Osteospermum and Santolina Pot Display

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 1 July 2019 at 3:44 pm

Create a stylish pot display using osteospermum and santolina.

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Osteospermums are perfect for growing in pots, offering a long season of pretty flowers for a sunny corner. Here, we've combined osteospermums with ornamental grass and santolina, whose foliage brings out the purple of the flowers.

You will need:

Santolina chamaecyparissus
Purple osteospermum
Stipa tenuissima
30cm terracotta pot
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Slow-release fertiliser

Total time: 20 minutes

Step 1:

Add crocks to the bottom of the pot to aid drainage, and fill two-thirds with compost.

Adding compost

Step 2:

Add slow-release fertiliser and water-retaining gel to the compost, and mix it in with your hands.

Adding slow-releaser fertiliser

Step 3:

Add the stipa and osteospermum first, and tuck the santolina in around the other plants. Add compost to fill the gaps and firm in well. Water the pot thoroughly and leave to drain before moving to its final position.

Adding the plants

Kevin Smith says...

This display has something of a seaside feel, so position it where the grasses and santolina can gently sway in the breeze. Deadhead the osteospermum to keep the display neat and to encourage more blooms.

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