Hosta pot display

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 17 July 2019 at 3:16 pm

Find out how to create a shade-loving hosta display in a pot.

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Hostas reign supreme when it comes to striking foliage, but they also bear pretty purple flowers in summer, which are attractive in their own right. This eye-catching container display combines Hosta 'Wide Brim' with a selection of other shade-loving, foliage plants, resulting in the perfect, perennial display for a shady corner.

You Will Need

Hosta 'Wide Brim'
Astilbe simplicifolia 'Sprite'
Milium effusum 'Aureum'
Glazed pot, 25cm
Crocks
Gravel or pebbles
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Add crocks to the base of the container to aid drainage, and fill the pot two-thirds with compost.

Step 2

Add slow-release fertiliser granules to the compost and mix it in with your hands.

Step 3

Gently tease the plants out of their pots and plant them in the container. Make sure the lush leaves of the hosta are displayed towards the front of the pot.

Step 4

Water the plants well, then leave the container to drain fully before moving it to its final location.

Kevin Smith says...
Hide bare compost with a decorative mulch – slate chippings, gravel and bark are all ideal for finishing a container in a professional way. A mulch also retains moisture and helps to keep weeds at bay.