Welcome to spring, the season of renewal and vibrant colors! This year, let’s create a stunning spring planter that will add a touch of nature’s beauty to your outdoor space. Here’s a recipe for a planter that combines the elegance of Ilex x meservae ‘Little Maid’ on a stem, the captivating fragrance of Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Chameleon’, the silvery foliage of Calocephalus brownii, the vibrant red berries of Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’, and the cheerful blooms of Wallflower Sugar Rush Series.
Ingredients:
- Ilex x meservae ‘Little Maid’on a stem: This compact evergreen shrub features glossy green leaves and bright red berries, adding a touch of elegance and color to your planter. Note: for berries a male variety such as ‘Gentle’ ot ‘Blue Prince’ need to be close by.
- Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Chameleon’: Known for its delicate white flowers and intoxicating fragrance, this evergreen vine will fill the air with a delightful aroma. The leaves of this variety turn pink and white in summer. The blooms are produced in summer, it is slow growing and ideal for a pot, I am also going to try it as a ground cover plant in The Pylon Garden.
- Calocephalus brownii: With its silvery-grey foliage, this plant adds a unique texture and contrast to the planter, creating a captivating visual effect.
- Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’: This evergreen shrub boasts glossy green leaves and clusters of vibrant red berries, providing a pop of color and a festive touch to your spring display. In April/May, the buds will open into sweetly scented flowers
- Wallflower Sugar Rush Series: These charming plants produce a profusion of fragrant, vibrant flowers in shades of pink, purple, and yellow, adding a cheerful and inviting touch to your planter. I have pink in this pot, they are along flowering and dwarf series, ideal for pots.
Instructions:
- Choose a suitable container: Select a planter that is large enough to accommodate the root systems of all the plants and has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
- Add potting mix: Fill the planter with a well-draining potting mix that is suitable for all the plants you’ve chosen, a multi-purpose compost is fine.
- Arrange the plants: Start by placing the Ilex x meservae ‘Little Maid’ to the back of the planter, 12 O’Clock position) with the Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Chameleon’ at 7, and Calocephalus brownii, at 4 ensuring that they have enough space to grow. Add the Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ (2 O’Clock) and Wallflower Sugar Rush Series to complete the arrangement by filling in the gaps.
- Water thoroughly: Give the planter a thorough watering to settle the soil and ensure that all the plants receive enough moisture.
- Place in a suitable location: Choose a spot in your garden or patio that receives partial shade to full sun, depending on the specific light requirements of each plant. All the plants in this combination will be happy in shade or sun.
By following this recipe, you’ll create a stunning spring planter that will be the envy of your neighbors and add a touch of nature’s beauty to your outdoor space. Enjoy the vibrant colors and delightful fragrances of spring with this captivating planter!
At the end of Spring I will re-use the plants, I will use some in the garden as permanent planting and others I will pot up for use next winter.
Ciaran The Gardener 