[andyf75]

Hi,
We have just moved and the front of the house is all concrete so looks extremely bare. Planning to put some containers to brighten it up, its south facing.

Any ideas for large plants that would look good and thrive in a container?
Thanks

[compostqueen]

Well that really depends on what you like 

I like a rose myself, perhaps combined with a clematis   

Something spiky with flowering plants at its base always looks good.  I've got a variegated spiky thing (can't for the life of me think what it's called) and I ring the changes with the plantings at its base. The pansies in there at the mo will get composted and I'm going for some winter colour next, starting with hardy cyclamen etc

New Zealand flax!  Mine is a brown/yellow reddy colour and it's very effective

[sunshineband]

There are dwarf buddleia that do well in containers.

I would perhaps go for a standard scented rose underplanted with seasonal flowers or dwarf lavender.

[Kristen]

The containers in front of our house have "Outers" and "Inners". The Outer is a 3-sided ply cover with some fancy bits that my daughter knocked up and painted.  The Inner is a fairly substantial and utilitarian ply box.  I have several inners, planted for the different seasons, and I rotate them around.  Topiary for the Winter, bulbs for the spring and either flowering or leafy for the Summer.

Pre-requisite is that you have somewhere "round the back" to be bringing on the out-of-season containers though.

[Yorkie]

They're lovely 

[Kristen]

Thanks She's a clever girl. Me = no creative bones in my body!

(Unless you meant the plants, rather than the planters ... that was me  )

[Sparkyrog]

Thanks She's a clever girl. Me = no creative bones in my body!

(Unless you meant the plants, rather than the planters ... that was me  )

very interesting thread ! I discussed similar with the landlord of the pub where I do there Garden today 

[Yorkie]

Thanks She's a clever girl. Me = no creative bones in my body!

(Unless you meant the plants, rather than the planters ... that was me  )

Err,  , well,  , *searches for right answer*     

[BobE]

andyf75, Can you fit trellis to the walls?  If you could that would add an entire dimension.

You could put a conical shaped box plant in containers each side of the front door.

[Kristen]

Err,  , well,  , *searches for right answer*     

<Fail!>

[andyf75]

andyf75, Can you fit trellis to the walls?  If you could that would add an entire dimension.

I could yes, had thought of that. But would it look a bit odd to have a plant in a pot climbing up a trellis?

[Kristen]

I think it would look fine.  Found this example on Google of trellis on the wall and a container below it


and this of an integral container/trellis combo (which, personally, I'm not that keen on ...)

[sion01]

I had a rosemary prostatus in a large blue pot.It was lovely for years till extreme cold killed it tuther winter