Benefits of Container Gardening
Even if you’ve got a beautifully designed garden, there are plenty of reasons to add plants in containers to your home. You can decorate a front porch or backyard patio with boxes or pots of flowers. You can even decorate your garden space with planters, which can be used for growing perennials outside your hardiness zone (just move 'em indoors when the temps aren't right), filling in a space where planting in-ground isn't practical, or simply raising some particularly showy plants up off the ground.
Containers are also useful for plants that need different soil or sunlight than your garden provides. There’s no need to worry about changing the pH for acid-loving blue hydrangeas in your whole yard, when you can just grow them in a pot. And plants with highly specific light needs, like orchids, can be moved around when they're in containers.
In fact, “many plants thrive in containers,” says Barbara Wise, author of Container Gardening for All Seasons. “The most important thing is [to ensure the pot has] good drainage. Make sure there’s a hole in the bottom of your pot so plants don’t drown.” Ahead, ideas and plants for container gardening—but first, some tips.
Tips for Successful Container Gardening
Before anything, choose the right pairing of plant and pot. A fast-growing plant that’s due to reach a large size may need a bigger container so that you don’t need to repot it too quickly. (Keep our guide to repotting handy, though. You’ll need it!) Slow-growing plants may not need to be repotted fast, but a too-large pot will leave them looking lost. If you’re unsure, ask around at your favorite local gardening store.
Also read the plant tag, and make sure you’re growing plants in the right conditions. If a plant needs “full sun” that means it should have 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day, while “part sun” is about half that. “Shade” means no direct sunlight or only a bit of morning sun. (Keeping plants in containers means you can move them around to help meet their needs, which can be a plus!)
Most importantly, make sure to keep your pots watered, especially in the heat of summer. Pots dry out faster than in-ground plants. Pots made from materials such as terra cotta tend to need to be watered more frequently because water evaporates more quickly through the porous material. You may need to water once or twice a day during the height of summer when your plants are mature and have filled out the pot. You can also choose self-watering planters to cut down on how often you need to water.
Finally, because nutrients leach out of pots faster than in-ground plantings, feed your pots regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer or slow-release granular type. This ensures your flowers will keep blooming all summer long.
Plants for Container Gardening
Plant: Hydrangea
Hydrangeas aren’t just stunning in ground; they make beautiful container plantings. Make sure to read the plant tag because there are many different types of hydrangeas with different sun exposure needs.
Plant: Caladium
With heart-shaped foliage splashed with shades of green, pink and white, caladium is a real show-stopper in containers. Dig up the bulbs in cold climates to save for next season.
Plant: Rose
Roses aren’t as fussy as you think, and many new varieties grow well in containers. Just make sure to keep them in full sun, water regularly and fertilize to ensure they bloom well. Snip off spent blooms if you like a tidier look, though it’s not entirely necessary.
Plant: Chili Pepper
One of the smartest things you can grow in containers is food! Especially something like peppers, which love a lot of sun and can be susceptible to pests. Containers allow you to move them around, keeping them in sunlight and out of harm's way. And harvesting is a breeze!
Plants: Violas and Pansies
Add welcome color after a long winter to pots near your front door with these early spring bloomers. Some types of violas and pansies will last well into early summer and will revive in the cool temperatures of fall. Bonus: the petals are actually edible! So you can use them to beautify a cake, such as this delicious Blueberry-Lemon Loaf Cake!
Plants: Herbs
Herbs are super-easy to grow in pots! From sage and rosemary to thyme and cilantro, most fresh herbs that you want in your kitchen can easily be grown there, especially if you have a bright windowsill. Just keep them watered, and snip off what you need for cooking!
Plant: Basil
If you only grow one herb in a pot, though, let it be basil. This fast-growing herb does super well in indoor containers, where it can get plenty of water and light, avoid the super hot (or cold days) that can really limit it, and flourish year round!
Plant: Strawberries
Strawberries are a perfect plant for containers, especially hanging containers. They look gorgeous with the fruit drooping over the edges of a planter—and being up in the air makes them easy to harvest, and harder for fruit-loving critters to get at!
Plant: Daffodils
Cheery daffodils add splashes of springtime color! You can plant them in the fall, as you would with in-ground bulbs, but be careful not to let the planters freeze through. In USDA zones 6 and under, consider insulating the planters or even bringing them into a garage or cellar where they’ll stay under about 45°F through the winter.
Plant: Fuchsia
This beautiful annual with exotic-looking flowers is a favorite of hummingbirds. Fuchsia also looks great in hanging baskets. Pro tip: put the flowers at eye level so you can enjoy seeing pollinators that visit.
