From the towering and the statuesque to the miniature and the understated, Jenny Barnes creates three displays to suit a variety of settings
ARCHITECTURAL IMPACT
I often use architectural, statement plants when I’m gardening and I especially love the drama that the large leaves of Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ add to a display. In this arrangement, I wanted to concentrate on shape and form as opposed to colour. In large gardens with large buildings, containers have to be in scale and by using bold foliage, the overall arrangement isn’t overshadowed by its surroundings.
How to achieve the look
Container and composition
Dramatic plants require an equally dramatic container to ensure that the overall look is balanced, but I didn’t want the pot to become the focus of the display. This glossy, black bowl has enough weight and presence to hold its own without detracting from the plants within. I placed the tetrapanex central to the arrangement with the frothy thalictrums surrounding it, their dark stems adding a strong, vertical aspect to the planting. The vivid, purple alliums add another distinctive shape and pick up the defined lines of the thalictrum stems. I like to add a pop of colour to draw the eye and chose a thunbergia to scramble up through the arrangement as the season progresses, adding neon-orange highlights throughout.
Cultivation and care
Large plants need a nutrient-rich growing medium, so use a specific, loam-based compost designed for mature plants. It is best to plant this container in the autumn when the thalictrums are dormant. Tuck them under the canopy of the tetrapanex and allow them to push through the giant leaves naturally as they emerge in the spring. Plant the alliums at three times the depth of the bulb, between the rootballs of the perennials. Allium schubertii, with its star-shaped florets on stems of differing lengths, is a great structural alternative to A. hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’. Thalictrum ‘Elin’ is a particularly tall form and will need some support. Use twine to secure the stems to canes pushed into the compost.
Plants
1 Thalictrum ‘Black Stockings’
Lacy foliage and dramatic, black stems. Fluffy, purple flowers in summer. 2m. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b† .
2 Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’
Large shrub/ small tree with dramatic, lobed leaves up to 1m across. New growth is covered with fine, pale-brown hairs. 8m. RHS H4.
3 Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’
Vivid, purple globes of star-shaped flowers on strong stems. Seedheads are equally striking. 1m. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b.
4 Thunbergia alata ‘Superstar Orange’
A vigorous climber with large, bright-orange flowers and dark eyes. Tender, so grow as an annual. 2.5m. RHS H2.
5 Thalictrum ‘Elin’
A clump-forming perennial with steely, blue-grey foliage. Clouds of lilac and cream flowers held on wiry stems in summer. 2.5m. AGM. RHS H7.
CONTEMPORARY CHIC
I found this Polygonatum verticillatum ‘Rubrum’ in a local nursery and wanted to use it as a starting point for a sleek, contemporary planter. When young, the f lowers are a beautiful, smoky grey, turning dusky pink with age and this is the colour scheme I wanted to play with. This pot would be perfect next to the front door of a chic townhouse and using shade-tolerant plants is a great idea in an urban setting where buildings may restrict light and rainfall.
How to achieve the look
Container and composition
When I was thinking about this container, I had envisaged a dark, sleek, tubular pot that would emphasise the elegant vertical stems of the Solomon’s seal. I had originally discounted this black, plastic pipe connector as it has no base, but to get around this, I’ve used a less attractive, practical container, slightly smaller than the pipe connector, which I’ve simply dropped inside. The inner pot could be dropped into any attractive surround, and a vintage umbrella stand would be another stylish, vertical option. By keeping the colour of the plants and container monotone, the focus is on the texture and form of the individual leaves such as the fronds of Athyrium niponicum.
Cultivation and care
All of the plants here are shade-loving woodlanders that cope well with partial shade. To replicate the woodland conditions, I added lots of leaf mould to the compost, which also improves moisture retention. Pots placed close to buildings may be in a rain shadow and are therefore susceptible to drying out, so keep an eye on watering. Adding sulphate of potash to the compost will increase plants’ resistance to drought. A home-made comfrey feed is an organic option. I used grey, slate chips to trap in moisture and complete the sleek aesthetic. The planting requires little upkeep, but cut off any shrivelled fronds of the athyrium and deadhead the polygonatum and actaea after flowering.
