Beautiful pots and baskets for winter

[Optimist1]

Looking for suggestions for plants for my pots and baskets this winter. I had gorgeous trailing begonias in them this summer, and will miss their showy display once they're over. I usually go down the winter pansy route, but would welcome some suggestions of something that might have the wow factor (and survive a SE England winter). TIA

[Optimist1]

Bump!

[cantspel]

How about planting bulbs in layers.
Daffs first, then tulips and then crocus and add some winter Viola to the top and some ivy to hand down the sides. The bulbs will grow up through the viola for a spring display why the viola will give some winter color.

Or if you dont fancy daffs and tulips you could use hyacinths and muscari. Or any bulbs you fancy planting larger bulbs at the bottom and working up the pot in layers according to bulb size.

You can also put cyclamen, primula or polyanthus on the top for winter flowers.

Use a english ivy to stay green or winter or a variegated ivy if you prefer the green with paler edges.

[Optimist1]

That sounds very colourful, Cantspel - have made a shopping list for my trip to the garden centre!

[bumperella]

It's nice to have a something colourful throughout - where I am, things like viola/primrose/polyanthus will flower only in milder spells.
Have you thought about adding a shrub like Skimmia Japonica (red flower buds all winter)? Or something with strongly coloured foliage - eg small Choisya ternata "Sundance"? Or a variegated evergreen, eg Eonymous fortune?

[bumperella]

Eonymous fortunii. Sorry!

[MariscallRoad]

I read in the RHS site 'winter-flowering pansies, petunias, lobelia and geraniums are always winners’ I will try those. Pansies are real stars! I thought of hanging some from my trees.

[bumperella]

petunia, lobelia and pelargoniums (geranium) won't survive frost through - temps below 0C will kill them, so whilst they are beautiful for summer containers they're not a good idea for winter....

[Bearleigh]

Sarah Raven is good on pots: her website sells the constituent parts of what she calls 'bulb lasagne' and there are articles and videos by her all over the internet. My favourites for winter colour are pansies and primulas both mixed with evergreens. I have had occasional problems with pansies getting aphids, and primulas getting mouldy, but now rather than agonising over them I just throw them away and get some new ones. I also buy pots of bulbs when they are just about to flower and pop them in. I find it more reliable than planting my own.