Growing strawberries in containers is the best way to enjoy this pretty, easy-to-grow berry. Learn how to do it the best way and get the biggest yield.
When most people think of container gardening, flowers are often the first things that come to mind. Container gardening is becoming increasingly popular as an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your space. In addition to flowers, this year try something different: strawberries in containers.
Strawberries are one of the easiest plants to grow in containers. With strawberries, you get a plant with pretty foliage and flowers. Of course, you also get the added benefit of yummy fruit to snack on too!
Different Types of Strawberries
There are three main categories of strawberries: June-bearing, Everbearing, and Day-neutral. Each type is better suited for a specific container.
Something to keep in mind is that when shopping for strawberries, the varieties will not always specify which category the strawberries will fall under. Ask the garden center associate to aid you in the category identification.
June-Bearing Strawberries
June-bearing strawberries produce a large, concentrated crop once a year during late spring or early summer (usually in June). They send out a lot of runners that can quickly become a tangle of vines.
Because of this, June-bearing strawberries are better suited for a garden bed instead of a container.
Everbearing Strawberries
Everbearing strawberries’ fruiting season stretches from early spring until fall. They send out fewer runners and will not produce as much fruit as the June-bearing types.
Although it will produce fewer berries, it’s enough for snacking and tastes better than any store-bought berries. This category does well in containers.
Day-Neutral Strawberries
Day-neutral is a newer variety of everbearing strawberries. They produce more consistently throughout the growing season. Day-neutral strawberries prefer cooler temperatures and will not bear fruit in hot weather. If you live in an area with hot summers, skip this category.
Tools Needed for Growing Strawberries
When you grow strawberries in containers, you’ll have relatively few tools that you need. Plus, you already may have many of these at home! You’ll need to have:
Type of Pots That Are Best For Growing Strawberries
When selecting a container for strawberries, pick a pot that will be large enough: at least 8-12 inches wide.
You may have noticed that strawberry pots look different from your standard plant pots. This is because strawberries have a spreading growth habit and shallow roots.
For this reason, a specific strawberry pot is often the best place to grow your berry vines. A wide, shallow container is another good choice. Most importantly, the container must have good drainage.
Lastly, select a pot that is light-colored; this will help keep the plant’s roots cool in the summer.
Growing Strawberries in Containers
Do strawberries do well in pots? Yes, and it may even be possible to grow strawberries indoors. However, you should be very careful and follow these tips to help them thrive.
#1 Use the Correct Soil
Strawberries prefer a loose, loamy soil with a pH between 5.3 and 6.5 (acidic). If you are unsure of what your potting soil’s pH is, it’s pretty easy to do a soil pH test at home. All you need is water, vinegar, and baking soda.
#2 Give the Plants Plenty of Sunshine
Next, you need to pick a spot that gives the plant lots of sunlight. Select an area that receives 6-8 hours of sun per day.
#3 When to Plant Strawberries
You can plant strawberries in the early spring or in the fall (if you live in a warm area). Strawberries are sensitive to the cold weather, so avoid frost if you can.
Remember, day-neutral strawberries prefer the cold (just not too cold), and will not produce in a hot climate.
#4 Spread Them Apart
Your strawberry plants need to be spaced at least 2 ft apart, so only plant 1 or 2 plants per container. Remember, these plants like to spread out as they grow, so give them plenty of room.
#5 Plant the Seeds in the Container
Fill the container with a potting mix and make a small mound in the middle. Spread the roots out over the mound. Cover the roots and up to the crown with additional mix and water well.
How to Care for Strawberries in Containers
Caring for strawberries in containers is different than caring for them when they are planted outside.
#1 Water the Strawberries Frequently
First of all, containers require frequent waterings, but only water when the soil is dry to the touch. You may have to water daily during hot weather. This is because containers dry out faster than soil in the ground.
The challenge with a strawberry jar is that the shape of it can make getting the water properly saturated to the center of the pot a bit difficult. Without proper watering, your berries will have shallow roots that do not lend themselves to thriving plants.
One fun trick I use is to employ a DIY watering tube that will help get direct the water to the middle of the pot where it’s needed to grow those juicy berries. I put together a post on Angie’s List showing how to make an easy DIY watering tube perfect for strawberries in containers.
Additionally, make sure to feed your strawberries every 3-4 weeks with a liquid fertilizer.
#2 Overwinter the Strawberries
You can overwinter strawberries. They will produce better the following year if they are allowed to go dormant during the winter.
