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Crocosmia, penstemon and rudbeckia pot display

Create a colourful container display using fiery crocosmia, penstemon and rudbeckia.

Published: Tuesday, 2 July, 2019 at 2:26 pm

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
At its best
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
At its best	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
To do
To do	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

While many container displays are looking past their best by August, this late-summer display will brighten up a corner of the patio right through autumn. The fiery colours of the crocosmia, rudbeckia and penstemon contrast beautifully with the evergreen foliage of pheasant’s tail grass.

What to plant in August

You Will Need

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Emily Mckenzie'
Penstemon 'Red Riding Hood'
Libertia ixioides 'Goldfinger'
Rudbeckia fulgida 'City Garden'
Anemanthele lessoniana
37cm terracotta pot
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Slow-release fertiliser

Total time:

20 minutes

Step 1

Adding compost

Place a layer of broken polystyrene or crocks in the base of the pot, to aid drainage. Add compost until the pot is two-thirds full. Push your fingers into the compost or gently knock the pot to remove air pockets.

Step 2

Adding slow-release fertiliser

Sprinkle slow-release fertiliser over the compost, to keep the display looking good for as long as possible.

Step 3

Planting the tallest plants

Place the tallest plants at the back of the pot and the shorter plants at the front. Add more compost around the plants and firm gently.

Step 4

Planting the smaller plants

Add the smaller plants around the tallest, filling in gaps with more compost.

Step 5

Watering the pot

Water the pot thoroughly and leave to drain.

Kevin Smith says…

These plants are great for a hit of potted late-summer colour, although they can be moved to a border when they stop flowering. They’ll all thrive in a sunny spot, rewarding you with blooms for many years to come.