The Best Plants For Year-Round Containers, According To An Expert

When tapped to design a series of planters for our 2024 Idea House in the Kiawah River community on Johns Island, South Carolina, plant pro Steph Green of Contained Creations in Richmond, Virginia, knew exactly what the waterfront property needed. “We wanted to create the most beautiful and biggest statement container gardens, but they needed to be durable and last a long time with minimal upkeep,” says Green. “That’s why picking evergreens or really tough perennials from the Southern Living Plant Collection was kind of the launching point for each individual design.” 

The Selection Process

She also considered sun exposure, shade, the presence of deer, as well as the Lowcountry landscape and the home’s interior color palette. “I wanted to create something that was stunning but seamlessly transitioned from the interiors to the exterior living spaces to the natural landscape that surrounds the home,” she notes. 

Why Evergreens Are A Smart Pick for Containers 

“An evergreen is still going to need nurturing, but the beauty of them is their durability and the way they can go from season to season in the same spot, as if they were in the ground,” says Green. 

That’s why the gardening expert chose evergreens as the anchors of most of her designs, relying on other plantings to layer in additional texture and color. For example, in a backyard planter at the Idea House, she used Clarity Blue™ Dianella as the centerpiece. “In the summer, we had superbells around it and some euphorbia, but in the fall, that would be stunning with a little sedum and some pansies,” she says. “In the winter, you could leave it plain and just mulch around it, or put some small cut branches or pine cones around it. It’s the versatility that i love. The biggest investment plant that’s going into your planter is that evergreen, and then you can quickly adorn or refresh it for each season.”

Southern Living Plant Collection Picks for Our Idea House Container Gardens

Diamond Spire® Gardenia 

The shiny, green-leafed plants with fragrant flowers that bloom from spring into fall were an easy choice for the front walk, says Green: “I felt like this was our big, wow, ‘Welcome to the Idea House!’ centerpiece.” It was also an opportunity to showcase an evergreen that expands people’s understanding of what those plants are, she says: “Some people might think evergreens are all needle-y or boxwoods. But there’s a massive variety you can use, particularly in a climate that stays as warm all year as Johns Island does.” 

‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia

On the front porch, Green knew she’d need shade-tolerant plants, so she opted for these. “The ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia was absolutely the perfect choice for this spot. It’s a great, tough evergreen; it can take the shade,” she says.

Red Sky™ Ilex  

The carriage house called for a little color out front, but the site (with full exposure to scorching sun, the reflective surfaces of the driveway and garage doors, and the accessibility to deer looking for a snack) required something extra sturdy. Red Sky™ Ilex fit the bill. “It’s very columnar, and it perfectly punctuates the narrow walls between the garage doors,” says Green. Plus, it has upright spires of small, shiny leaves like the gardenias flanking the porch steps. “I’m always trying to repeat elements or connect the planters across the entire property as much as possible,” she adds.

Platinum Beauty® Lomandra

In a set of planters for a transitional space between the patio and the screened porch, Green incorporated this white-edged ornamental grass. “I was really struck by this one, as it’s not your typical grass,” she describes.

October Magic® Inspiration™ Camellia

It wouldn’t be a Lowcountry house without a nod to Charleston’s famed camellias. On the screened porch, Green flanked the fireplace with a pair of these glossy-leafed plants, filling in the bases with ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia and seasonal annuals.

Mini Touch™ Holly 

A pair of these evergreens were just right for flanking the sliding glass doors onto the back porch, which sees a lot of afternoon sun, says Green. “They’re adorable, with itty bitty round, shiny leaves… and they happily take the late afternoon sun.” She added in some lavender double impatiens for a pop of contrasting color and added dried Spanish moss from a local garden center to reflect the natural landscape.