If you live in an area that gets extremely cold, move your strawberry containers into an unheated garage or basement in the winter. Water the container only when the soil becomes dry. In milder winter climates, mulch up around the container and leave it until spring.
Strawberries are short-lived perennials. Even with the most dedicated care, you will have to replace the plants about every 3 years.
No worries, though. Enjoy them for a season, then reevaluate. If you are able to get them to grow again for an additional summer, it will be well worth the effort.
I’m a big fan of strawberries, as you may be able to tell from the list below! Here are posts for everything you need to know about these sweet berries from how to grow them to how to eat them!
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Would you like to perk up your garden this winter? This guide to the best winter plants for pots has lots of gorgeous plant suggestions to inspire you.
What are the best plants for winter pots?
This post covers twenty five plants for winter pots that will give you a fabulous floral display or provide foliage and interest throughout the coldest months. There are also lots of tips on planting and caring for your winter containers so they really put on a show for you, plus a guide to the best tools for container gardening to help you get organised.
Why you should grow plants in pots in winter
Winter is a time of year when we tend to use our gardens less. The days are shorter, winter weather can be uninviting, and lots of plants shut down until spring arrives again.
Having said that, we’re all much more used to using our outdoor spaces regardless of the weather these days. As a result, you’re probably keener than ever to give your garden year-round interest. Your garden can make up a significant proportion of your home’s available space; when you think about it from this angle, it makes no sense to stop using it just because the season has changed!
If your winter garden is in need of a lift, growing winter flowering plants in pots is a simple and relatively low-cost way to create colour and interest. Growing plants in containers has many other benefits too.
Benefits of growing winter flowering plants in pots
For starters, gardening in containers can be very low maintenance. Looking after a plant in a pot is quicker and easier than dealing with an entire border. This is a particularly useful aspect of container gardening in winter, when you might prefer not to linger outdoors. If you’re short on time, focusing your efforts on container plants can allow you to quickly create a beautiful display that doesn’t take hours to look after.
If you don’t have much gardening experience, starting as a container gardener is an ideal way to ease yourself in. Growing plants in pots allows you to work on a small scale, then move onto bigger displays as you gain confidence and learn more.
That small scale gardening is also perfect if you don’t have much outdoor space. You can use pots and hanging baskets to create wow factor in the tiniest of spaces. You don’t even need a garden. You can squeeze a pot onto a window ledge, balcony, or doorway, and use hanging pots or stacking planters to create a vertical display.
When it comes to beginner gardening for kids, containers are ideal here too. Again, the smaller scale makes things easier, and it’s fun to give them their very own pot to look after. The container itself has lots of potential for nature play as well. Kids can personalise it with paints or chalk, make their own plant markers, or upcycle household objects to create unique decorations.
Another big plus for gardening in pots is their portability. If your plants aren’t thriving or you’d like to rearrange your display, you can easily move containers around. And if you rent your property or are planning on moving, you can take them with you!
Where should I put my winter containers?
You might be wondering whether it’s OK to grow plants in containers in winter when temperatures can get pretty low. The key to creating a beautiful winter container display is to choose hardy outdoor plants for pots, and get the location right for those specific plants. This last element is often referred to as ‘right plant, right place’.
The concept of ‘right plant, right place’ is very simple. If you embrace it, you stand a better chance of growing happy, healthy plants. The knock-on effect of this is a gorgeous garden that you can enjoy at any time of year.
All plants have specific conditions that they will grow well in. This is true whether you grow them in the ground, or in a pot. If you put your winter container somewhere that provides the ideal conditions for the plants, you take a big step towards making sure those plants thrive.
Conversely, if you put your winter plants in a spot that provides conditions they don’t like, you will limit their ability to do well.
Some plants enjoy full sun, some prefer full shade, and some are happy with partial shade. Your plants might prefer a sheltered spot, or be fine with weathering the elements. You may need to provide soil with good drainage, or water frequently. All of these things will vary according to the type of plant you’re growing.
To work out the ideal conditions for a particular plant, start by checking the care label. If there isn’t one, or it doesn’t have much information on it, you can use a plant identification app or look it up online.
Once you know how to make your plant happy, you’re ready to work out the perfect spot in the garden for your winter container.
Annual vs. perennial plants
Before you buy any outdoor plants for pots, it’s worth understanding the difference between annual vs. perennial plants.
Annual plants will grow, flower and die in one growing season (or year). This means you have to replace them regularly.
Perennial plants continue to grow year on year, so you won’t need to replace them very often. Some varieties of perennial plant die back in winter and have a dormant phase before emerging again in spring, while others are hardy evergreen perennials.
