Scented herb pot display

You will need

Serrated-leafed lavender, Lavandula x christiana
Woolly thyme, Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Golden-leafed sage, e.g. Salvia officinalis 'Icterina'
Prostrate rosemary, e.g. Rosmarinus officinalis Prostratus Group
Wide terracotta pot, crocks, free-draining compost, horticultural grit or sand

Pots & container categories

Overview

Most herbs originate in hot, dry climates and dislike our cold, wet winters. Growing them in pots is therefore perfect because they can be brought under cover for the winter. Serrated-leaved lavender is an attractive alternative to ordinary lavender and looks wonderful planted with woolly thyme, golden-leafed sage and low-growing rosemary.

Plant it: May

At its best: June - September

Takes just: 20 minutes

How to do it:

1Cover the bottom of the pot with crocks, then fill it two-thirds with compost, mixed with a few handfuls of horticultural grit or sand.

2Arrange the plants in the pot in any order you like. Top up with compost, firming it around the roots with your fingers. Stand the pot somewhere in full sun.

3Neither the serrated lavender nor the woolly thyme is fully hardy, so they need to be brought indoors when the weather turns cold. The rest of the plants can remain outside in the pot.