Heuchera and viola pot display

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 10 July 2019 at 3:13 pm

Perfect for a shady corner, this heuchera and viola container display will add light and colour for many months.

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Perfect for a shady corner, this pretty container display is simple to recreate. Here, we've combined bronze-green heuchera with common blue violets. The trailing ivies hang from the side of the container to complete the look.

You Will Need

Heuchera 'Electra' (2)
Common blue violet, Viola sororia (2)
Ivy plants (2)
Large, shallow container
Crocks
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Slow-release fertiliser

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Heuchera and viola pot display - adding crocks

Put a layer of crocks in the bottom of the container, to stop compost falling out of the drainage holes.

Step 2

Heuchera and viola pot display - adding compost

Fill the container two-thirds full with compost.

Step 3

Heuchera and viola pot display - adding slow-release fertiliser

Add slow-release fertiliser granules to the surface of the compost, and mix them in with your hands.

Step 4

Heuchera and viola pot display - planting the heucheras

Plant the heucheras first, then the violas. Add more compost around the plants and firm in well. Water plants thoroughly and allow to drain before moving the container to its final position.

Kevin Smith says...
Some metal containers don’t have drainage holes when you buy them. Don’t let this put you off – it’s easy to drill a few holes through metal, making buckets, tin baths and contemporary planters all perfect for the garden.