Exciting Christmas Combinations
Posted By: Hugh Forbia Category: DesignIt's definitely getting more Christmassy everywhere and here at Riverside we've put together some winning winter combinations to brighten any pots and windowboxes over the festive season and beyond. Each of these combinations harmonises three complimentary plants to give a sucessful look. Care has been taken to balance colour and texture.
(Main Image): Here we have chosen: Gaultheria procumbens with its glossy red berries, cool Cineraria 'Silver Dust' and the elegant Soft Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum 'Herrenhausen'). These give a festive look with plenty of warmth despite the frostly coloured Cineraria.
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(Above) A cooler festive look for you to try would be: Red-flowered Miracle Cyclamen (here we've mixed the silver-leaved form with the green leaved form), once again the Cineraria 'Silver Dust' and glossy green English Ivy (Hedera helix).
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(Above) For an even frostier look, add White-flowered Miracle Cyclamen, Icy-leaved Carlocephalus brownii and the blue-grey Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard'.
Each of these combinations will continue to look their best with a small amount of maintenance. Remove old flower-heads (deadheading) to encourage continuous flowering. Water carefully (Don't overdo it in the cooler weather). Should the night temperature get very low (-2 degrees or colder) protect pots using some horticultural fleece.
Don't forget each of these arrangements can be underplanted with complimentary Spring bulbs such as Iris reticulata, Snowdrops and Crocus. This will extend the pots season still further into Spring.
