Hellebore and carex pot display

Hellebore and carex pot display

Find out how to make this simple and attractive winter display, using just two types of plant - hellebore and carex.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is at its best in January

Plant is at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is not at its best in June

Plant is not at its best in July

Plant is not at its best in August

Plant is not at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do To do in January

Do To do in February

Do not To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do not To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

There are fewer gardening jobs to keep you busy in winter, so make the most of extra time and plant up a stylish container to decorate a terrace or doorstep.

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This elegant cube-shaped container is filled with the curly sedge, Carex buchananii, and Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose, which starts to flush pink in January and February.

You should be able to find both plants at the garden centre at this time of year.

Here’s how to make this simple display.

This elegant cube-shaped container is filled with the curly sedge, Carex buchananii, and Helleborus niger, the Christmas rose.

You Will Need

  • Helleborus niger
  • Carex buchananii
  • 30cm pot
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Drill
  • Watering can

Total time: 1 hour


Step 1

Drilling drainage holes
Drilling drainage holes

Turn the container upside down and drill four or five drainage holes in the bottom, if necessary.


Step 2

Adding compost to the container
Adding compost to the container

Add compost until it’s two-thirds full.


Step 3

Planting the carex
Planting the carex

Plant the carex in one corner of the cube pot. This will form the ‘back’ of the finished display.


Step 4

Planting the hellebores
Planting the hellebores

Fill the remaining corners with the three hellebores, and push more compost into any gaps.


Step 5

Watering the container
Watering the container
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Water the plants in well and stand in a sheltered spot. Make sure the compost doesn’t dry out in winter winds.

Kevin Smith says…

Don’t be afraid of using just one or two different plants to make a container display – keeping things simple often looks much more effective than a chaotic jumble of blooms. Use a modern container to give traditional plants a contemporary edge.

Kevin Smith