It’s absolutely fine to grow annual and perennial plants in pots. You can also combine the two in the same pot.
Most plants sold for container planting are annual plants. You will probably see them referred to as ‘bedding plants’ in garden centres and online. As you can imagine, relying on annual plants for your containers can quickly work out more expensive than using perennials.
A good approach is to go for a combination of annual and perennial plants in your containers. This allows you to keep costs down, but still refresh your display of outdoor plants in pots with seasonal plants.
When should I plant winter bedding plants?
The best time to plant winter bedding plants is late autumn and early winter. Planting containers at this point will give your plants time to become established, and give a natural progression from your late summer and early autumn flowering plants.
If you’re reading this later in winter, don’t worry. You can plant winter bedding plants throughout the winter months, and into early spring too. Obviously the later you plant, the longer it will take your plants to grow bigger and get established.
The best winter plants for pots and hanging baskets
Ready to get started on your winter flower pots? Here are some fantastic winter plants for containers and hanging baskets that will help you create a show-stopping display.
There are sections for flowering plants, bulbs, foliage plants and shrubs for pots, with twenty five gorgeous varieties to inspire you.
Flowering winter plants for pots
When it comes to winter flowering plants for pots, there are a lot of great options to choose from. Here are some perfect flowering plants to grow in winter containers and winter hanging baskets.
Winter flowering Pansies & Violas
You can’t have a list of favourite winter plants for outdoor pots without pansies and violas! They’re inexpensive, and readily available in a wide range of colours. These tough little plants are a great option for bulking out your displays and adding a shot of cheery colour right through winter. Deadhead them regularly for best results (scroll down to find out how to do this).
Cyclamen
Another must-have for a winter pot, hardy cyclamen will cope admirably with winter conditions and bloom from autumn right through to spring. Some cyclamen varieties need to be grown indoors, so make sure you go for Cyclamen hederifolium or Cyclamen coum for your outdoor pots.
When you decide to refresh your containers, you can transfer your cyclamen plants to a shady spot in the garden. They look particularly good alongside ferns and other woodland plants.
Primroses
If you’re wondering ‘What can I plant now for winter colour?’, then primroses could be the plant for you.
Pay a visit to any garden centre in winter, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a big display of primroses. They’re often available in strong colours, so if you like the idea of a powerful display they make a good, low-cost filler for your pots. If you’re gardening with kids, those bright colours are always a big hit too.
Heather
Heather plants will give your winter pots lots of texture. Choose from a subtle white or cream variety, or go for a big hit of colour with shades of pink and purple. Winter heather is a good choice if you want to garden for wildlife too, and will provide a source of nectar and pollen for pollinating insects at a time of year when other plants haven’t really got going. As such, it’s a fantastic plant for a bee friendly garden.
Heathers prefer to grow in acidic soil, so to give them the best conditions you should aim to plant them in *ericaceous compost.
Ornamental kale & ornamental cabbage
Ornamental kale and ornamental cabbages may look similar to their edible cousins, but they don’t taste great! They do however look wonderful when combined with other winter plants. Use them to add a modern, unusual twist to a pot display.
Bulbs for winter pots
If you’re looking to plant a winter container that’s thrifty and low-effort, but that also looks amazing, you should definitely include some flower bulbs.
Lots of flowering bulbs really put on a show in spring, but some varieties get going in late winter. These early bloomers are a fantastic way to keep your containers looking good until the spring flowers take over.
If you’re not very confident about growing bulbs, I’ve got a whole blog post on planting bulbs that will help you get it right.
Here are some suggestions for ideal bulbs to grow with winter plants in pots.
Iris reticulata
These compact varieties of Iris are one of the first bulbs to flower in late winter, making them a fantastic choice if you’d like to keep your winter planters going right into spring. Popular varieties include Pauline, Harmony and Frozen Planet (icy white).
Irises look gorgeous planted on their own in a pot, or you can mix them in with winter bedding plants to create extra impact. You can also ‘force’ iris bulbs to flower early indoors; my post on forcing bulbs indoors shows you how to do it.
Winter Aconites
Another great bulb for a winter display, *winter aconites will create a cheery clump of sunny yellow winter flowers for pots. Pollinating insects love them too.
Crocus
Early flowering and really low maintenance plants, crocus are a great option for winter potted plants. You’re spoilt for choice with varieties; there are shades of purple, cream, yellow and white, plus a range of heights to suit your pot.
