Award-winning designer Jo Thompson shares container-planting inspiration with this enchanting early spring flower combination. Words Jo Thompson, photographs Jason Ingram
This collection of moody colours brings much-needed depth of interest to the late-winter garden. The palette of Fortuny purples and deep garnets and pinks is effective against a backdrop of grey, looking rich even on the gloomiest of days as the hellebores glow in the low light. Foliage and flowers are equally important: the ruffled leaves of the heuchera create a satisfying contrast with the euphorbia as they emerge out of the aged zinc planter.
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How to achieve the look
Container and composition
This combination benefits from being in a grey planter that harmonises with the colours of the foliage and flowers. An aged zinc container provides the required bulk for the hellebores, while its uncomplicated form allows the plants to take centre stage, creating a dramatic yet elegant statement by a threshold – or anywhere where you can get up close to admire the nodding flowerheads.
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double pink and Helleborus x hybridus Harvington red form the main eye-catching component of this planting, and it’s their flowers and foliage that we want to celebrate here. The stems aren’t particularly exciting, which is why the foundation of Heuchera ‘Dark Secret’ and Euphorbia Miner’s Merlot (= ‘Km-mm024’) works so well. Their leaves are in the same wine-purple tones, creating a solid colour base from which hellebore stems emerge.
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The hellebores, as the bulkiest plant, go in first and, as this is a pot that can be seen from all sides, it’s a good idea to check there’s an even distribution of blooms as you look around the pot. Place the euphorbias next, remembering to wear gloves to avoid any skin irritation. Last of all, pop in the heuchera to form the base of the design.
Cultivation and care
Deadhead hellebores as the flowers go over, making way for the euphorbia and heuchera. Watering is weather-dependent at this time of year – if a drier period comes along, make sure the soil feels a little moist.
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington red
A semi-evergreen perennial bearing large, deep-red, bowl-shaped flowers. 30cm x 45cm. RHS H7.
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington double pink
A semi-evergreen perennial producing nodding, pink double flowers from late winter to early spring. 30cm x 45cm. RHS H7.
Euphorbia Miner’s Merlot (= ‘Km-mm024’)
Dark-green foliage that emerges a dark burgundy. Bright, lime-yellow flowers.
April – June. 60cm x 60cm. RHS H6.
Heuchera ‘Dark Secret’
Perennial forming a mound of dark-purple, almost black, leaves and sprays of small, white flowers emerging from pink buds in summer. 50cm x 30cm. RHS H6.
Head to our pot plants page for lots more container inspiration