Winter cherry pot display

We've used a cornus, which will drop its leaves during winter to reveal eye-catching red stems, along with a carex and winter-flowering pansies.

These plants aren't fussy and will do well in almost any location. If you have room, boost the display with single winter cherries planted in small pots.

You Will Need

• Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
• Carex flagellifera
• Winter cherry, Solanum capsicastrum
• Orange winter-flowering pansies
• Large pot or container
• Crocks
• Multi-purpose, peat-free compost

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Place a layer of crocks or broken polystyrene on the bottom of your pot to ensure good drainage.

Step 2

Fill the pot two-thirds full, using multi-purpose compost.

Step 3

Position the tallest plants first, teasing out the roots as you go. As a general rule, the taller the plant, the further towards the back of your container it should go.

Step 4

Add the remaining shorter plants to the front and sides, then fill in the gaps with more compost, firming down well with your hands.

Step 5

Water the container well and move it to its final position. It's important not to let the compost dry out.

Kevin Smith says...

Create several containers with the same plants, and group them together to produce impact. It’s a simple way of giving your patio a unified, designer look and is bound to cause admiring glances from visitors.