Bleeding heart and hosta pot display

Here, we’ve set it off by combining it with variegated hosta and bugle. It’s perfect for brightening up a shady corner, and when you’ve finished with the display, the plants can be repotted or planted in the garden.

Follow these steps to plant up your bleeding heart and hosta display.

You Will Need

• Hosta ‘Barbara Ann’
• Bleeding heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis
• Ajuga reptans ‘Braunherz’
• Wide terracotta pot, 30cm
• Multi-purpose compost
• Crocks

Total time: 20 minutes

Step 1

Place a layer of crocks at the bottom of pot, then three-quarters fill it with compost.

Step 2

Position the bleeding heart at the back of the pot and the other plants slightly in front of it. Fill with compost to within 5cm of the rim, firming around the plants with your fingers to squeeze out any air pockets.

Step 3

Water the plants thoroughly and allow to drain. Add more compost to fill any gaps if necessary.

Step 4

Position the pot in a partially shaded spot, where you can enjoy the dainty blooms of the bleeding heart, in contrast with the lush foliage of the hosta.

Kevin Smith says…

Look out for small plants when buying for this container display. They’re easy to handle when planting and are often great value for money with multi-buy deals to be had. And don’t worry about cramming the plants in – this is a short-term display so it needs to look good instantly.