Autumn Pots and Spring Bulbs

[DilysPhyllis]

I'm a novice gardener and have had happy success this summer with plants in pots eg. Petunia, calibrachoa, moss rose, impatiens, cosmos, dahlia and sunflowers.

I have nothing that is going to bring colour in autumn and wonder if anyone can suggest plants/flowers for pots that will last through Autumn and are fairly low maintenance. Forgive my ignorance is there anything that flowers or brings colour over winter?

I'm also looking towards spring and wondering what bulbs to plant. Daffodils and tulips seem obvious but would welcome any suggestions. I seem to have more success with plants in pots than in the ground if that makes any difference. Thank you.

Flowering now and through winter will be cyclamen, but also look at Ferns, Ivy’s, conifers for winter structure in pots. You could look at a local garden centre they are all switching it to autumn pots now.

Cyclamens are great.

Things flowering in my garden at the moment are fuschias, roses, late clematis, pelargoniums in pots, anemone japonica, sedum spectabile, lavender that I've deadheaded once and is on its second flowering.

And the last of the artichokes that I left to flower.

Look up lasagne bulb planting to learn how to layer bulbs so different varieties come up in succession.

There are so many different spring bulbs: snowdrops, crocuses, irises, daffodils/narcissus, anemones, hyacinths, grape hyacinths (muscari), chinoxida, fritillaria, alliums, ipheion, lily of the valley, aconites, bluebells...

Winter violas/pansies are my favourite to plant on top of bulbs. If you are lucky, Cool Wave pansies will bloom all 12 months of the year.

Look up lasagne bulb planting to learn how to layer bulbs so different varieties come up in succession.

I don't know it was called that, what a great name! I used to do this for a DA years ago and give it to her for Christmas so that she had a bit of colour throughout winter and spring.

Would a Hellebore work do you think OP. Mine is usually the first thing to flower here

Thank you, great ideas I am making notes. Bulb lasagne sounds great!

Winter pansies last right through to early summer. I also like miniature winter heathers.