Plant: Azalea
Azaleas don’t just work in landscape beds. You can enjoy them in containers as accent plants. Here, an azalea in full bloom is shown in a pretty basket for a springtime tabletop display.
Plant: Grape Hyacinth
Who says you need big pots to make an impact? Three petite pots of grape hyacinth add springtime charm to a deck or front porch.
Ideas for Container Gardening
Idea: Line Your Front Steps
Got some sunny front steps? You can liven up a boring front entryway with pots of pretty plants on each step.
Idea: A Bursting Planter or Window Box
A cottage garden-style planter or window box looks best when it’s bursting with a variety of colorful flowers, and spilling over with greenery. Read our guide to learn how to do it!
Idea: Vary Pot Heights
When decorating a space, try to vary heights of pots. You can place larger pots next to smaller ones, or raise a pot by stacking it on top of an extra upside-down pot. Here, an early spring garden glows with cool-season favorites such as lobelia.
Idea: Tiered Hanging Baskets
If you’ve got a high space and want some vertical plant life, a three-tiered basket offers depth and interest to a front porch or outdoor space. Overflowing with ivy, the baskets are a simple but elegant way to accent the space.
Plant: Olive Tree
Olive trees are surprisingly easy to grow as long as you have a hot, sunny spot—and they’ll give any spot a more Mediterranean feel. Just bring ’m indoors when the weather turns.
Idea: Add Lush Window Boxes
Window boxes are easy to install, easy to care for (just open your window and water!) and add charm to any building. This one is overflowing with ivy and annuals such as violas. You can pick flowers that complement the walls—or grow herbs outside your kitchen window!
Plant: Hardy Hibiscus
Add some tropical flair to your balcony, deck or patio with pots of hibiscus. In cold climates, you can bring the pots indoors to overwinter.
Idea: Get Vertical
Got a wall or privacy fence that gets lots of sun? It doesn’t have to be boring! Mount window boxes or devise another vertical gardening method to green it up. Find more ideas in the link.
Plant: Lavender
Lavender is a classic garden plant that’s well-suited to growing in pots. Place containers near seating areas so you can run your fingers over them to release the delicate scent.
Idea: Spruce up Those Pots
Terra cotta is lovely, but all that brown can be a bit of a drag. Paint your pots with bright colors then fill them with brighter-colored annuals such as zinnias, begonia, and petunias.
Plant: Impatiens
Got a shady spot? Impatiens can’t be beat for their non-stop color all summer long. Make sure to buy newer varieties that are more resistant to powdery mildew and other diseases.
Idea: A Moveable Border Hedge
Create an English garden vibe by planting boxwood shrubs in containers and setting them around the edges of your deck or patio. Voila: You have a “moveable” hedge.
Plants: Ornamental Grass
Flowers aren’t the only plant that look smashing in containers. Ornamental grasses, planted alone or in a combination pot, add vertical height and interest.
Idea: Modern Concrete Planter
A modern planter is accented with a philodendron in the center, surrounded by colorful annuals such as coleus, floss flower, and geraniums. This unexpected combination pops against the grey concrete.
Plants: Succulents
Succulents come an array of shapes and colors. Here, they’re arranged in a hanging basket for an especially charming presentation.
Plant: Portulaca
This sturdy flowering succulent stands up to the hottest days of summer. It’s a great annual flower for adding reliable color in the most demanding conditions.
Idea: Recycled Rain Boot Planters
Add a touch of whimsy to your garden by planting annuals in old rain boots! Just make sure to poke some drain holes in the sole of each boot so your plants don’t stay too wet.
Plants: Bird of Paradise
Make a splash with big-leaf plants such as a bird of paradise. These large plants with impressive foliage add drama to a patio, deck or entryway. Bonus: If you live in a cold climate, bring them indoors in winter to grow as a houseplant.
Idea: Tiny Teapot Planter
Repurpose household items such as an unused teapot into this adorable tiny planter. It’s perfect for a tabletop planter on a bistro table.
Idea: Fern Garden
Ferns offer understated elegance in this container garden. Plant in multiple terra cotta pots to maintain design unity.
Plant: Petunias
It doesn’t get any more classic than petunias for container gardens, whether you’re planting in pots, window boxes, or hanging baskets. Look for newer types, such as Wave Petunias, that don’t have to be deadheaded (removing spent blooms) in order to keep blooming all summer long.
Idea: Spiller, Thriller, Filler
This stunning combination pot perfectly illustrates the concept of spiller, thriller, filler when building a container. The coral begonias are especially striking in contrast to the purple lantana, while sedum spills over the edges of the pot.
