IN THIS GUIDE

The thoroughgoing combination of practicality and panache , barrels make great planter for cosmetic flowers and culinary herbs likewise .

Their solid oak staves and silver or black metallic element basketball add a bumpkinly good luck charm to their surround , while also being extremely functional to iron boot .

gloved gardener using a trowel to plant pansies in a barrel planter

That ’s because they volunteer more room and better retention of wet in comparison to your stock pots , but all the advantages of convenience and mobility that come with container planting .

It ’s like having a mini - raised bed at your administration !

“ I love the contrast between vivid green and the benighted tones of the barrelful , ” share Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish .

agave plant with long thin spiky pale green leaves growing in barrels outside along an orange wall

“ What barrel also allow well than most container is some insulation against Robert Lee Frost to the roots and a generous ascendent - run .

“ I choose to run along any barrel before planting , such as with plastic sheeting or old compost travelling bag , to facilitate them last longer . Ensure there are drain holes .

“ For plants loved by slugs , a gun barrel may not be the best option as they provide plenteousness of hiding places . ”

purple flowering ageratum plants growing outdoors

While drum do bring themselves to an enormous compass of different flora , there are some that will fare better in them and some that will look more attractive in them than others .

With that in mind , I ’ve specialize thing down to my 15 favourite plants to grow in a barrel , for both amateur gardeners and experienced horticulturalists .

1) Agave

Natives of the warm clime of Mexico and the fence region , agave plantsare prize for the striking computer architecture of their foliage.1Agave . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . call up March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:325900-2

These succulent ca n’t bear frost , which is why planting them in containers makes perfect gumption .

In fact , a barrel is an ideal pick .

basil plant growing in a half-barrel outside on mulched ground

Not only will the Sir Henry Joseph Wood retain warmness and moisture better than credit card or ground soil , but it can also be moved into sunnier spots if necessary .

2) Ageratum

Also know as floss flower , ageratum is a genus that ’s home to more than 40 different species of annuals and perennials.2Mahr , S. ( n.d.-a).Ageratum , Ageratum houstonianum . Wisconsin Horticulture . Retrieved March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/ageratum/

The absolute majority of them create teeming cascades of blueish - over-embellished peak , which will blossom from other springiness to previous autumn .

Indeed , it ’s only frost that will bring an close to their flowering , so the insularism provided by a bbl can prolong their show that fiddling bit longer .

pink flowering bergenias with long, thick red stems and big green leaves growing outside

3) Basil

For those who love cooking as much as they do gardening , basil is front and centreof the crosswalk on that particular Venn diagram .

It ’s prosperous to cultivate and live in most condition , while it can enhance the flavours of all form of salads , soups , kinds of alimentary paste and curries.3Basil . ( 2022 , May 30 ) . BBC Good Food . retrieve March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/basil-glossary

By growing basil in a barrel , you may pick out its emplacement for optimum access code .

mini cacti in pots that have been placed inside a small barrel with a lid outside on a table

Why not place a barrel of that herby goodness by your kitchen room access , so it ’s within easy reach whenever you need it ?

4) Bergenia

Bergenias are colloquially known as elephant ’s ears for the oversized appearance of their leave-taking .

It ’s precisely this distinctive image which makes them a perfect fit for barrel growing , since the leaves will spill out over the edges of the receptacle in an attractive fashion .

The fact that Bergenias are evergreen all through the calendar , even accruing a red tint tinge in the winter months and producing bright flowers in former spring , makes them an idealistic gain to your outdoor display , while their easy - go nature can withstand most conditions .

chives with purple flower buds growing on tall stems from a barrel outside in front of a lawn

5) Cacti

Okay , so the barrel show here is of pixie - sized ratio , but that does n’t make it any less of a viable option .

You could grow thesetiny caction your windowsill , or else replicate the same results with a full - size of it barrel out of doors .

Famous for their set - and - forget qualities , cacti demand very little in the way of upkeep .

chrysanthemums with white, orange, yellow and red flowers growing in pots and barrels outside in an autumnal display

And while not commonly farm outdoors in the UK , there are some hardy types that can survive many month of the yr outdoors .

This is specially the caseful if they are report to discontinue them sitting too wet , such as under a porch or car port .

They are popular for the intrigue of their computer architecture which , alongside the quirky appeal that barrel bring , could really make a statement in your garden .

small cucumber plants growing in a wooden barrel outdoors

“ If I could pick any cactus for the job , I would go withOpuntia robusta , because its big kind will equal the generous dimension of a barrel , ” explains Peter .

6) Chives

Chives are a popular herbaceous plant that , when their folio and stem are diced and added to a ravisher , bring with them a mild flavour of onions that is n’t too overpowering .

outdoors of horticultural circles , it ’s a little known fact that their bright pompom - same bloom are also edible.4Chive Blossoms . ( 2008 , June 23 ) . Bon Appétit . Retrieved March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/chive-blossoms

Even if you do n’t contrive to wipe out the flowers , they make for an telling mess atop the upright stems of the plant , adored by bees .

daffodils with yellow flowers spilling from a wide barrel outside in front of a wooden fence

Meanwhile , their low - maintenance nature make them the perfect option for the barrel - grow beginner .

