Pots of colour

Painting Cream is as refreshing as brilliant white, but kinder on the eyes. I gave he pots two coats of emulsion for good coverage.

Planting An almost monochrome combination of contrasting shapes and textures is very restful. The cream-edged mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), the frizzy ivy and asparagus fern and the large-leaved eucomis differ hugely in shape, but they all work well together.

Position Perfect for a shady corner.

Aftercare Overwinter the mother-in-law's tongue and asparagus fern somewhere frost free. The ivy and eucomis will be fine outside.

We used

• Large terracotta pot, 45cm tall/38cm diameter (from a selection at B&Q, as before)
• Small terracotta pot, 30cm tall/30cm diameter (from a selection at B&Q)
• Dulux emulsion in cream (Salisbury Stones 3), around £2 for 250ml

In the large pot

• 3 x Eucomis bicolor
• 3 x Asparagus densiflorus

In the small pot

• 1 x mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii)
• 1 x ivy (Hedera helix 'Anita')

Go bananas

Painting To pick up the warm flush on the leaves of the banana (Musa), I left this terracotta-effect pot unpainted.

Planting This container is deceptively simple, but the contrasting foliage and the colour theming make a huge impact. I love the tangled filigree foliage of the lotus and cascading red begonia flowers against the paddle-shaped leaves of the banana. The grey of the lotus is the same shade as the jagged leaves of the melianthus, which adds cohesion to the display.

Position For maximum impact, stand this pot in full sun or light shade against a subdued background.

Aftercare Overwinter the banana, melianthus and lotus somewhere frost free. Store the begonia tubers in a cool, dry shed.

We used

• Polyethylene resin pot, 43cm tall/65cm diameter (£52, Prestige Plants, 01449 711 144, www.prestigeplants.co.uk
• 3 x banana Musa 'Tandarra Red' (or look for Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii')
• 1 x Melianthus major
• 4 x red trailing begonias
• 4 x Lotus berthelotii