At the Nursery Shop people frequently ask us which plants we would choose for our gardens as we get to see how they perform close up over a long period of time. Our recommendations often come from personal experience of growing them in our gardens, so we have a good idea of what will be successful in the area.

Here are two members of the Sales Team with their choices for an autumn container

Ben joined us this summer, lives locally and has a typical garden for Overton with a thin layer of topsoil over chalk

''For me the plants with striking or architectural foliage and darker tones are the most interesting - apparently I may even get my own 'Goth' sales bench next year.

I like the HELLEBORUS x sternii for its dramatic form and the way it contrasts with the PTERIS fern, with extra interest from the black OPHIOPOGON lilyturf and moody foliage of HEUCHERA 'Green Spice' below. Most of the plants here are evergreen with only the HEUCHERA dying back a bit but not totally in winter''

Plant List HELLEBORUS x sternii

PTERIS cretica var. albolineata

OPHIOPOGON planiscapus 'Black Beard'

HEUCHERA 'Green Spice'

Alex's garden borders the River Test in Freefolk but has an interesting mixture of patches of moister soil as well as free draining chalky areas. She is lucky in that she can grow most things on sale at the nursery somewhere in her garden.

''I have chosen plants for a container on a particular spot on my sunny terrace. They all look amazing now but actually the combination will carry on into winter with the grass PENNISETUM fading to buff but remaining upright contrasting with the semi-evergreen foliage of the AGERATINA. Next spring I will probably replant the AGERATINA in the garden as it will become too big for the pot after a couple of years but keep the PENNISETUM and NERINE in the container where both will appreciate the drainage.''

Plant List PENNISETUM alopecuroides

NERINE wellesii pale form

AGERATINA ligustrina

All these plants are available from the Nursery, but may not be available online.