7) Chrysanthemum

useable in a broad variety of shapes , size of it and colours , Chrysanthemums are highly versatilebut always telling .

Here , their striking livid flower head jostle for position atop the dark brown bbl in which they ’re house , ply a pleasing visual contrast .

Like many other perennials , Chrysanthemums are slightly demanding plant life in that they ask you to properly set them up for the winter .

fern with rigid green leaves growing from an open barrel planter

That means giving their roots lot of room to simulated military operation and keeping them secure from frost – both job at which barrels excel .

8) Cucumber

equal to of bring a crisp coldness to salad , sandwiches and thirst - quenching drinks during the summer months , a cucumber patch is a ready to hand craw to have in your back air pocket .

If you do n’t have the space to create one , however , a cask will do the job nicely .

Traditional long variety must be grown in a greenhouse , but smaller mintage can survive out of doors ; either way , a homegrown variety invariably taste well .

white flowering hydrangeas with large flowerheads growing from a barrel outside in front of a lawn and some trees

Just be sure to transfer manlike flowers on older assortment , since pollination can result in bitter , source - satisfy produce.5How to avoid caustic cucumbers . ( 2023 , March 10 ) . Suttons Gardening Grow How . remember July 31 , 2023 , fromhttps://hub.suttons.co.uk/gardening-advice/how-to-avoid-bitter-cucumbers

9) Daffodil

Daffodils are such bonnie flowersthat they wo n’t be capable to resist having a keek over the sharpness of their barrel to try and get a glimpse of their own reflection in a nearby pond or puddle .

And who could argue ?

The yellow against brown is a particularly handsome combo .

a wooden barrel filled with petunias and geraniums in shades of pink, yellow, white and red, in front of a stone wall

Extremely reliable , you’re able to set your watch by the spring - flower habits of a Narcissus pseudonarcissus .

They ’re especially well - conform to containers like barrels , but to be honest they ’ll do just fine in jolly much any environment .

10) Ferns

With their delicately textured leaf which spread and spills freely , fern are a match made in heavenfor a barrel planter .

The unfurling nature of their leaves is a absorbing stack to behold and one which will occur with little to no stimulation from your side .

Ferns are one of the most divers families of plants , range from tiny and fragile to larger - than - lifespan and alcoholic .

pink flowering sedum plant growing from a casket with long stems

As such , you ’ll be able-bodied to find a smorgasbord that fits your be aesthetic with relief .

“ If I choose one to take for its own in a barrelful , I would go for the evergreen plant and elegantBlechnum spicant , ” shares Peter .

11) Hydrangea

Another flower which come in a supremely vast range of build and size of it , hydrangeascan be as big and boastful or as subtle and minimise as you wish .

In the image above , their outsize white-hot blossoms take a typically British feel to the cask below , despite their Asian and American origins.6Hydrangea . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . Retrieved March 22 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30010546-2

They care moisture and detest Robert Frost , so a wooden container is idealistic for retaining the former and repelling the latter from their radical .

white flowering water lily plant with a yellow centre floating in water inside a barrel with pink petals that have fallen from a plant next to it

check they delight skillful drainage and mottled sunshine and you ca n’t go far improper .

12) Periwinkle

Periwinkles are evergreen plant creatures which boast mass upon masses of purplish , blueish or white-hot bloom get along leaping .

The proliferation of bloom cascading over the edge of your barrel ’s sassing will be the star attraction , but their twelvemonth - round greenery is another bonus .

By and large , periwinkles are exceedingly easy to care for and can hold most condition , including insensate division of the UK .

However , some species can be invading , so the clearly - defined boundaries extend by a bbl could be idealistic .

They would immix well with a marvellous , central plant life , such as a midget coniferous tree .

13) Petunia

The richness of colorful flowersoffered by Petuniasis one of the main reasons why they ’re wide favoured across the UK as bedding plant , alongside their hardiness and relaxation of growth .

twin with geraniumsas above , they ’re a beautiful barrel bloom .

Although they want little in the way of maintenance , they ’re extremely untoughened to frosts and will stop flower at the first sign of cold .

Although a barrel wo n’t prevent that inevitableness , it could put over it .

14) Sedum

You might not think it when you reckon at them , butsedums actually belong to to the succulent familyCrassulaceae .

Their gallant , skyward - facing blossoms hold back glossy foliage below which belies their birthright .

Most type of sedum are low - growing , which realise them dandy for combining with taller plants in a barrel .

Having said that , the vertical stems ofHylotelephium spectabile , like the plant project above provide a focal point all on their own .

15) Water Lily

Who said a barrel plantation owner had to be make full with soil ?

Water lily are gorgeous brute which be adrift idyllically atop a keg filled with water , creating a picture - pure plus to your home that not only looks great but will pull other wildlife , too .

As the name propose , water lilies normally involve a pond or lake to prosper .

However , for those with garden too diminished to house such a feature film , a barrel home ground can render the complete compromise criterion .

“ Selecting a low species , such asNymphaea pygmaea , would be ideal for barrel , ” Peter say .

References