Create an angels' trumpets pot display

You will need

Angels' trumpets, Brugmansia
Blue potato bush, Solanum rantonnetii 'Royal Robe'
Purple heart, Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea'
Helichrysum petiolare x2
Parrot's beak, Lotus berthelotii x2
Large, deep pot
Multi-purpose compost, crocks

Pots & container categories

Overview

Take your house plants plants outside this summer and use them to create dramatic patio containers. Here, we've teamed purple heart with silvery helichrysum and the trailing silver-grey foliage with the bright-orange flowers of parrot's beak. This sensational pot also has a knockout fragrance from the blue potato bush and the angels' trumpets.

Plant it: March - April

At its best: June - August

Takes just: 40 minutes

How to do it:

1Cover the bottom of the container with crocks, then half-fill it with compost. Carefully ease the plants out of their pots.

2Make the blue potato bush the centrepiece with the angels' trumpets and purple heart on either side. Underplant the trio with the helichrysum and the parrot's beak. Position them so they can cascade down the side of the pot.

3Top up the pot with compost, firming it around the plants with your fingers. Keep under cover at night following planting, until all risk of frosts has passed. Then stand this container in bright sun so the purple heart positively pulsates with colour.

Adam's tip

Be careful when handling brugmansia as all parts of the plant are toxic.

Don't forget to bring your house plants back indoors before the autumn frosts.

Discuss this pot & container

Talkback: Create an angels' trumpets pot display

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Earlybird 24/11/2011 at 15:27

I have a large south facing conservatory with Spanish pots on the wall. Can you recommend a plant that will take the summer heat that will go with my geraniums?