An old bowl was calling out to be planted up with a delicate grouping that provides both flower and foliage interest. It can be moved around to be enjoyed in different locations as the flowers bloom: the elegance of the purple and white forms of Fritillaria meleagris sit easily with the tiny, round leaves of Muehlenbeckia complexa, which in turn create a satisfying link to the larger, heart-shaped leaves of Viola ‘Königin Charlotte’.
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How to achieve the look
Container and composition
This tired, old container was found in a pile outside a junk shop; its handles enable it to be lifted and moved to different spots, so it’s perfect for delicate flowers that benefit from close-up inspection.
Look closely and you’ll see that much of the foliage is in very similar shades of green: it’s actually the difference in the leaf shapes that provides the interest at the base of this planting.
Other container ideas
- The best container displays for your garden pots
- Growing edibles in a tin bath container
- An early spring plant pot idea using hellebores
The muehlenbeckia is dotted around the edges of the container, with the viola placed inbetween to create that all-important foundation for the show-stopping fritillary, the delicate, tall stems and long, thin, grey-green leaves of which bring height and form to the composition. The bulbs are planted in autumn; a few months later, their purple and white flowers provide eye-catching focal points in this simplest of arrangements.
Cultivation and care
This container is happy in a little bit of shade. Even after the flowers fade, this collection will carry on giving simple foliage interest all year round, as the muehlenbeckia grows and spills out and over the pot. This is another easily maintained planting; it is growing in peat-free compost, which is just lightly watered so that the soil never dries out. Deadhead the fritillaries once they have flowered to conserve the plant’s energies.
Plants
Fritillaria meleagris
A bulbous perennial producing nodding purple heads in an exquisite checkered pattern on tall, thin stems and grey-green leaves. April – May. 30cm x 5cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b.
Fritillaria meleagris var. unicolor subvar. alba
This is the pure-white form of the snake’s head fritillary. Its flowers also have a checkered pattern, albeit much fainter. April – May. 30cm x 5cm. AGM. RHS H5.
Viola ‘Königin Charlotte’
An evergreen perennial producing sweetly scented, purple-blue flowers. February – March. 20cm x 30cm. RHS H6.
Muehlenbeckia complexa
A fast-growing deciduous climber/groundcover plant with small, green leaves. Works well when contained in a pot. June –November. 2.5m x 2m. RHS H3.
