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5 nice plant pots in a row - what to put in them :-)

theno2socotheno2soco Posts: 80
in Plants
We have a small bungalow with a wheelchair ramp across half of the frontage. We would like to have some colour in front of the ramp. There is a 38 cm x 130 cm wide paved area between the ramp and public pavement. It could be another 30 cm longer except for a xmas tree root which I see no way of removing. At the moment we cover the remains of the root with a 'welcome' gnome :-)

We would like to place 5, maybe more, nice plant pots on the small paved area to have colour for as long as possible each year. The plants would need to be perennial or longer and no higher than 40 cm. We would have to be careful not to encroach across the public pavement.

If they could all flower about the same time and stay green over winter it would be nice.

Could anyone suggest the type of flowers to get, ideally at this time of year. Probably they would need to be established already?
  Every contact leaves a trace - Locard

My abode: Essex, soon to be a desert!
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  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I would probably go for winter flowering heathers which are in the garden centres just now. They come in various red, white or pink shades so you could have all one colour or a colour mix.

    Unfortunately though, if your area fronts a public path, there is a risk of them being stolen especially if you buy nice pots for them so something to bear in mind. It might be possible, if a bit fiddly to fit some wire through the bottom of the pots and tie them to the bottom of the ramp as a deterrent perhaps?

    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    The material the pots are made of and the actual size in height and diameter would be useful to know and help with what else to consider putting in them.

    For extra colour you could use some smaller types of bulbs for some spring colour , although the leaves may look a little untidy dying down.

    Sadly what Lizzie27 says about the possibility of them being taken is something to consider.

    One of my favourite combinations is the Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens it had black leaves ("evergreen") with little lilac flowers in or around June and black berries after, and I have grown it with Snowdrops.
    I also did one with a yellow crocus that had dark veining that goes with the black nicely, and the "Oph" supports the crocus with often have a tendency to flop at the slightest excuse.
    The downside is after a year or so they need redoing as the Ophiopogon can take over.
    Though ours are in a wide shallow bulb pot. It is a big one12 /14 inches across.
    There is a green version with white flowers too.

    The above could be combined with other things for more interest depending on the pot size.
    They might work with Lizzies suggestion of heathers, I mean Bulbs under those too for extra colour.
  • theno2socotheno2soco Posts: 80
    @Rubytoo Thank you for that detailed post.

    I would think the pots (not bought yet) would be from the group shown in the picture. Where we are situated they would not be stolen. As for size, outside dimensions 30 to 38 cm diameter and of similar height.



    Those show the material but the ones we looked at are nicer and have patterns cast into them.
      Every contact leaves a trace - Locard

    My abode: Essex, soon to be a desert!
  • theno2socotheno2soco Posts: 80
    @Lizzie27, thank you for taking the time to post. There are lots of people around us in a village cul-de-sac who have pots galore. None have been stolen. But in my previous line of work, I know that is not a guarantee

    We will take a look at winter flowering heathers tonight.
      Every contact leaves a trace - Locard

    My abode: Essex, soon to be a desert!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    That's good to know. Snowdrops would look lovely with the heathers.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • DahliaDivaDahliaDiva Posts: 12

    You might consider osmanthus delavay (tea olive). I've got several in pots. They're hardy evergreens, and when they bloom in spring (white), the scent is lovely. They can also be grown into a hedge. Here's a pic I just took of one in an 18-inch pot (45.72cm). The pink flowers planted below it are a flowering groundcover (phlox possibly?), but are not part of the plant.


    Western Oregon, USA. Our climate is a lot like Northern England, but with dry, hot summers.
  • theno2socotheno2soco Posts: 80
    @DahliaDiva I am afraid a plant of that width would encroach on the footpath.
      Every contact leaves a trace - Locard

    My abode: Essex, soon to be a desert!
  • DahliaDivaDahliaDiva Posts: 12
    Understood. These are slow growing and easily pruned, but I can see wanting something more contained and upright.  :)
    Western Oregon, USA. Our climate is a lot like Northern England, but with dry, hot summers.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Is it sunny or shady?
    If sunny you could try lavender Hidcote which is a dwarf variety, fairly neat growing, especially as you will need to prune it after flowering each year. The flowers will be taller than 40cms though, when in flower. It is evergreen.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unless I've misunderstood, how are you fitting 5 pots of that diameter into a space 130 cms long? 
    The plants will be very crowded, which can create problems too. 3 pots would be better, with some decent airflow for the planting. 
    Choose plants which will be fine after initially settling them in. Evergreens can easily prevent adequate water getting through if they're a decent size, so those which need good moisture levels can still dry out in drier parts of the country, which I believe you're in.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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