The best-known Cedric Morris flower paintings are brilliant compositions of grey poppies, shimmering irises and bright, beacon-like lilies. Lesser known are a couple of largely green works featuring dragon arums. With these paintings in mind, it seemed fitting to have a go at a green arrangement. I picked up this glazed pot for a bargain, as it had wire looped under its rim and had lost some flakes of glaze, but these imperfections simply add extra layers of intrigue.
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How to achieve the look
Container and composition
I chose to really emphasise the emerald palette of this arrangement by using a glazed Castelnaudary terracotta pot. The ornamental shape and coloured glaze of this kind of pot has heightened decoration compared to a typical terracotta plant pot, making it ideal for either inside the house or among furnished areas in the garden.
The cane begonias, with their foliage full of dots and stripes, hold the arrangement together. Though visually hectic, the size and solidity of their foliage somehow offers a resting place for the eye. To create the textures, I used a grass with elegant, arching leaves along with the lacy foliage of Pseudo-fumaria alba subsp. acaulis and eye-catching pops from a scarlet tulip.
Cultivation and care
As this is a mix of hardy and tender plants (cane begonias won’t survive a frost), it ideally needs to be either placed in a frost-free situation or planted up for an outdoor, partially shaded, warm spot in summer. I’ve grown these begonias as houseplants for many years and they are easy to take cuttings from. The simplest way is just by placing the cutting in a small bottle of water, refreshing the water occasionally. They take a few years to grow to the size used here. Brachypodium sylvaticum and Pseudo-fumaria alba subsp. acaulis are both wintergreen and will perform over a long period. The tulip has a short moment of splendour, but could be replaced by Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ or Fuchsia microphylla.
Plants used
Brachypodium sylvaticum An evergreen grass similar to Hakonechloa macra. Height and spread: 50cm x 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b†.
Pseudo-fumaria alba subsp. acaulis Endless creamy white flowers over a froth of dainty, slightly glaucous foliage. 20cm x 20cm. RHS H5, USDA 5a-7b.
Begonia ‘Comte de Lesseps’ One of the best cane begonias, with brightly defined markings. 1.2m x 1.2m. RHS H1B, USDA 10a- 11.
Tulipa sprengeri A species tulip, with blazing red flowers in late May. 25cm x 25cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
Astrantia major Robust herbaceous perennial that thrives in soils which don’t dry out. 60cm x 45cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-7b.
Anemone leveillei A less common windflower with lilac flushes to the backs of its white petals. Also likes shade or a moist soil if positioned in full sun. 60cm x 40cm. RHS H4.
Suppliers
• Beth Chatto’s Plants
& Gardens
Tel 01206 822007, bethchatto.co.uk
• Fibrex Nurseries
Tel 01789 720788,
fibrex.co.uk
• Great Dixter Nurseries Tel 01797 254044,
shop.greatdixter.co.uk
• Special Plants
Tel 01225 891686, specialplants.net
• The Plantman’s Preference
Tel 01379 710810, plantpref.co.uk
• Woottens of Wenhaston
Tel 01502 478258, woottensplants.com
Here's another of James Horner's elegant pot designs