It’s easy to overlook potted plants in favor of their ground-bound counterparts but there are plenty of reasons why pots and containers can make an excellent addition to your garden. For example, they provide extra space for plant life in small gardens and even allow for more plant variety thanks to unshared soil. In addition, more and more garden owners are opting for artificial turf for an evergreen look all year ‘round without having to compromise on plant life…all thanks to the powers of potted plants! With that in mind, let the garden experts at GardenAdvice help you keep your garden colourful this autumn/winter with their guide to cold weather potted plants.
Pansies Pansies are colourful, cool-weather flowers with heart shaped petals. They thrive from autumn all the way through to spring but struggle with hot summers. If you’re planting afresh, you can actually give your Pansies a head-start by growing them indoors for six to eight weeks before moving them outside. It’s important to give your Pansies plenty of sun in spite of their cool weather preferences. Like the Checkerberry, they prefer moist but well drained soil. We recommend planting Pansies about 10 inches apart, giving them plenty of water, and using an all-purpose fertiliser to help them grow.
Skimmia “Rubella” The Skimmia Rubella is an evergreen shrub that boasts beautiful dark red flower buds throughout autumn and winter which then bloom into lightly coloured flowers in spring. It grows best in containers situated in partial to full shade. Rubella is a relatively low maintenance plant that only really needs trimming after it flowers. For optimum growth keep the soil moist and mulch annually with compost.
Snowdrops Looking for a tough-as-nails plant that could even sprout in snow? Look no further. The aptly named Snowdrop enjoys full sun to light shade and light to moderate amounts of water. When planted in pots or containers it needs ample drainage as it rots easily in water-clogged soil. If you’re planting a fresh crop of Snowdrops, these beautiful little flowers need a good year to reach their full potential but once they do they can usually be left to their own devices. It’s recommended you let the flowers die back at the end of the flowering season as opposed to trimming them, as this is better for the bulbs.
Japanese Anemone The Japanese Anemone is an autumn blooming flower that comes in a variety of beautiful colours ranging from pastel pinks and purples all the way to white. A very forgiving plant, it can grow in most soil types. Japanese Anemone require a combination of part sun and part shade for optimum growth. This plant is not a fan of dry roots, so it needs to be kept well-watered and well-mulched. Japanese Anemone do well in larger pots as opposed to ‘bed’ style containers as certain varieties can grow up to four feet tall and may need stalking to keep them from falling over.
Heuchera (Coral Bells) Known for their stunning foliage which comes in a variety of colors including red, orange, purple, green, and silver. They can provide a nice splash of color throughout autumn and winter.
Pansies These are great for autumn and early winter color. They come in a wide range of colors and can survive in cooler temperatures. Pansies have charming, expressive faces which add an extra touch of beauty to your garden.
Japanese Maple This tree has gorgeous autumnal foliage that ranges from deep reds to vibrant oranges. Although it can grow quite large, there are dwarf varieties suitable for containers.
Sedum (Stonecrop) A low-maintenance succulent that turns from green to red in autumn. Perfect for adding some structure and variation in height to your container gardens.
Cyclamen This plant produces beautiful flowers in autumn and winter, and it’s very suitable for container gardening. Its blooms come in shades of pink, red, or white, and its heart-shaped leaves are also quite attractive.
Kale (Ornamental) These aren’t your typical kale plants. They produce brightly colored leaves in the cooler months and are great for adding unique texture and color to your autumn and winter garden.
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) This plant has beautiful red berries in the winter and the leaves have a refreshing minty fragrance. It’s an excellent choice for some winter interest.
Hellebores (Christmas or Lenten Rose) These bloom in late winter to early spring and are a great way to add some beautiful pastel color to your garden at that time of the year. They are available in shades of white, pink, purple, and even green.
Nandina (Heavenly Bamboo) This plant has colorful leaves that turn from green to red in the autumn and winter. It also produces red berries in the winter, which add an additional pop of color.
Winter-Flowering Heather (Erica carnea) This is a low-growing evergreen that produces lovely pink or white flowers in late winter. It’s great for adding some color to your garden when most other plants aren’t blooming.