Plants
1 Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum
A deciduous fern with delicate, steely grey fronds and a reddish-purple midrib. Requires little maintenance and is resistant to pests and diseases. 50cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 4a-9b.
2 Actaea simplex Atropurpurea Group ‘Black Negligee’
An herbaceous perennial with finely divided, nearblack stems. Scented, creamy-white, bottle-brush flowers in late summer and early autumn. Great for bees. 1.5m. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b.
3 Polygonatum verticillatum ‘Rubrum’
Commonly known as whorled Solomon’s seal, this upright perennial has narrow leaves arranged in whorls around strong stems. In spring, tiny flowers that are grey when young, ageing to dusky pink, hang below the leaves. 1m. RHS H7.
ALPINE APPRECIATION
On holiday in Yorkshire recently, I was fascinated by the old dry-stone walls and the huge array of plant life surviving in such inhospitable conditions. I wanted to recreate this in some way on a more manageable scale. This gabion-style build is perfect for showcasing alpines –a quirky, modern alternative for plants that would traditionally be grown in troughs. Attractive, tough and low maintenance, alpines are a great choice for anyone to grow.
How to achieve the look
Container and composition
The cage retains the stone and adds stability to the structure. Using wire cutters, cut six equal squares of galvanised mesh. Attach the squares to form a cube using strong wire or cable ties, leaving one side open for access. I used honey-coloured stone, in keeping with my local area, but any fist-sized rocks would do. Make a layer on the base of the cube, then build up around the edges of the cage, overlapping the stones and leaving gaps for planting. Fill the centre of the cube with multi-purpose compost and finish with a top layer of stone. I squeezed the rootballs of the alpines into the gaps between the stones and teased the foliage through the cage. The saxifraga adds height, while the sedums will trail down the sides.
Cultivation and care
Alpines are tough, low-maintenance plants, adapted to the harsh conditions of their native mountainous environments. They are fairly tolerant to drought, but are susceptible to drying out until they are fully established in displays such as this, so water regularly throughout dry periods. Most alpines prefer full sun, so position the cube on a table or low wall that isn’t overshadowed by surrounding buildings or plants. Raising the container off the floor will make it easier to appreciate the beauty of the tiny, individual blooms – this is an arrangement that is best appreciated close up. Deadhead plants when they finish flowering and in winter move the planter under cover to prevent any waterlogging.
Plants
1 Sedum sexangulare
Spirals of green leaves and star-shaped, yellow flowers. Will slowly creep. 10cm. RHS H4, USDA 3a-9b.
2 Gypsophila cerastioides
Mound-forming perennial with white flowers. 8cm. RHS H7.
3 Sedum acre ‘Aureum’
A fast-growing, evergreen perennial with spiralling, fleshy foliage. 5cm. RHS H7.
4 Saxifraga x urbium
Dense rosettes of mid-green leaves and clouds of pinky-white flowers on airy stems. 30cm. AGM. RHS H7.
5 Carpobrotus chilensis
Fast-growing groundcover plant with fleshy, succulent leaves and cerise flowers. 10cm.
6 Saxifraga x arendsii ‘Flower Carpet’
Tough, pretty, evergreen perennial with star-shaped, pink flowers. 15cm. RHS H4.
7 Sedum album
A tufted perennial, suitable for growing in crevices and rock gardens. 10cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-8b.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.
PLANT SUPPLIERS
• Avondale Nursery Tel 07367 590620, avondalenursery.co.uk
• J Parker Garden Bulbs & Plants Tel 0161 848 1100, jparkers.co.uk
• Richard’s Plants Tel 01536 764255, richardsplants.com
• Russells Garden Centre Tel 024 7630 3627, russellsgardencentre.co.uk