Hydrangeas are my favorite flower, and Reese Witherspoon’s simple container trick makes them look stunning – I’m never planting them the old way again

Growing up in New England, I had no choice; hydrangeas had to be my favorite flower. Years of seeing the plants wave in the sea breeze against white colonial-style homes in Maine amounted to complete indoctrination. I can't pass one of the blooms without stopping to look.

Despite my expertise, Reese Witherspoon showed me a new way to grow hydrangeas; on the porch, using a blue ceramic planter.

Though it might not be the most novel idea, it makes a huge splash. The pink and blue make one another stand out, and the shiny surface of the container garden is the perfect contrast to the textured surface of the leaves. Best of all, Reese's method allows her to grow large blooms on her small patio.

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As a hydrangea-lover living in a small flatshare in London, this last point is the most intriguing to me. We have a tiny patio at the back of my home, and I never imagined that I would be able to plant my favorite flowers there. It's rare to see hydrangeas as part of a container gardening trend because they tend to be larger than the typical houseplant. However, this setup shows that more than possible, it's also beautiful.

Better yet, I believe it would work well with all hydrangea varieties. Though Reese demonstrates with a blue vase and pink flowers, it would look equally stunning with a light blue vase and white flowers, or blue flowers in a darker blue vase.

If you want to recreate Reese's look, I recommend opting for a large, shiny vase as the actress has done. The reflective textural contrast and room to grow will ensure your plants look stunning and grow to a healthy height.

There are thousands of ways to love your favorite flower, and bringing them onto your porch is a wonderful opportunity to transport them closer to your home. Especially for those who live in small homes, Reese's choice is the perfect option.