Pansy, thyme and olive pot display
Find out how to create an attractive and stylish container display, packed with culinary herbs.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At its best | yes | yes | yes | |||||||||
To do | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
The hardy winter-flowering varieties of pansy are the best bet for winter and spring containers as they're rarely without blooms, even when other plants are shivering in the cold. The flowers look stunning set off against the golden foliage of the thyme, around the olive tree as a centrepiece.
You Will Need
- Pansy plants
- Thymus pulegioides 'Archer's Gold'
- Common sage, Salvia officinalis
- Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis
- Olive tree
- Large terracotta pot
- Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Total time: 20 minutes
Step 1
Add crocks to aid drainage and fill the pot two-thirds with compost. Add the olive tree to the centre of the pot, ensuring it's level and planted at the same depth it was in its original pot.
Step 2
Position the pansy, thyme and other herbs around the olive, letting the thyme spill over the edge. Fill in any gaps with compost and firm down. Water the container thoroughly and allow to drain.
Kevin Smith says...
Harvest herbs regularly to enjoy tasty pickings and encourage plenty of fresh growth. The pretty violas are edible too – use them to add interest and colour to salads. There’s nothing better than a display that’s both pretty and productive!Christmas offer
Gift a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine and save 51% on the shop price.
Year Planner 2025 on sale
Starting to plan your gardening year? The Year Planner 2025 is packed with expert advice from the Gardeners’ World team, to ensure you have your best gardening year yet.
Plant of the Week: Mix & match dahlias
This week, choose from 40 beautiful dahlia varieties in various shapes and colours, including dwarf and giant sizes, with prices starting from just £4 each.
Offer ends 23.59, Sunday 8 December.
New podcast series
Join Monty and the team for advice on winter gardening, tulips, caring for birds, house plants and more in the new BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast series.