Planting a scented container

The first thing we think about when choosing plants for a self-watering container or hanging basket is how our flowers will look. Here at Amberol, we love seeing the carefully colour-coordinated floral displays that brighten up the streets of the UK all year round in our self-watering containers. 

However, while colour is undeniably important, why not go one step further and choose plants that will provide a full sensory experience by releasing a beautiful fragrance to enhance their visual beauty? 

Roses round the door 

The scent of a rose is the most iconic floral fragrance of them all. However, not all roses release a fragrance, so check the one you have your eye on is scented before you buy it. Many varieties of roses will grow well in self-watering planters, so long as the pot is large enough to allow the rose to flourish.  Try shrub roses in containers where you have limited space – the bright pink Darcey Bussell and sunny yellow The Poet’s Wife varieties are both great choices for stunning colour and a fruity fragrance.

Purple haze 

To bring the colour and fragrance of the Provencal countryside to your floral display, why not plant some lavender in a container? Its distinct but calming fragrance is released into the air even if you only have a small pot of it. In the UK, lavender actually grows best in containers. Because Amberol’s self-watering planters have built-in water reservoir, you don’t need drainage holes and they still only need to be watering once or twice a week. 

Heavenly herbs 

Edible plants thrive in self-watering containers.  Not only do herbs look attractive, they are a cost-effective and tastier alternative to the expensive plastic packets of herbs on sale in supermarkets. Most herbs are low maintenance to grow and whenever you’re snipping some chives, mint, rosemary or thyme off your plant, you can take a little bit extra to roll between your fingers to release their fragrance. 

Fruit and veg 

Could there be a more quintissentially English smell than fresh strawberries in the summer? Far from needing a vegetable patch or an allotment to grow these, you can get excellent results in a hanging basket. Make sure you don’t overcrowd your strawberries – 3 or 4 plants per 12 inch container is about right. Alternatively, why not cultivate the unique fragrance and delicious taste of tomatoes in your hanging baskets? Many varieties of tomatoes including Garden Pearl and Tumbler grow well in hanging baskets. And whether you choose strawberries or tomatoes, planting them in hanging baskets means you bypass the pesky slugs, snails and other ground-based insects that enjoy feasting on them as much as we do! 

In the night garden 

Plants like evening primrose, the tobacco plant, sweet rocket and jasmine release their fragrance in the evening to attract the night-flying insects that pollinate their flowers.  Jasmine in particular, has a glow-in-the-dark quality at night that makes it look every bit as enticing as it smells. All these plants can thrive in containers. 

Amberol supply and manufacture low-maintenance, self-watering hanging baskets, up the pole baskets, barrel planters, stone effect troughs and many, many more styles. We can even supply planters in a variety of different colours! For more information about our extensive range, please call 01773 830 930 or email us at sales@amberol.co.uk.