How to Plant a Container That Will Last All Winter
Pep up your patio throughout the season with container plants that will add shape and colour to your outdoor space
As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, many of the plants in your garden are preparing to sleep. However, you can give your outdoor area a lift with colourful containers, window boxes and planters that will last well into the early part of the coming year.
There’s no need to limit your choice to bedding plants, either. Read on for just a few of the varieties on offer to carry your pots through to spring.
There’s no need to limit your choice to bedding plants, either. Read on for just a few of the varieties on offer to carry your pots through to spring.
Vary the shapes
In pots, the plants are invariably positioned closer together than in a flowerbed, so it’s a good idea to choose ones that have a variety of form, height and texture.
Use grasses such as Carex testacea, which has warm, coppery-orange tones and goes well with other foliage plants, as well as perennials such as spring-flowering Anemone blanda.
By planting your winter pots and containers in the autumn, you can include some bulbs for the spring to create a ‘bulb lasagne’. The idea here is to plant January-flowering bulbs, such as crocus and Iris (Reticulata), just below the compost, and the later-flowering ones, such as narcissi, hyacinth and tulips, in a single or double row deeper down.
Find pots and planters in the Houzz Shop.
In pots, the plants are invariably positioned closer together than in a flowerbed, so it’s a good idea to choose ones that have a variety of form, height and texture.
Use grasses such as Carex testacea, which has warm, coppery-orange tones and goes well with other foliage plants, as well as perennials such as spring-flowering Anemone blanda.
By planting your winter pots and containers in the autumn, you can include some bulbs for the spring to create a ‘bulb lasagne’. The idea here is to plant January-flowering bulbs, such as crocus and Iris (Reticulata), just below the compost, and the later-flowering ones, such as narcissi, hyacinth and tulips, in a single or double row deeper down.
Find pots and planters in the Houzz Shop.
Put on a smile with pansies
Pansies are a stalwart of many winter displays, as they flower for an extensive period. They add a splash of colour from autumn through to spring, so are great value for money.
Dainty, smiley pansies are available in a huge number of colour schemes, and although they prefer sun, they can also be grown in partial shade. Make sure you deadhead them frequently – removing the dead flowers and seedheads – to ensure continuous flowering.
Pansies contrast well with heathers, so the two are often planted together. Try teaming them with a white winter heather, such as Erica carnea f. alba ‘Springwood White’, which has a slightly trailing habit, or a pink Erica × darleyensis ‘Arthur Johnson’.
Pansies are a stalwart of many winter displays, as they flower for an extensive period. They add a splash of colour from autumn through to spring, so are great value for money.
Dainty, smiley pansies are available in a huge number of colour schemes, and although they prefer sun, they can also be grown in partial shade. Make sure you deadhead them frequently – removing the dead flowers and seedheads – to ensure continuous flowering.
Pansies contrast well with heathers, so the two are often planted together. Try teaming them with a white winter heather, such as Erica carnea f. alba ‘Springwood White’, which has a slightly trailing habit, or a pink Erica × darleyensis ‘Arthur Johnson’.
Tuck in tiny violas
Violas tend to flower a little better than winter pansies. Due to their smaller size, they can be incorporated into hanging baskets and window boxes, and used as edging for other plants in pots and containers. As with pansies, deadhead frequently.
Choose just violas or mix them with other plants. Look out for a semi-trailing variety called ‘Endurio’, which tolerates a bit of shade and is free-flowering.
Here’s a simple combination that works well with violas: use an orange-flowered variety, then add texture and movement with a tufted perennial grass, such as coppery Carex testacea.
Violas tend to flower a little better than winter pansies. Due to their smaller size, they can be incorporated into hanging baskets and window boxes, and used as edging for other plants in pots and containers. As with pansies, deadhead frequently.
Choose just violas or mix them with other plants. Look out for a semi-trailing variety called ‘Endurio’, which tolerates a bit of shade and is free-flowering.
Here’s a simple combination that works well with violas: use an orange-flowered variety, then add texture and movement with a tufted perennial grass, such as coppery Carex testacea.
Set it off with cyclamen
Cyclamen are tuberous perennials with nodding shaped flowers.
Cyclamen persicum is the variety you usually see for sale inside a greenhouse, and is known as the florist’s form. As these plants hail from the eastern Mediterranean, they aren’t frost-hardy, so they need a sheltered spot when planted outside in containers.
