Containers of fire

Brighten the outlook and raise the temperature this summer by planting up pots with flaming colours. Hazel Sillver presents the ultimate hot list for your garden

- Hazel Sillver

GLOWING crimson, letterbox scarlet, golden amber and embers orange - these are the solar shades that ignite the magic of the summer season. And what better way to incorporate them into the garden than in containers of blazing colour dotted around the patio or positioned close to the front door.

Combine yellow and apricot cannas that blaze like candles with exotic magenta dahlias and orange ginger lilies (hedychium) and you'll add a touch of tropical heat. Fill terracotta pots with carmine and sienna orange marigolds, pelargoniums and nasturtiums, and conjure up the ochre warmth of Tuscany. Or fill a hanging basket with every shade of yellow - it will shine as bright as the midday sun.

When choosing your plants, bear in mind that while some hot colours combine well - different shades of red; pink and orange; red and pink; orange and red - other fiery combinations will simply clash and look garish. Plant scarlet and yellow (or yellow and orange) side by side and you may find they just don't work.

Add in softer tones

By using paler tones of the same palette - think primrose yellow, soft apricot and gentle pink - you'll dial down the overall heat while boosting the impact of the strong colours, showcasing them to even greater effect.

Grasses such as carex and pennisetum are useful foils that temper the fire of bright flowers. Similarly, burgundy foliage or flowers make great complementary container companions. Try the bold reds of Crocosmia 'Hellfire' and 'Bishop of Llandaff' dahlias with Miscanthus sinensis Red Cloud and the dark-chocolate scabious 'Black Knight'.

Once you've decided on the contents of your pot, you'll need to get planting. Annuals can be direct sown in late April and early May; bedding and perennials can be bought from nurseries to pot up; and it's not too late to container-plant late-summer flowering bulbs, corms and tubers.