RHS Week 30

Hardy and Half Hardy Annuals and Container plants in design

Learning objectives

1. State the purpose and use of hardy annuals in garden design

2. State the purpose and use of half-hardy plants in garden design

3. State the purpose and use of patio or basket plants in garden design

For each of the plant types listed above :4. name Five, suitable for planting in a variety of

garden situations. State details of their decorative merits, height and spread and site requirements; describe a situation where each could be used effectively

Use of Hardy Annuals in Design Cold/frost resistant – grow, mature,

flower and die in one year. Usually sown where they are to flower – bedding annuals can be grown in pots for later planting out.

Provide good colour and interest but only for late spring and summer

Annual only beds therefore over by the frosts – lack year round interest

Can also be used in patches or drifts in mixed borders or sown in containers.

Enable changed colour schemes to be used each year.

Hardy Annuals

Lobularia maritima

Iberis umbellata

Hardy annuals

Helianthus annuus

Tropeaolum majus

Hardy annuals

Clarkia elegans

Matthiola incana

Hardy Annuals

Lathyrus odoratus

Calendula officinalis

Hardy annuals

Papaver rhoeas ‘Shirley series’

Rudbeckia hirta

Half hardy and tender annuals in design

Not cold tolerant so started under glass with heat.

Some are botanically perennials but grown as annuals due to lack of cold tolerance

Useful as they can be bedded out either in bedding displays or as drifts in mixed borders and come into flower relatively quickly after planting out.

Classic bedding schemes are replanted two or three times a year – high labour and planning

When used to provide variety among permanent planting they are less hard work.

Half- hardy and tender annuals and bedding plants

Impatiens walleriana Nicotiana x sanderae

Half- hardy and tender annuals and bedding plants

Salvia splendens Tagetes patula

Half- hardy and tender annuals and bedding plants

Begonia semperflorens Cleome spinosa

Half- hardy and tender annuals and bedding plants

Heliotropum arborescens Pelargonium x hortorum

Half- hardy and tender annuals and bedding plants

Petunia x hybrida Phlox drummondii

Containers and baskets in design Can be easily changed for seasonal interest. Baskets give good vertical interest. Can be used where other planting is not

possible – window boxes, paved areas etc. Containers can be used to grow tender

plants that can then be protected over winter.

Not all container plants are annual or temporary. Large containers can be used for perennials that can be under planted with annuals for a changing display.

Good for adding winter interest close to the house – on a patio visible from a window etc.

Summer plants for containers

Lobelia erinus ‘Monsoon’

Fuchsia ‘Swingtime’ Photo: John Keogh

(attribution, non-commercial)

Summer containers

Impatiens walleriana Begonia semperflorens

Summer containers

Pelargonium x hortorum Tagetes patula

Summer containers

Verbena x hybridaNote that ‘Aztec Silver’ is pink/white.

Cuphea ignea

Winter Containers

Viola x wittrockiana Hedera helix ‘Spetchley’

Winter Containers

Skimmia japonica Heuchera

Winter Containers

Polypodium vulgare Cyclamen coum

Winter containers

Carex comans ‘Bronco’Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ Photo: Rogerio Liria

Winter Containers

Helichrysum italicum Brassica oloracea (Capita group) ‘Northern Lights’

Learning outcomes

1. State the purpose and use of hardy annuals in garden design

2. State the purpose and use of half-hardy plants in garden design

3. State the purpose and use of patio or basket plants in garden design

For each of the plant types listed above :4. name Five, suitable for planting in a variety of

garden situations. State details of their decorative merits, height and spread and site requirements; describe a situation where each could be used effectively