Cyclamen look good en masse as a single colour, or in mixed shades of the same colour. They go well with Hedera helix, the trailing ivy.
For other good combinations, try mixing cyclamen with the deep purple leaf of Ajuga around the edge of a pot. To bring height and movement in a sheltered spot, add Pennisetum × advena ‘Rubrum’.
The hardy variety, Cyclamen coum, is not normally grown in a container. You may see these hardy little flowers poking up though the snow, and they’re usually grown in shady areas under deciduous trees. But for a dazzling and simple display, especially in a large container, mix them with a good snowdrop, such as Galanthus nivalis ‘Sam Arnott’.
Cyclamen are tuberous perennials with nodding shaped flowers.
Cyclamen persicum is the variety you usually see for sale inside a greenhouse, and is known as the florist’s form. As these plants hail from the eastern Mediterranean, they aren’t frost-hardy, so they need a sheltered spot when planted outside in containers.
Cyclamen look good en masse as a single colour, or in mixed shades of the same colour. They go well with Hedera helix, the trailing ivy.
For other good combinations, try mixing cyclamen with the deep purple leaf of Ajuga around the edge of a pot. To bring height and movement in a sheltered spot, add Pennisetum × advena ‘Rubrum’.
The hardy variety, Cyclamen coum, is not normally grown in a container. You may see these hardy little flowers poking up though the snow, and they’re usually grown in shady areas under deciduous trees. But for a dazzling and simple display, especially in a large container, mix them with a good snowdrop, such as Galanthus nivalis ‘Sam Arnott’.
Be big and bold
Brassicas, such as the ornamental cabbage, are bright and cheerful plants. They are available in many different shades and can be excellent additions to the front of winter container displays.
Planted en masse, they make quite an impact. The ruffled leaves and colours add interest, while their compact nature allows the planting behind to have its moment, too.
Cabbages can look good simply planted in a circular urn, with trailing ivy around the base, or in long containers with ornamental twigs at the back to add height. You could also mix them with the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ for a touch of drama.
Try teaming green and white ornamental cabbages with white heather, such as Calluna vulgaris ‘Marleen’, and white winter pansies. Or why not go for a purple cabbage variety with white cyclamen and trailing ivy around the edges?
Look for decking, patio and shed specialists in your area.
Brassicas, such as the ornamental cabbage, are bright and cheerful plants. They are available in many different shades and can be excellent additions to the front of winter container displays.
Planted en masse, they make quite an impact. The ruffled leaves and colours add interest, while their compact nature allows the planting behind to have its moment, too.
Cabbages can look good simply planted in a circular urn, with trailing ivy around the base, or in long containers with ornamental twigs at the back to add height. You could also mix them with the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ for a touch of drama.
Try teaming green and white ornamental cabbages with white heather, such as Calluna vulgaris ‘Marleen’, and white winter pansies. Or why not go for a purple cabbage variety with white cyclamen and trailing ivy around the edges?
Look for decking, patio and shed specialists in your area.
Focus on foliage
Heuchera and Heucherella make good plants to include in pots due to the variety of colours available. There are pale and dark greens, rich plum shades, or marmalade and butterscotch tones.
Some varieties have exquisite leaf markings, and others are edged in a different shade. Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’, for example, has leaves with deep burgundy centres and emerald green edges.
For a simple, striking container, look for a variety of Heuchera called ‘Silver Scrolls’ and surround it with the thin, dark leaves of the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’.
Heuchera ‘Peach Flambé’ is a wonderful foil against bright orange tulips, while Heuchera ‘Autumn Glow’ looks great with a grass such as Carex comans ‘bronze-leaved’, and dark-bronze-coloured violas, such as ‘Irish Molly’.
Heucheras also work well planted in hanging baskets. Try Heuchera ‘Shanghai’ in the middle of the basket and edge with three varieties of hanging Heucherella, such as ‘Redstone Falls’, ‘Yellowstone Falls’ and ‘Glacier Falls’.
What Do I Need to Do in the Garden in November?
Heuchera and Heucherella make good plants to include in pots due to the variety of colours available. There are pale and dark greens, rich plum shades, or marmalade and butterscotch tones.
Some varieties have exquisite leaf markings, and others are edged in a different shade. Heucherella ‘Solar Eclipse’, for example, has leaves with deep burgundy centres and emerald green edges.
