Plant man

For garden designer Richard Unsworth, the most trustworthy sidekick for a super planting is a hero pot.

POTS , VESSELS AND PLANTERS : a beautiful way of inviting scale, vibrancy and impact to indoor or outdoor spaces, says garden designer and Garden Life founder Richard Unsworth. “[Pots] are the frame and the structure for the true hero – the planting within,” he adds. Tasked with curating a selection of his favourite plants and planters for Belle, Richard leans towards natural materials for pots, such as terracotta but also adores vintage containers that tell a story. “Over the years, we have curated a rich and diverse collection [of planters], whether huge and commercial for trees or for the smallest specimens. We don’t always drop a vessel into our designs, but they are so useful in giving gardens personality and a layer of interest.” gardenlife.com.au

1_RIPPLE EFFECT

A collaboration between Garden Life and Adam Goodrum, the ‘Coil’ planter, $750, is made by hand in Marrakesh and pairs well with the super tough and textural cardboard palm (Zamia furfuraceae). gardenlife.com.au

2_HOURGLASS FIGURE

The fluid silhouette and appealing matt cement finish of the ‘Spindel’ pot by Swisspearl from Robert Plumb, $535, fuse to form a modernist classic. robertplumb.com.au

3_SMOOTH CYLINDER

When floor space is at a premium, the footprints of the ‘Moderno/ARD’ planters, $295/small; $445 large, are narrow enough to fit, while the height delivers the plants, such as the Opuntia ‘Burbank Spineless’, to eye level. gardenlife.com.au

4_FRENCH BORN