Gardening Ideas Gardening & Landscaping Ideas Container Gardening Our 20 Favorite Plants For Containers By Zoe Gowen Zoe Gowen After a notable obsession with yellow houses, historic homes, and glossy magazines as a child that lead to a degree in American Studies from Sewanee: University of the South followed by a jaunt through the Washington, DC art world, Zoë found her way as the Senior Home and Garden Editor with Southern Living. There she crisscrossed the region to produce inspiring interiors, entertaining, and holiday stories while also overseeing the Idea House franchise. After seeing more porches and Christmas trees than any other reasonable person can claim, she ventured out to pave new roads freelancing for various magazines and helping people bring magazine tearsheets to life inside private homes via interior decorating. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 20, 2023 Close Photo: Photo: Ralph Anderson, Window Box Design: Tracee Lund For terrific spring and summer container gardens, you can't go wrong with these plants. They all get our green thumb rating and are happy in containers. Covered in prolific blooms or showing off with bold foliage, all of these plants can be admired from your porch or patio when spring arrives. Some will continue flowering for months until the first frost. Read on for inspiration on how to grow your own beautiful potted flowers, vines, shrubs, and more. 01 of 20 Angelonia Van Chaplin Botanical Name: Angelonia angustifoliaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, organically richSoil pH: Acidic Sometimes called the summer snapdragon, angelonia won't wilt from an occasional lack of water or intense heat. The flower spikes don't need staking, either, though this plant does require full sun. We recommend this one for any gardener with a brown thumb and those with green thumbs, too. 02 of 20 Annual Vinca Botanical Name: Catharanthus roseusSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drained, moistSoil pH: Acidic 'Nirvana Cascade Pink Splash' vinca is a tough, heat-loving annual loaded with blooms. Its semi-trailing habit makes it a good choice for hanging baskets or as a filler in mixed containers. Although it is typically grown as an annual, C. roseus is hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11. 03 of 20 Caladium Southern Living Botanical Name: Caladium spp. Sun Exposure: Filtered, partial, full shade Soil Type: Organically rich, moist Soil pH: Acidic Have a shady porch you want to dress up? Try the bold tropical foliage of caladiums, choosing a mix of colors so those leaves really pack a punch. Caladiums do best in warm temperatures, with consistent moisture, and in filtered sunlight or shade. 04 of 20 Coleus Ralph Anderson Botanical Name: Coleus scutellarioidesSun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade, full shadeSoil Type: Well-drained, organically rich, moistSoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral Nowadays this versatile plant comes in an amazing variety of colors and textures and can be grown in sunny or shady conditions (though partial shade is preferred). Mix coleus in with a container of spring flowers, swap those out later for summer blooms, and add in seasonal fall plants at the end of the growing season. Pinch back leggy stems in the fall or allow coleus to sprout wands of tiny purple flowers that attract hummingbirds. 05 of 20 Dichondra Alex Bruce/Getty Images Botanical Name: Dichondra argenteaSun Exposure: Full sun, afternoon shadeSoil Type: Well-drained, loamy, sandySoil pH: Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline Often sold as 'Silver Falls,' dichondra will make waves spilling out of your flowering containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. This creeping Texas native isn't bothered by extreme heat and can grow to 5 feet long. Let it dangle where you can watch it stir in the breeze. 06 of 20 French Hydrangeas Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophyllaSun Exposure: Partial sun, filtered sunSoil Type: Organically rich, well-drained, moistSoil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline French hydrangeas make a welcome Mother's Day gift or host gift for Easter gatherings. Display it in the pot indoors, and then plant it in the garden in soil amended with compost when the party's over. Or, choose a compact variety like 'Pink Elf' or 'Heart Throb' and plant in a large container to enjoy from your patio. In the South, hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered sunlight all day. 07 of 20 Geranium Botanical Name: Pelargonium x hybridum, P. x hortorumSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drained, organically rich, moderately moistSoil pH: Neutral, slightly alkaline The fiery red blooms of geraniums are an old favorite, popping up on stoops all over in summertime (flowers come in whites and pinks too). The flower show will continue until first frost, as long as you provide ample sunshine and moisture and deadhead regularly. Many zonal geraniums don't thrive in extreme heat—provide light shade during the hottest part of the day. 08 of 20 Heuchera Photo: Ralph Anderson, Window Box Design: Tracee Lund Botanical Name: Heuchera spp.Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade, depending on varietySoil Type: Well-drained, organically rich, moistSoil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline Since the development of new hybrids, the ruffled foliage of heuchera comes in striking shades of chartreuse, peach, burgundy, and more. As an added bonus, this pretty filler plant is winter hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. Most do well in lightly shaded gardens, though some develop better color with more sun. 09 of 20 Lantana Stockcam/Getty Images Botanical Name: Lantana spp.Sun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained clay, loamy, or sandy soilSoil pH: Neutral As an easy care container plant that doesn't need frequent watering or fuss, lantana can't be beat. Butterflies will flock to the multi-colored blooms that continue to appear well into fall. Look for mounding or trailing varieties, as common lantana can grow into a tall shrub. 10 of 20 Mandevilla Helen Norman Botanical Name: Mandevilla sanderiSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Organically rich, well-drained, sandySoil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral Tropical mandevilla stands up to the heat and is loaded with blooms from summer until frost. Vining varieties can grow to 20 feet, while mounding versions make a good choice for hanging baskets. Plant it in a large pot beside a trellis, and watch it climb. 11 of 20 Million Bells Steve Bender Botanical Name: Calibrachoa x hybridaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, organically rich, moistSoil pH: Acidic These trailing plants resemble miniature petunias, except no deadheading is required. Keep them watered and they will bloom nonstop in the sun. While they may not literally produce flowers in the millions, Calibrachoa will bless you with so many you can't keep count. 12 of 20 New Guinea Impatiens Botanical Name: Impatiens hawkeriSun Exposure: Partial sun, filtered sun, shadeSoil Type: Organically rich, well-drained, moistSoil pH: Slightly acidic New Guinea impatiens will grow 12 to 15 inches tall and produce flowers throughout the warm season, as long as its soil is kept slightly moist. This type of impatiens can tolerate more sunlight (even full sun) in cooler climates. There's no need to remove spent flowers from this plant, which serves as a great filler or focal point in a shady area. 13 of 20 Pansy Laurey W. Glenn Botanical Name: Viola spp.Sun Exposure: Full sun, afternoon shadeSoil Type: Well-drained, organically richSoil pH: Acidic For the cooler months, our go-to is the pansy, which can even overwinter in warmer climates. Plant in early spring or in fall and enjoy months of their cheerful, nodding faces. Provide consistently moist but not soggy soil, and remove spent blooms and overly leggy stems. 14 of 20 Pentas Photo: Ralph Anderson Botanical Name: Pentas lanceolataSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drained clay, loamy, or sandy soilSoil pH: Acidic Sturdy, neatly mounding pentas is a drought-tolerant plant that won't let you down. Pentas produces star-shaped flowers in tight clusters that attract every bee and butterfly around (hummingbirds love the red varieties). Provide plenty of sunshine and keep pruning to a minimum, as pentas blooms on new growth. 15 of 20 Scaevola Botanical Name: Scaevola aemulaSun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline Also known as fan flower, scaevola is exceptionally heat tolerant and doesn't require a lot of water. Scaevola's sprawling stems look exceptional trailing from the edge of a container or hanging basket. This great filler blooms from spring through fall in shades of blue, pink, or white. 16 of 20 Sedum Steve Bender Botanical Name: Hylotelephium spp., Sedum spp.Sun Exposure: Full, partialSoil Type: Well-drained clay, loamy, or sandy soil; shallow rocky soilSoil pH: Acidic Whether you grow the tall autumn sedums or the sprawling succulent types, sedum makes a fantastic container plant. Although many are drought-tolerant, keep in mind that sedums may require more watering during the growing season. Most species are quite cold hardy and can tolerate full or partial sun. 17 of 20 Sweet Potato Vine Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lydia Pursell Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatasSun Exposure: Filtered, partial, full shadeSoil Type: Organically rich, moistSoil pH: Acidic We can't say enough about sweet potato vine, the perfect filler plant for any mixed basket or container. Look for contrasting foliage in lemon-lime, brilliant magenta, or nearly black. Ornamental sweet potatoes aren't particularly tasty, but make up for it with gorgeous vines that can trail 8 feet or more. 18 of 20 Wave Petunia PraewBlackWhile / Getty Images Botanical Name: Petunia x hybridaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Organically rich, well-drainedSoil pH: Acidic, neutral What was that we said about deadheading petunias? Fortunately, many of today's petunia hybrids don't need you to remove old blooms to keep flowering. Try Wave petunias, which have smaller blooms but are packed with flowers and spread fast. Fertilize every two weeks and pinch back stems that are too leggy for more flowers. 19 of 20 Winged Begonia Botanical Name: Begonia spp.Sun Exposure: Partial shade, full shadeSoil Type: Organically rich, well-drained, moistSoil pH: Acidic, neutral Winged begonias are loaded with bright blooms that give a splash of color to shady spots. The waxy stems eventually top 18 inches, loaded with dainty crimson blooms. This plant likes to grow in moist soil during hot, humid summers. 20 of 20 Zinnia Baldomir/Getty Images Botanical Name: Zinnia spp.Sun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, average garden soilSoil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline Looking for cheery blooms that will keep on chugging until a hard frost? Look no further than zinnias, which come in a rainbow of colors and types. All these ask for is average soil, full sun, and occasional deadheading to encourage more flowers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit