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Easy to grow/maintain purple and pink flowers
Matt Tweddle
Posts: 7
in Plants
Hello all, pretty new to gardening and new to this site. I have a small garden (about 4m x 5m with lawn in middle) with only access to pots and containers. I'm looking to grow mainly purple flowers of various shades. Some trailing from pots on the wall and some in partial shade in pots on the gravel/stones next to a small tree in the corner. One or two butterfly/bee friendly species would be perfect as well! At this stage they'll need to be easy to grow and minimum fuss to maintain (although I will tend to them every evening). Any help would be gratefully received!
Thank you my gardening friends
Matt
0
Posts
Hi Matt, May i suggest the Cascading Lobelia? Thats what i am getting this year to go on all 30ish pots that will hang on my fence. I have a Vinca which has purple flowers, mine has variegated leaves, which i love. Bees love my geranium "Purple Cranesbill" (tho this is not in a pot, so not sure how it would do in a pot - someone on here would possibly let you know) Forget-me-nots are lovely and bees like them too (tho they are blue not purple) You have lavender, which does great in pots and is always a favourite for bees and butterflies.
I hope this helps you a wee bit. I too have a very small garden so using pots on walls, having climbing plants makes a big difference to the size of you're garden and often saves you space.
Hi Matt, How about a buddleia "butterfly bush" purple flowers. LucyL is right about using vertical spaces in a small garden, A clematis grown on a trellis attatched to a wall or fence would look lovely or maybe sweet peas supported by a simple wigwam fragrant and pretty.
If you want easy peasy there will be lots of choice summer annuals lobelia, petunias, busy lizzies and you can buy them as small plants in garden centres and most supermarkets. Simply pot them on into your containers for a splash of summer colour.
Thanks for the feedback, already had trailing lobelia in mind and I'm planning two trellis' of sweat peas. Lavender is a great shout LucyL as is buddleia Kitty. Would a buddleia require a massive container?
Thanks
Salvia nemorosa looks a great idea as well, cheers pansyface.
A nice, fairly easy, climber is common Morning Glory:
http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/ipomoea-purpurea-star-of-yalta/2972.html
There are smallish growing Buddlia now, I've had one for about 5 or 6 years Buddlia Buzz a well known dwarf variety and grew it successfully in a large container. They're easy to grow, look beautiful and don't need a lot of work. Just take the flowers off as they go over and cut right back to about 30cm in late winter to control the height and spread.
Hello Matt. Itoo, have a small garden with lawn in the middle and pots and containers, so I find the replies to your requests, very helpful for me, as well. Thanks Matt and every one else!!
Definitely verbena bonariensis. Couldn't be without it in my garden.
Whoops - sorry - just noticed that you want small things for pots and containers!
sorry!