Patio and basket plants

Question 1

Lobelia erinus Cascade series

trailing lobelia

Answer 1

Summer display

Cascade Series are trailing annuals to 15cm, with neat foliage and usually white-eyed flowers 2cm across, in shades of blue, violet, mauve, pink and crimson as well as white

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

Ideal trailing plant for a container especially in partial shade.

A moist soil or compost will prolong flowering, as will liquid feeding

Question 2

Helichrysum petiolare (liquorice plant)

Answer 2

Summer display

trailing sub-shrub to 45cm in height, with white stems bearing broadly ovate, grey-hairy, evergreen leaves, and small dull white flowerheads on erect stems in late summer and autumn

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

Question 3

Fuchsia ‘Thalia’

Answer 3

Summer display

Up to 75cm in height, with dark olive-green leaves, tinged purple beneath, and clusters of pendent bright orange-red flowers to 4cm in length in summer and autumn

h 0.5 - 1.0m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

Sheltered position in full sun, part shade. overwinter indoors.

Question 4

Pelargonium zonale

horseshoe geranium

Answer 4

Summer display

erect, bushy plant with fleshy stems turning woody with age and smooth, rounded, mid-green leaves with a narrow, dark green zone.

Clusters of narrow-petalled, pink, white or purple flowers can be produced virtually all year in warm, bright conditions, otherwise in summer and early autumn

Generally grows up to 1m but up to 3m against a wall under glass.

fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Question 5

Salvia splendens

scarlet sage

Answer 5

Summer display

compact, upright perennial usually grown as an annual, with oval leaves and dense spikes of tubular scarlet flowers with large red bracts, over a long period in summer and autumn

Flower borders, patio/container plants, cottage/informal, city/courtyard garden

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

fertile, moist but well-drained, soil in full sun

Question 6

Ajuga reptans

Answer 6

Winter display

spreading stoloniferous perennial to 15cm in height, forming a wide mat of dark green obovate leaves, with erect spikes of dark blue flowers in late spring and early summer

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0.5 - 1.0m

Moist but well–drained, poorly–drained soil in partial shade, hardy to -20C

Question 7

Buxus sempervirens

common box

Answer 7

Winter display

Large, evergreen shrub or small tree to 5m tall, with glossy, dark green leaves to 3cm long, and small, yellowish flowers in clusters, produced in the leaf axils during spring

Ideal for topiary clipping

Question 8

Crocus chrysanthus

golden crocus

Answer 8

Winter interest

corm with fragrant, clear deep yellow flowers appearing with the narrow, greyish leaves in late winter and early spring

h <10cm, s ,10cm

gritty, poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun

Question 9

Hedera helix

common ivy

Answer 9

Winter display

Vigorous, self-clinging climber with three- to five-lobed, glossy, evergreen leaves, often with pale green veins, and some reddish or bronzy colours in autumn.

Will grow in sun or shade, in almost any soil except waterlogged,

Question 10

Viola x wittrockiana ‘Winter Flowering Mixed’

garden pansy

Answer 10

Winter display

Abundance of small flowers in assortment of colours and patterns through winter.

Moist but well drained soil in sun to part shade

h 15cm, s 15cm

Question 11

Bidens aurea ‘Sunshine’

Answer 11

Summer display

low-growing, vigorous, trailing variety often used as an annual, with dark green leaves and masses of bright yellow flowers appearing from late spring into autumn.

h 0.1 - 0.5cm, s 0.1 - 0.5cm

Ideal for hanging baskets or large tubs as it has vigorous, cascading stems. Excellent at coping with drought but needs full sun