*Crocus bulbs work well in a bulb lasagne too, this is a clever way to layer up bulbs in a pot and top them with bedding plants to create a display that lasts beyond the end of the season. My post on planting a bulb lasagne shows you how to do it.
Snowdrops
Snowdrops are often the first flowers we see in the garden towards the end of winter, and as such they can bring a taste of the spring to come when you plant them in winter pots.
*Snowdrop bulbs are usually planted in autumn, but you can also buy them as plants in late winter. This is often called buying them ‘in the green’.
Hyacinths
Hyacinths really deliver on flowers and fragrance, making them a great addition to a winter flowering container.
Like irises, you can ‘force’ *hyacinths for early indoor blooms. However you plant them, make sure you wear gloves while handling the bulbs, as they can cause skin irritation.
Winter foliage plants for pots
Foliage plants are an important part of a winter container display. They can provide texture, height and structure to your arrangement, and if you choose the right plants they can be a showstopper in their own right too.
Here are my favourite foliage plants for winter pots.
Heuchera
Heucheras (also known as coral bells) are fantastic foliage plants for a winter container garden. They flower in the summer, but it’s their leaves that we’re really interested in for winter.
You can get hold of *heuchera plants in a range of colours, which makes it easy to complement your planting scheme with these foliage stunners.
Ivy
If you’re looking for trailing winter plants for pots, ivy is a great choice. Ivys are great plants for hanging pots too.
Ivy can be a bit of a thug in the garden, crowding out other plants and generally taking over. Growing it in a container avoids all of this, allowing you to enjoy it’s beautiful leaves without the hassle. Ivy is a fabulous winter source of food and shelter for pollinating insects and local wildlife too.
The trailing habit of ivy is particularly useful for softening the edges of a container or hanging basket. It’s also a clever way to create a bigger container display from the same size of pot.
Cineraria
This is one of my favourite foliage plant for pots outdoors – my garden is full of it! Cineraria has silver-white foliage with a soft tactile surface, and it provides a beautiful textured backdrop for your winter-flowering plants. In my experience it’s a tough little plant too, so if you trim it back regularly you might find that it’s an element of your containers that you don’t need to replace.
Calocephalus
I love using this foliage plant in containers too. It’s super-tough, but the silvery stems look delicate and frothy; it always makes me think of coral. A great plant for contrasting with deep purple flowers or foliage.
Festuca glauca
An ornamental grass is an excellent choice for a pot display, and if you choose an evergreen variety you can enjoy it as part of your winter planters.
*Festuca glauca has slim, blue-green blades and forms a neat, compact dome of foliage. I think it works particularly well in contemporary container planters.
Phormium
This upright grass is ideal for giving a pot structure and height. There’s a range of colours to choose from, including varieties that incorporate yellows, pinks, and deep burgundy.
While *Phormiums are pretty tough plants, it’s a good idea to grow them in a sheltered spot in winter.
Winter flowering shrubs for containers
Don’t ignore shrubs when it comes to your pots. There are lots of lovely compact varieties that will provide you with flowers, structure or interest in winter. Here are some great varieties to try.
Skimmia japonica
This one isn’t strictly a flowering plant, but the berries more than make up for that. With its glossy evergreen leaves and bright red berries, Japanese skimmia is a brilliant plant to liven up a winter pot.
To guarantee those lovely berries, you need to buy a female plant (such as ‘Nymans’, ‘Temptation’ or ‘Kew White’), and also have a male plant (such as ‘Rubella’ or ‘Kew Green’) nearby.
Wintergreen
If you need a smaller berried plant, *Wintergreen (also known as partridge berry, checkerberry and Gaultheria procumbens) is perfect. It’s dainty and low-growing, and will give your pots a festive feel.
Hellebore
Another perfect candidate for low maintenance outdoor potted plants in winter. This lovely perennial plant will flower from midwinter onwards, providing delicate but impressive blooms at a time when most other plants are still dormant.
*Hellebores are available in shades of white, pink, purple and even apricot, and are perfectly capable of dealing with a cold season, frost, and snowy conditions. Combine them with other plants, or stick to a hellebore-only container for a simple but stunning effect.
Winter clematis will benefit from some shelter. Try to grow them close to the house or against a house wall, where they will enjoy the slightly warmer temperatures.
Winter flowering honeysuckle
Winter honeysuckles are another option for climbing plants for pots. Lonicera fragrantissima or Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ both have creamy white flowers and that incredible honeysuckle fragrance.
To get the best out of climbing shrubs for pots, make sure the container has access to an *obelisk, trellis or other type of plant support.
