Alluring Container Pot with Walled Garden Style from Benton End Inspiration

Alluring Container Pot with Walled Garden Style from Benton End Inspiration

Step into the Brilliance of Benton End

Embrace the breezy, sunny allure of Benton End, a place once called a "hay-meadow of exotics" by renowned writer Ronald Blythe. After Cedric Morris's death in 1982, this hub of artistic and horticultural pursuits has evolved, yet retains the vibrant essence Morris instilled. Now, we're taking you on a journey to restore the garden, allowing Morris's signature flowers, like these fabulous tiger lilies with their fiery orange petals, to bloom effortlessly.

Discover Your Green Thumb

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Create Your Masterpiece

Container and Composition

This old galvanized drinking trough, once a functional water butt, is now your canvas. I'm reluctant to change its purpose, so don't fret about drilling holes in its base. Short-term plantings work fine, provided watering is cautious, particularly during wet seasons. When crafting an arrangement like this, let your star player shine, and these lilies definitely take center stage. Companions like ghostly gladioli, echoing Morris's iris breeding color tones, find comfort in their presence. The fizzy yellow of Patrinia monandra softens as it's pollinated, while the purple and bronze-hued foliage of Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate' interjects the green foliage tapestry.

Nurture Your Greens

All these plants can stay in a container of this size for several years, except for the Patrinia, which, while moderately short-lived, is easy to raise from seed. Healthy soil in large containers is key to their longevity. Add a fresh layer of compost or leaf mould in early spring, and consider a winter mulch to protect the less hardy Gladiolus from freezing conditions. A container on wheels, like this one, can be easily moved as the seasons change.

Plant List

• Calamagrostis varia: its fresh-green foliage adds gracefulness. Height and spread: 1.2m x 90cm.
• Patrinia monandra: Its short-lived yellow flowers in tiered heads delight for a brief period. 1.5m x 50cm. RHS H4.
• Lilium lancifolium: A reliable, persistent lily that produces bulblets, making it easy to expand your collection. 1.6m x 60cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-10b.
• Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate': Its purple-stained foliage creates a captivating contrast against other flowers. 1.2m x 60cm. RHS H5, USDA 4a-9b.
• Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Inverleith': Smaller and earlier flowering than many B. amplexicaulis cultivars, making it more suitable for container use. Height and spread: 90cm x 60cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-7b.
• Gladiolus papilio: Its downward-facing flowers showcase the celadon and purple backs of the petals. 1m x 45cm. RHS H4, USDA 4a-10b.

Unveiling Benton End's Legacy

Originally a sixteenth-century house in Hadleigh, Suffolk, Benton End was bought by artists Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines in 1939. This haven wasn't just their home; it was a creative sanctuary for art and horticulture. Cedric Morris, an esteemed artist and gardener, transformed the garden into a botanical wonderland, inspiring his artwork. Known for gifting plants, particularly irises, to his loved ones, Morris's garden was an essential part of his life and art.

As we bring Benton End's garden back to life, we honor Morris's artistic legacy. The garden's reopening in 2026 presents an opportunity for visitors to experience the beauty of this historic site and gain insight into Morris's work as an artist and a gardener. An exhibition, "Garden to Canvas: Cedric Morris & Benton End," showcasing Morris's garden-inspired paintings, ran until June 2025 at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, providing a teaser of the garden's future rebirth.

1. Spark your creativity with container planting ideas for home-and-garden, like using Benton End's signature tiger lilies and irises to design a vibrant pot design that echoes Morris's artistic style.
2. Restore the lush gardens of Benton End by providing the right care for your choice of plants, such as composting the soil in large containers every spring and protecting less hardy plants with a winter mulch.
3. As you recreate Benton End's iconic gardens, consider planting a variety of garden treasures like Calamagrostis varia, Patrinia monandra, Lilium lancifolium, Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate', Bistorta amplexicaulis 'Inverleith', and Gladiolus papilio, to capture the essence of Morris's botanical wonderland.

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