For a simple, striking container, look for a variety of Heuchera called ‘Silver Scrolls’ and surround it with the thin, dark leaves of the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’.
Heuchera ‘Peach Flambé’ is a wonderful foil against bright orange tulips, while Heuchera ‘Autumn Glow’ looks great with a grass such as Carex comans ‘bronze-leaved’, and dark-bronze-coloured violas, such as ‘Irish Molly’.
Heucheras also work well planted in hanging baskets. Try Heuchera ‘Shanghai’ in the middle of the basket and edge with three varieties of hanging Heucherella, such as ‘Redstone Falls’, ‘Yellowstone Falls’ and ‘Glacier Falls’.
What Do I Need to Do in the Garden in November?
Add easy evergreens
You can use evergreens in pots either on their own or underplanted to great effect. Sarcococca confusa, or sweet box, has wonderful, vanilla-scented white flowers and works best where you can appreciate the fragrance.
Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’ will provide you with conical heads of pale green buds followed by creamy flowers. Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ bears clusters of wine-red buds and works well in a pot surrounded by Helleborus niger, edged with variegated ivy or simply with a white form of heather, Calluna vulgaris.
Use variegated foliage sparingly in the winter months, as the leaves need a slightly warmer position to thrive. For a splash of colour from a variegated evergreen with a vivid pink flush to the leaves, opt for Hebe ‘Heartbreaker’. If you want a variegated leaf with a greener look, choose Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’, which has white-edged leaves.
If it’s drama you’re looking for, try the large green and white leaves of Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’, which looks great in an urban environment. Either plant on its own or with white crocus or Vinca minor ‘Gertrude Jekyll’.
You can use evergreens in pots either on their own or underplanted to great effect. Sarcococca confusa, or sweet box, has wonderful, vanilla-scented white flowers and works best where you can appreciate the fragrance.
Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’ will provide you with conical heads of pale green buds followed by creamy flowers. Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ bears clusters of wine-red buds and works well in a pot surrounded by Helleborus niger, edged with variegated ivy or simply with a white form of heather, Calluna vulgaris.
Use variegated foliage sparingly in the winter months, as the leaves need a slightly warmer position to thrive. For a splash of colour from a variegated evergreen with a vivid pink flush to the leaves, opt for Hebe ‘Heartbreaker’. If you want a variegated leaf with a greener look, choose Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’, which has white-edged leaves.
If it’s drama you’re looking for, try the large green and white leaves of Fatsia japonica ‘Spider’s Web’, which looks great in an urban environment. Either plant on its own or with white crocus or Vinca minor ‘Gertrude Jekyll’.
Bring in some height
Dogwoods can add height and colour to your containers. The bright coral stems of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ work well in a large pot, adding a vertical presence that looks great underplanted. Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and ‘Winter Flame’ both have vivid, flame-coloured stems.
Team them with the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ and crisp white snowdrops for a real showstopper.
Another plant to consider for height and interest is Hamamelis, more commonly known as witch hazel. One of the most striking varieties is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’. The clusters of lightly scented copper flowers hang onto bare stems and are really striking.
Underplant with dark-leaved Heuchera and add some snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis, to pop through the Heuchera leaves.
Tell us…
Are you planning to add colour with container plants this winter? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Dogwoods can add height and colour to your containers. The bright coral stems of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ work well in a large pot, adding a vertical presence that looks great underplanted. Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and ‘Winter Flame’ both have vivid, flame-coloured stems.
Team them with the black grass Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ and crisp white snowdrops for a real showstopper.
Another plant to consider for height and interest is Hamamelis, more commonly known as witch hazel. One of the most striking varieties is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’. The clusters of lightly scented copper flowers hang onto bare stems and are really striking.
Underplant with dark-leaved Heuchera and add some snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis, to pop through the Heuchera leaves.
Tell us…
Are you planning to add colour with container plants this winter? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Although you can position pots anywhere, it’s best to place them where they’ll receive as much light as possible during the winter months. This will ensure they remain healthy and will help keep the foliage green.
Where possible, it’s best to raise them off the ground, especially during freezing conditions, as the pots may crack – particularly those that aren’t frostproof.
If you have tall, thin containers, make sure they can’t be blown over in strong winds. If you’re buying new ones, opt for sturdy designs with wider tops.
Lastly, check your plant combinations to make sure you provide the correct soil for your containers. For example, heathers are acid-loving, so will need ericaceous compost. And remember, you won’t need to feed your container plants during the winter months.