Camellia
Camellias make fantastic low maintenance evergreen plants for pots. You can choose from shades of red, white, pink and cream, all with shiny green leaves and stunning flowers.
You need to grow camellias in acidic soil, so go for *ericaceous compost to keep them happy. If you can use rainwater to water them, they will be even more content. Camellias also enjoy a more sheltered location; an easy way to provide this is to position them near the house.
Photinia ‘Little Red Robin’
If you’re planting a large winter container, this evergreen shrub will make a great addition. It will put on a show with bright red leaves that change to deep green as they mature. In spring you get white flowers too.
Sweet box
Another good option for large containers, *sweet box (Sarcococca confusa) has dense evergreen foliage and produces an abundance of delicate white flowers from midwinter onwards. The flowers are highly fragranced too, so make sure you position it somewhere that you walk past regularly to make the most of the gorgeous scent.
Daphne Odora ‘Aureomarginata’
Still on the fragrant flowers theme, the flowers on *Daphne Odora ‘Aureomarginata’ are pale pink and deliver a huge hit of fragrance. It needs a larger container as it can reach heights of 1.5 metres, but it will definitely earn its space.
Should I repot my plants after buying?
Unless you’re buying a ready-made container display, you should always repot your plants after you’ve bought them.
The plants will most likely have reached the limits of their pots, and will benefit from a bigger container and access to more compost.
Take the pot off the plant, and you’ll probably see that the roots are filling up the space. If the roots have grown out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, this is another sign that the plant is ready to move on!
When it comes to tools, gardening in containers is pretty low-tech. However, there are some basic tools that you should consider getting hold of to make things easier and help your plants do well.
A *hand trowelwill come in handy for planting, re-potting and weeding.
If you’d prefer to protect your hands, *gardening gloves are a must. There are lots of different sizes and materials out there, but for me the most important thing is to find a pair that allows your hands to move well while you’re wearing them.
A pair of *secateurs are ideal for pruning your plants and removing dead flower heads. If you’ve chosen smaller plants for small pots you might prefer a pair of *snips – these are fantastic for deadheading too.
And finally, a *watering can is pretty essential. Go for one that has a ‘rose’ head attachment, this will prevent you accidentally flooding your pots. A *mini watering can is a good option for smaller containers – and you can use it on your houseplants as well.
Don’t forget your pots and hanging baskets too!
Choosing containers for hardy outdoor potted plants
When you’re choosing your pots, stick to these two rules.
Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. If you’ve fallen in love with a pot that doesn’t have drainage holes, you will need to either make your own holes, or add an inner plant pot with drainage holes.
Choose a pot that’s the right size for your plants. How many do you want to put in it? How big are they going to get? Ideally you should go for a pot that’s big enough for at least a year, to keep your plants happy and save you from having to repot them regularly.
The rest of the decision-making process is absolutely up to you. There’s a huge amount of choice out there and you can easily find a colour, shape, style and material to suit your own tastes and the look of your outdoor space.
It’s also well worth considering a spot of upcycling here; so many household items make great plant pots. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
An old teapot
A chimney pot
A kitchen colander
An old sink
A storage crate
An old pair of wellies
A watering can
The best compost for outdoor container plants
If you’re growing plants in pots, it’s really important to give them good compost. Our best compost for pots guide covers this in detail, but here’s a quick overview.
Plants that grow in the ground can easily access the nutrients they need in the soil around them. Plants grown in containers however are restricted by the pot, and as a result they will eventually exhaust the nutrients available. When this happens, your plants will start to look less healthy and may struggle to grow.
To avoid the problem of starved winter container plants, always use a good quality *peat-free compost.
You should be fine to use general-purpose compost for the majority of your container plants, but some plants do need a particular type of compost in order to grow well. The plant label should tell you if this is the case.
There is also compost available that has been specifically designed to support plants grown in pots and baskets. This type of compost is usually enriched with slow-release fertiliser and water-retaining crystals. As well as helping your plants to thrive, it’s a good option if you’re keen to keep the plant maintenance to a minimum, or you’re not very confident about taking care of your pots.
How to plant a winter container
Once you’ve got your plants, your pots, and your tools, you’re ready to create some beautiful seasonal displays. Here’s a quick guide to planting outdoor pots for winter.
Start by adding a layer of ‘crocks’ (these are simply broken pieces of an old pot) or small stones to the bottom of your pot. This will help excess water to drain away.
Add compost to your pot until it’s almost full.
Carefully remove each plant from its pot – try to avoid damaging the root system. A good way to do this is to slide your fingers around the base of the plant, then tip the plant over and ease the pot away with your other hand.
