Perennials

just wondered if anyone knows of any 'pretty' perennials that would look good in a pot/trough. I've about 4 pots and 2 troughs and i'm looking for something that is low maintenance but yet looks pretty with some colour.

Any ideas anyone???

 

How about lavender. French lavender - Lavandula stoechas has a nice big dark purple flower head and is lower growing than English lavender. In theory it isn't as hardy as the English variety, but we've had one growing in a pot for the past three years.

 

already got that. Any other matey?? :D

 

I've grown begonias (corms) in pots and containers. After first frost remove all top growth, let them dry out and store the whole thing a cool frost free place. Bring them back out and start watering again when frosts are finished. You can kick start them a bit earlier if you put them in a warm corner of a greenhouse.

 

Have to say Dave that my french Lavender did not survive our frost pocket and we are further south - have seen it survive in Scarborough though.

I had a trailing snap dragon (antihrinum - no can't spell it) that survived the pot, very pretty.

 

For trailing have a look at some of the Phlox douglasii and subulata varieties. they come in almost every colour except yellow.

 

Please don't plant that French imposter :D English Lavender is much hardier and though not as showey has a stronger and sweeter fragrance.

I grew some from seed last year and they have survived everything this past winter has thrown at them including late snows and frosts with bitter easterly winds in March.

 

Hidcote was my most reliable, great for harvesting too.

 

You have a choice of hardy or tender perennials. Tender perennials tend to flower for much longer and to my mind are ideal in pots.

Last year I had several tender perennials in pots:- Pelargoniums (geraniums), Argyranthemums (Marguerites) and Osteospermum all grew big and bushy and like it a bit dry. They are all very easy to grow. Fuschia also grows bushy, but likes it a bit wetter. The previous four are all pretty easy to overwinter. Diascia and Nemesia are smaller and more delicate. There is also Busy Lizzy, Heliotrope, Salvia Farinacea, and of course Petunia, and others.

It depends on the size of your pots. I also grew Cosmos and Cleome, both of which reached six foot (including the pot), and looked fantastic.

 

You grew 6 foot cosmos - ahhhhhhh That is BIG!

 

I favour mixing hardy perennials with the more tender ones. Regal Pelargoniums mix with Canna Lilies and some Salvias - also have succeeded with Dahlia Bishop of Landaff with fuschias as the leaf clour is so useful. Some grasses also work well with begonias/diascia/etc.

 

I like my pots overflowing with lobelia and allysum! (Alright, yes know it's corny but it's still number one in my book!)

 

Hello peeps......I have got Agapanthus and guernsey lillies to find a home for this year, ive read that the aggies like to be almost potbound to flower, Is this right and if so will i get flowers this year?? and what do i do with the pink guernsey lillies??

Please help??

 

Pea of Sweetness - I presume you'd like some low-growing stuff to trail over the sides as well as stuff higher up? If so, there are lots of things that do the job. Do what I've recommende to lots of people, use the RHS plant selector. Follow the link, and fill in as many boxes as you like about your nrequirements, and it'll come up with some ideas for you (assuming it's working - it's a bit temperamental!) http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantselector/default.aspx
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