Suggestions for something to overflow a medium terracotta pot on a patio?

[d000hg]

I have a small paved front patio and a couple of medium pots that originally had young fruit trees in - 18" diameter I think.

I'd like some ideas of something low maintenance that will festoon these in small, colourful flowers and ideally overflow down the sides, and won't die over the winter. But I don't know the names of any flowers so can anyone list a few likely candidates?

Here is a photo from somewhere I remembered having this kind of thing...

[veggiechicken]

They're geraniums, petunias and lobelia - they're not winter hardy.
How about trailing fuchsias, aubretia and some variegated ivy for winter colour with a few dwarf daffs and crocus to come up in spring?

[d000hg]

It only needs to look nice in summer/autumn really when it's warm enough to sit outside, though planting bulbs for spring makes sense.

That photo was just in case I wasn't describing it well, the idea of a nice low plant cascading over the pot. A nice 'carpet' plant There must be perennials that do this?

Aubretia looks a good shout from a google image search.

Actually searching for that turned up this which might be a good shout... fill up some pots and put the rest in a spare bit of flower bed? http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowe...ction/t62692TM
How many such plants would one put in an 18" pot... 3 perhaps to get flowers over a longer period?

[veggiechicken]

Yes, aubretia and ivy

[d000hg]

Sorry, your new post beat my edits

I'm not a real ivy fan, though I can see where you're coming from.

[Stan79]

100's and 1000's tomatoes in amongst the flowers? Strawberries?

[4390evans]

Like stan suggested, i would say strawberries Ive put some myself below my potted tree. More for ground cover so I dont have to weed much

Perriwinkle is nice

[d000hg]

Interesting thought but it's fairly shady and I've got strawberries covered in the back garden. We get the sun all day in the back until late afternoon, then the front gets the evening sun which in summer is lovely for a nice glass of wine as the sun sets but it's a bit bare. A splash of colour, hint of perfume and the drone of a bumble bee would make it just about lovely

What are "100's and 1000's tomatoes"?

Perriwinkle looks like another good option.

There are some lovely ground-covering plants you find wild on the cliff-tops in Cornwall, I don't know how hardy they are but they certainly withstand salt and terrible soil. Anyone know what any of them are called? There is gravel around the edge of the patio (surrounded by a low wall) and I wodner if such plants might work well?

[veggiechicken]

Sea thrift, sea campion, sea lavender..............

[d000hg]

Very nice, thanks.

[Stan79]

100's and 1000's are a very small, sweet cherry tomato. Really tiny and surprisingly enough there are loads on one plant!

[Jungle Jane]

Nemesia vanilla is a wonderfully scented long flowering perennial,if its in a sheltered position it can be evergreen,mines next to the house. I put a tomato plant in the same pot as mine last year but you could plant annuals like trailing petunia next to it for some added colour & different shaped leaves. As it's a white flower,a purple flower would look great next to it. Or colours that you like.

[d000hg]

I'll keep an eye out for that Jane. Couldn't see it where I normally buy my plants.