centres/nurseries).  Good varieties for pots include ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ which are both traditional English varieties, or you could try French lavender varieties with their flirtatious butterfly tops.  
Phormiums are back in fashion and rightly so with their striking foliage and grand stature. Used on their own in a pot or surrounded by smaller grasses they will provide colour all year round. Or combine them with bold annuals like begonias for a tropical look. ​​

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If your planting needs a splash of colour or you’re looking for garden design ideas I offer a tailor made service from consultations to full garden rejuvenation projects.  Give me a call to discuss your requirements or check out my website for more details. Tel. 07506 750250  or get more info about Garden Design Services  or  Planting Design.

Bel Grierson

Expert Plantswoman and garden designer, Bel has 20 years experience in Horticulture and loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small

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