Narcissus and aubretia pot display

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Thursday, 18 July 2019 at 10:54 am

Create a stylish spring display of carex, narcissus and aubretia. We show you how.

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Add a cottage-garden feel to your patio with this simple pot project. The trio of narcissus, carex and aubretia provides instant colour, as plants can be bought in flower. If other spring flowers catch your eye at the garden centre, you could use those instead.

Find out how to create the display, below.

You Will Need

Carex comans, bronze-leaves
Purple aubretia (2)
Narcissus 'Minnow' (2)
30cm terracotta pot
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Place pieces of terracotta over holes in the pot's base to allow water to drain freely.

Step 2

Tease out the fibrous roots of the carex to encourage it to quickly send out new roots.

Step 3

Part fill the pot with compost. Set the carex in the centre, leaving room for other plants.

Step 4

Split the narcissus bulbs carefully and set them in position around the carex.

Step 5

Plant aubretia in the gaps at the edge of the pot, so they can trail over the side.

Step 6

Water the container well and allow to drain fully. Site in a sunny position.

Kevin Smith
Use the carex as a year-round focal point for this display. Move the other plants to the border when they’re past their best, replacing them with other seasonal blooms to create an entirely new look.