Arrange your plants on top of the soil. You can move them around until you’re happy with the layout. It’s a good idea to position taller plants at the back of the pot, and make sure any trailing plants are near an edge so they can spill over.
When you’re happy with your layout, fill in any gaps around the plants with more compost.
Finish by watering your pot, and pop it in its final position.
Care tips for winter plants in pots
Caring for your beautiful winter plants display is pretty low-effort. Focus on these key areas, and you’ll be giving your plants the best chance of doing well.
Feeding winter plants in pots
As I’ve already mentioned, a container plant will eventually use up all the nutrients in the compost. To stop this being a problem, you can feed your plants regularly with a general-purpose plant food.
You can choose the format of your plant food to suit your own preference. A *concentrated liquid needs to be diluted before you use it (the packaging will tell you how to do this), so you will need a watering can for this option. Plant food is also available in *granule form which you add to your compost when planting, and *ready-to-use liquid feed which you simply pour into your pot. If you’re nervous about getting the feeding right, the last option is definitely the easiest way to do it, but bear in mind it’s probably also the most expensive and least eco-friendly way to feed your plants.
If you’re keen on sustainable gardening or are gardening on a budget, you can have a go at making your own plant feed from nettle or comfrey leaves. This is a particularly good option if you like to garden organically. This video shows you how to make natural plant food:
Watering outdoor potted plants in winter
Plants grown in containers will dry out faster than plants grown in the ground, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there’s a limit to how much water that the compost can retain. Plus, the sides of the pot get exposed to warmer temperatures than the ground, this heats up the compost which in turn causes more evaporation.
You might not need to water your container plants at all during winter, but it’s still a good idea to check the soil regularly. To do this, simply poke your finger into the soil surface; if it feels dry, you need to water your plants. Moist soil doesn’t need to be watered.
Winter plants for pots: the importance of drainage
While it’s important to make sure your plants aren’t too dry, it’s also crucial to prevent your pots from getting too damp.
The majority of plants really dislike having their roots in a puddle of water. Soggy roots can quickly rot, and root rot will kill your plant. This is particularly relevant in colder months, when water is much less likely to evaporate and the weather is generally more wet. In addition, excess water can freeze, which is also really bad news for plant roots.
The way to avoid this problem is to do everything you can to allow excess water to drain out of your containers and provide your plants with well-drained soil.
Those drainage holes I keep going on about play a big role here – so choose your containers for your winter displays carefully.
Putting crocks or stones in the bottom of your container will also help with drainage.
You can also improve the drainage of your compost by adding materials such as grit or *perlite. This creates a more open soil structure which allows water to drain more effectively, resulting in better drained soil.
Another simple way to avoid soggy containers is to use *pot feet or bricks to lift your pots off the ground. Leaving your pots on the ground makes them more likely to become waterlogged in winter. Raising them up an inch or two will help water to drain away more easily.
How to keep your winter flowering plants blooming
Would you like to get as many flowers as possible from your winter plants? Of course you would!
Deadheading is a brilliant way to make sure your winter plants in pots give you a long-lasting display of flowers. The added bonus is it’s really quick and easy to do.
Deadheading is all about removing flowers that are dead, drooping, or forming seed heads. Taking these off the plant prevents it from setting seed, which in turn stimulates it to grow more flowers.
To remove old flowers, just pinch them off with your fingers, or use *secateurs or *snips to make the job even easier.
You should aim to deadhead your plants regularly, this will help to create a steady supply of blooms. It’s the kind of gardening job you can tackle whenever you’ve got a couple of spare minutes, so it’s not hard to fit it in.
How do I protect my potted plants in the winter?
By choosing plants that are happy to grow outdoors in winter, you will go a long way towards keeping your potted plants healthy.
One of the key things to pay attention to is drainage, which we’ve already covered. Getting the water levels right in your containers is really important in winter, so make sure you stay on top of this by checking your pots on a regular basis.
If your plants look like they’re struggling, you can try moving the pot to a more sheltered spot such as near a house wall or away from wind.
Can you leave potted plants outside in the winter?
If you’ve chosen winter hardy container plants, they should be OK outside in winter. If, however, you have tender plants in pots, it’s a good idea to move them to a more sheltered location until the weather warms up again. My post on protecting plants from frost and cold weather covers this in more detail and talks about plants that can survive winter outside.
And that’s it! Everything you need to know about the best outdoor winter plants for pots, and how to take proper care of them. I hope this guide has inspired you to create some fabulous winter plant displays – tell me what plants are on your wish list in the comments 🙂
More container gardening ideas and resources
If you’d like some more ideas for container gardening and plant inspiration, I’ve got you covered.
