Today 
Tomorrow
The rich copper colours of the plants in this pot echo the warm terracotta pot beneath. Tall copper flower spikes of the verbascum give height to the display while the wispy, feathery foliage of the fennel adds texture and movement. Weaving through the tumbling sedums are delicate apricot diascias, which bring spots of colour among the foliage.
Plant it:
March - April
At its best:
June - August
Takes just:
30 minutes
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Cover the base of the pot with crocks, then fill it two-thirds full with compost.
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Plant the verbascums in the centre of the pot, then plant the trio of fennels in a circle around them. Tuck the sedums around the edge of the pot with the diascias in between. Top up the pot with compost, firming it around the plants with your fingers.
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The plants will happily overwinter in the pot. Cut back the verbascums and the fennel in late winter or early spring (see Adam's tips).
"Don't be too quick to deadhead the verbascums at the end of the summer, as birds will feast on the seed-heads and the spikes will look dramatic when outlined by frost."
"Cut back the fennel to the soil each year in late winter or early spring, otherwise it could shoot up to 1.8m tall."
