Plant For Shallow Planter

[DarceyK123]

A really good friend of mine has made me a beautiful wooden planter and has put a lot of time and effort in.

I really want to use it but the bit where you put the plant is only 11cm deep, I'm worried it's not deep enough to grow anything.

I'm not too good at plants, can anyone suggest something? I'd like some that comes back year on year as I get fed up of replacing them every year.

Thanks for any help.

[Eleena]

Hi Darcey, all I can think of is cress. 11cm depth wouldn't support anything.

[Eleena]

Or most herbs. Not a plant, but a plant would be too heavy for it, no depth for the soil.

[jourdain2]

Any of the sempervirens (kitchen leek-type plants) would be OK - they grew on nearby roofs where I lived in France! I have one (currently flowering) in a pot about 8cm deep. Other option would be something like Lemon Thyme (you can cook with it, too!) - again I've got one, variegated leaves and currently in flower and very pretty. Hope this helps. :)

[Eleena]

Lemon thyme sounds lovely.

[jourdain2]

Purple/lilac flowers, Eleena, and green/yellow leaves. It is very pretty.
:)

[Eleena]

Sounds it jourdain!

[ummmm]

Cacti.

[chanel5]

There is a beautiful little flower called a Livingstone Daisy. It has multiple colours, and the flowers open up when the sun shines. It hugs the ground and the roots are quite shallow. The botanical name is Mesembryanthemum. Your local garden centre might have some. Here is a link:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=livingstone+daisy&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwiZepxKfVAhWCIcAKHTf7DnMQsAQINQ&biw=1536&bih=759

[DarceyK123]

Thanks for all your replies.

Chanel5, those daisys look very pretty.

[Tuvok]

Last week our Lidl had a 6 pack of rockery type succulents.

[DarceyK123]

Was thinking some sort of Groundcover/ trailer?

[Toorak]

You can get some lovely clovers now that are probably easy to grow in shallow soil (and attract bees)

[gness]

Darcy...there is a fantastic plant that's just right....I have it in lots of shallow containers....if I can just remember the flipping name!
Will get back when I do.....

But look at rockery plants such as Lysimachia....I put that everywhere and in pots....low growing with little yellow flowers....creeps and trails and when it's far enough over the container I trim it......

Hutchinsia might be okay too........slower growing though.....x

[murraymints]

oxalis...a lovely plant..alpine by nature

[murraymints]

http://www.dejager.co.uk/1038/Triangularis-Purpurea---Oxalis?gclid=Cj0KCQjw--DLBRCNARIsAFIwR24m8LrF_r18xTjMC0q_dhCfojAutWE6vog-FuaYTmUplxKaS6b1lxIaAtmUEALw_wcB

[DarceyK123]

Ooh I'm getting spoilt for choice now. Some lovely ones.

[gness]

And I am still popping into the garden asking the lovely plants what they are called.....can't believe I can't remember..... :-(

[Chipchopper]

Maybe you could grow some alpine plants in there, they're adapted to grow in very shallow conditions with little soil.
Sedums might do well in a sunny spot but if you want to plant one plant in there, then I'd choose a purple bugle (Ajuga reptans) which are so easy and will soon spread to fill out the area and cascade over the sides.