Are you looking to create wow factor in your hanging basket or container garden displays? This list of the best trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots has twenty fantastic varieties to help you do just that.
Low maintenance outdoor hanging plants
In this post I’ve listed lots of outdoor trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots that will give your containers oomph and help to increase their overall impact. You’ll also find tips on planting and caring for your container garden, so you can keep it looking fantastic for months.
Why trailing plants are brilliant for outdoor hanging baskets and container gardens
There are lots of good reasons why you should definitely consider trailing container plants for pots or a hanging basket arrangement.
First of all, trailing plants look great! There’s a wide range of different varieties to choose from, and you can use them to provide colour, texture, contrast, foliage and scent in your container displays – just like you would with a plant that doesn’t trail.
Another good reason to grow trailing container plants is all about volume. Because they spill over the sides, they allow you to ‘green up’ a larger area than the surface of the soil alone. This means you can create a bigger impact in a smaller space, which is great for small space gardening or compact pots and baskets.
Cascading plants are also brilliant when it comes to disguising a less-than-lovely basket or pot. You can use them to cover up a multitude of sins!
Many trailing plants for containers are ideal for helping you garden for wildlife too. You can use them to boost the amount of food and shelter available to local wildlife without taking up lots of room.
What plants go together in a hanging basket?
Before we get onto the best trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots, I want to share a super-simple but seriously clever trick for wow factor containers.
The “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” approach is loved by gardening professionals, and for good reason. Trailing container plants play a key role in this easy plant hack that creates show-stopping hanging baskets and containers.
Here’s how you can copy the pros and design amazing hanging displays.
1. Start with a Thriller plant. This is the main attraction in your container, so it tends to be bigger or taller than the other plants. Positioning your Thriller plant in the centre of your hanging basket or pot works well.
2. Next, you need some Filler plants to – you’ve guessed it – fill up your container. The aim with these is to deliver a splash of colour and interest closer to the soil. We’re not trying to compete with the Thriller plant here; instead think of your fillers as providing an interesting backdrop with colour, texture and shape.
3. Your Spiller plants are your trailing plants. These should be planted close to the edge of the container, so they can cascade over the sides easily. As well as increasing the size of your plant display, spillers are excellent for balancing out the height of other plants in your container.
How many plants do you put in a hanging basket?
If you’re hanging trailing plants outdoors, the ideal quantity you need depends on the size of your container.
It’s tempting to really pack the plants in for a big impact, but don’t forget that those plants will get bigger. Remember also that each plant relies on a limited amount of compost for nutrients, so the more plants you squeeze in, the quicker that compost will become exhausted and stop supporting the plants as well.
A sensible approach is to allow a little bit of room around each plant when you plant up your container. It’s also a very good idea to feed your plants regularly – more on that later.
The best low maintenance trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots
Ready to dive into the world of cascading plants for hanging baskets and pots? Here are my favourite trailing plants for container gardens. I’ve included flowering hanging plants, foliage plants and edible plants, so it’s a one-stop shop for trailing plant inspiration.
Flowering trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots
When it comes to flowering trailing plants for window boxes, baskets and pots, you’ve got lots of fantastic options. Here’s my selection of the best trailing flowers for hanging baskets and container displays.
Trailing Fuchsia
A favourite with many gardeners, fuchsia plants have beautiful bell-shaped, showy flowers that nod from the stems and last all summer. A trailing variety of this flowering plant will add froth and lots of colour to a hanging basket or pot. The flowers will dance in the breeze too, so you’ll also be able to enjoy a bit of movement.
Trailing Lobelia
I love using trailing lobelia in containers; I think it’s one of the best hanging basket plants you can choose. The tiny flowers are perfect for softening edges, and the plant will bloom for months. You don’t need to deadhead it either. It works well as a contrast to plants with larger flowers, or mixed in with trailing foliage plants.
Make sure you buy the trailing variety of lobelia, as it’s also available as an upright plant.
Trailing petunia (Calibrachoa)
If you want an easy to grow plant that produces lots of flowers, go for trailing petunias (also known as Calibrachoa or million bells). You can get months of interest from these easy-going annuals, and there are some fabulous patterned and double varieties available if you like the idea of mixing things up a bit.
Bacopa
Another candidate for small flowers, Bacopa is covered in dainty blooms and will put on a show from late spring right through to autumn.
