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The hardy winter-flowering varieties of pansy (Viola) 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

not to break them.Water your arrangement and ensure it never dries out. Deadhead faded cowslips to encourage new blooms.AdamThese plants are perennial and can be planted in the garden after flowering. They enjoy a shady setting where they are free to naturalise

Thrift is found growing wild on sea cliffs and mountain sides. It is a tough little plant with short, tufty foliage. In this planting combination its bright pink, long-stemmed flowers provide a focal point from late-spring to summer. The low

Each blue or magenta flower of Ipomoea, the morning glory, lasts just one day, but it blooms reliably throughout the summer. The dense mat of heart-shaped leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the cheery flowers.How to grow annual climbers from

.AdamDeadhead spent flowers regularly to keep the display looking fresh.More on late-summer colourAlan Titchmarsh's tips on growing plants for late-summer colour.Provide late-summer nectar for pollinators.Grow schizostylis for late-summer colour.

Dahlias come in a fascinating variety of shapes and sizes, and the pom-pom types, with their rows of incurved petals, resemble old-fashioned bathing caps. Dahlia 'Franz Kafka' lends itself - ironically, given its name - to a relaxed cottage-garden

This pebble cage arrangement is a stylish twist on the alpines' traditional environment, and wouldn't look out of place in any modern garden or even as a contemporary table decoration. The dwarf size of Dianthus 'Fusilier' perfectly suits

These sun-loving plants make a dazzling combination when planted together. The silverbush looks good even after its white, bell-shaped flowers have faded; meanwhile, the wallflower keeps churning out gorgeous spikes of mauve flowers for months

The rich copper colours of the verbascum, fennel, sedum and diascia plants in this pot echo the colour of the warm terracotta pot beneath. Tall copper flower spikes of the verbascum give height to the display while the wispy, feathery foliage

Box always looks smart in a container but it's not the only shrub that can be clipped into shape. Myrtle is an excellent evergreen alternative. Faintly aromatic and with lovely white flowers in spring, it looks stunning from June to August, softened