There is always a case for experimenting with variously hued flowers in your garden, but it doesn't always need to be this way. In recently resurfaced archival footage, Martha explains why she's filling her urns with one single flower (Campanula carpatica), and her reasons make just as much sense today.
'So many of the big, mixed pots that one sees at garden centers are very beautiful, and they’re fun to watch, [and sometimes] planting a single plant might be a big repetitious or a little boring to you. But when you have an entire garden like this, sometimes a mixed pot or container looks a little confusing. That’s why we’re doing our garden experiment,' Martha says.
The guru is filmed in her iconic Turkey Hill garden, famous for its expansive size, which explains why she is looking to prioritize order. If she planted too many varying flowers, her garden would risk feeling chaotic, but her choice makes things more streamlined. Her container gardening idea may be several years old, but it's changing how I arrange my flowers this spring.
Shop the look
A modern update on a classic pedestal design, this beautiful urn deserves pride of place in any garden. Made from a durable resin, this sturdy planter will stand the test of time, whatever the weather.
It's easy to see why this was the flower Martha wanted in her garden. This pretty purple-blue Bellflower is a must-have for anyone who wants an English Cottage Garden aesthetic, and looks beautiful in an urn or any other container you may have.
Made using an eco-friendly blend of recycled plastic, stone powder and wood dust, this classic urn design will elevate any patio pot displays.
In the clip, Martha expands on why she chose Campanula carpatica for her 'experiment' – sharing that she was going to fill all her pots with this one purple flower.
'I just got back from our local K-Mart and look what I found: a great, big, wonderful flat of campanula carpatica. These are beautiful purple bells that grow about ten inches tall. I am going to use these as an experiment this year. Generally, when one plants a big, important, architectural statement in a garden, you would maybe plant it with a mixture of annuals, maybe some hanging ivies and things, but this year, I thought I’d try something different,' she says.
'I am going to plant only one thing, these beautiful campanulas, and I’m going to put them in this pot, and I’ll space them about six inches apart. I’m going to place them in here and see what they look like... I am going to do all my pots in one single flower.'
Although Martha uses Campanula carpatica in her pots, she notes that her technique is possible with any plants. The trick is to keep them regimented, whichever one you choose.
'You could do a wonderful display of lavender, I think that would look very special. You can also do flowering herbs. It’s funny, when you find such pretty plants at a reasonable price, you can afford to experiment.'