Plant: Sweet Alyssum
If there’s one annual that should be in every garden, it’s sweet alyssum. With a honey scent that pollinators love, this low-growing flower blooms and blooms well past a light frost. It’s charming tumbling out of containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets and will bloom until a hard freeze.
Idea: Raised Bed Containers
Raised bed planters make gardening chores so much easier! Here, edible greens are elevated, making weeding and harvesting much easier on the back.
Plant: Canna Lily
Canna lilies are striking plants that adore the heat! Plant them as part of a combination container, or put them in their own pot where they can really shine. In warm regions, they’re perennial. But dig up the tubers in fall in cold climates to save them for next season. Exposure: Full sun
Idea: Plant Perennials
Perennials also work as container plantings. Here, a colorful heuchera, grown for its pretty foliage and delicate flower spikes that attract pollinators, looks smashing in a patio pot.
Idea: Wall of Color
Show off with a wall of flowers by incorporating hanging baskets, window boxes, and planters for a gorgeous display of color. Here, brightly-colored nasturtiums tumble out of baskets, boxes, and planters.
Plant: Calibrachoa
These tough annuals resemble petunias, but they’re a different plant altogether. They come in every color imaginable, including double-petaled types. Bonus: Calibrachoa bloom all summer long without deadheading required.
Plant: Japanese Maple
Japanese maples are stunning trees, especially in the fall when they show off their gorgeous colors. The dwarf varieties especially are appealing when planted in large patio containers, as shown here.
Idea: Cactus and Succulent Garden
This striking container garden is perfect in hot, sunny, dry locations. The various pots echo each other’s shape, while the spiky succulents offer contrast and interest.
Idea: Multiple Pots in the Same Color
Duplicate pots in this stunning shade of cobalt blue make a striking backdrop for spring flowers. Swap out the plantings as the seasons change to keep it fresh.
Idea: Ladder Container Garden
An old ladder is just right for displaying little pots of herbs. It’'s charming and practical because it doesn’t take up a ton of space on a small patio or deck.
Plant: Citrus Tree
Transport yourself to the Mediterranean by growing a citrus tree in a container on your sunny patio. Many types of citrus trees, such as calamondin, stay petite, so you can bring them indoors in the cold weather months.
Idea: Terra Cotta Edible Garden
No room for an in-ground garden bed? Plant edibles in terra cotta pots and line them up against your house. The radiant heat from your home will keep plants that like full sun nice and toasty.
Plant: Sweet Potato Vine
Nothing grows like sweet potato vine in the heat of summer! Its pretty lime green, burgundy or variegated foliage looks great in a combination planter, but it’s an aggressive grower, so it’s often better in its own pot so it doesn’t bully the other plants.
Idea: Lush Hanging Baskets
Sure, you can buy those puny hanging baskets at the big box store. But if you plant your own in a larger basket, you’ll get a much more stunning effect. Here, a boliviensis begonia shows off its stuff.
Plant: Lantana
Got heat? Lantana can handle it! This sturdy plant is grown as an annual but can become a bushy perennial in warm climates. It comes in every color imaginable, and pollinators love it.
Plant: Euphorbia
This somewhat lesser-known plant looks frilly but it’s tough as nails in a variety of conditions including heat and drought. Its wispy leaves and profuse airy white flowers offer a delicate baby’s breath-like effect to mixed pots, says Glenn Kopp, horticulture information manager at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.
Idea: Bicycle Planter
Is that old bike just sitting around? Convert it to a fun planter by filling baskets on the front and back with seasonal blooms.
Plant: Angelonia
Delicate but heat-tolerant angelonia, also called summer snapdragon, doesn’t need to be deadheaded to keep blooming all season. Angelonia comes in pinks, mauves, deep purple, purple-blues, white, and two-tones in a variety of heights. Mix them with trailing herbs for an attractive combination planter, or plant them alone for plenty of season-long color.
Idea: Stacked Boxes
Fill an empty corner of your deck or entryway with a display of wooden crates filled with tiny planters. Change it out every season: Petunias for summer, mums for fall, and greens tucked into buckets for winter.
Plant: Coleus
In the last few years, coleus have been introduced in many new colors. It’s drought tolerant and includes trailing, mounded, and upright varieties in too many colors to count. “A bonus is that their delicate flowers are a huge pollinator magnet for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds,” says Wise. Exposure: Shade to sun, depending on the variety
Plant: Nemesia
Resembling teeny-tiny snapdragons, these perky little flowers on upright stems come in tons of bright colors including purple, pink, cranberry, bright yellow, pale yellow, orange, and white. Exposure: Part sun to sun