Trailing pelargoniums
Geraniums (or pelargoniums) are a much-loved plant for pots and baskets, but did you know you can buy trailing varieties?
These are often referred to as ivy-leafed trailing geraniums, and are available in shades of pink, red, white and purple flowers. Use them to add a pop of colour to a mixed display, or combine them with standard geraniums for a more contemporary look.
Trailing Begonias
Begonias are another firm favourite for pots, and the trailing varieties are extra-useful for turning up the volume on your displays. There are loads of colours to choose from too.
Black-eyed Susan vine
Black eyed Susan vine, or Thunbergia alata, is a less well-known trailing plant for hanging baskets and pots, but well worth considering. It’s a climber, but will be happy spilling over the edge of containers too. The flowers are quite big, so it works well in larger containers. Black-eyed Susans are native to east Africa so will enjoy warm conditions and a sheltered spot in the garden, or you can grow it in a conservatory.
Trailing Verbena
These popular bedding plants are reliable and unfussy, producing an abundance of flowers on dense foliage. Trailing Verbena is great for bulking out your pots and will happily fill in any gaps.
Trailing Pansies
Pansies are a go-to plant for winter and spring containers, and by including a trailing pansy variety you can get all the benefits of these hardy, colourful plants with the added cascade factor. ‘Cool Wave’ is a popular mix of trailing pansies which includes yellows, purples and white tones.
Outdoor trailing plants for foliage in hanging baskets and pots
It’s a good idea to include foliage plants in any container display. They’re fantastic for adding texture and colour contrast, and work hard to showcase their flower neighbours.
If you’re wondering what to put in hanging baskets besides flowers, here are some great trailing hanging basket plants for foliage.
Creeping jenny
Creeping jenny is also known as Lysimachia. It’s an evergreen trailing plant, so it’s good for container displays at any time of year. Grow it for the lovely lime green foliage, but it also produces small yellow flowers. A great backdrop plant to showcase your flowers.
Calocephalus
I don’t know whether this is strictly a trailing plant, but I often use Calocephalus as a spiller in my containers. It has lovely delicate silver stems that tumble over edges as the plant grows bigger. Combine this one with shades of purple and pink flowers for a cool, modern look.
Ivy
Ivies are cheap, readily available evergreen trailing plants for hanging baskets. English ivy is also a fabulous source of shelter and food for garden wildlife. And trailing ivy is an extremely tough plant, so if you tend to neglect your containers it’s definitely one to consider.
You could go for a variegated variety to add interest, or an all-green variety for a subtle backdrop to your other plants.
Vinca
If you grow trailing Vinca (also called trailing periwinkle) in the ground, it will scramble all over the place, and it’s this urge to spread that makes it a good trailing plant for hanging baskets and pots. You can avoid it taking over the garden too!
Helichrysum petiolare
Another great evergreen plant for pots, Helichrysum petiolare (or liquorice plant) has pale stems and grey-green leaves. The leaves have a felt-like texture, so this is also a great plant for a tactile display.
Tradescantia Zebrina
The leaves on Tradescantia (which is also known as inch plant) are a thing of beauty. They’re striped on top and purple underneath, so you get an abundance of colour and interest. This foliage plant is often grown indoors, but you can get away with a warm, sheltered spot outside.
Trailing ferns
If you think of ferns as being solely upright plants, think again. Some types have a trailing habit and are well-suited to hanging baskets and pots. Popular varieties include Boston fern, maidenhair fern and lady fern.
Silver Falls Dichondra
If you’d like some silver-grey in the mix, Dichondra argentea, or silver nickel vine, is a brilliant tender perennial trailing foliage plant (take a look at my guide to annual vs. perennial plants if you’re not sure what perennials are). The unusually shaped leaves will complement shades of pink and purple, and work beautifully in white plant arrangements too.
Trailing sedums (trailing succulents)
Love your succulents? Go for a trailing variety of sedum such as ‘Redhead’, “Bluebubbles” or “Moss sedum’ in your containers. These hanging succulent plants provide foliage at soil level, and will happily creep over the edges of a pot too.
Edible trailing plants for hanging baskets
Your trailing pot plants can taste good as well as look good! Here are three great edible trailing plants for containers.
Strawberries
Strawberry plants work really well in hanging baskets and pots. By raising them off the ground you can protect the fruit from slugs and snails, plus it’s easier to pick the fruit. They look great too! Grow your plants in direct sunlight for best results – they love a sunny spot.
Tomatoes
You don’t need a grow bag to grow tomatoes; they will be perfectly content in a pot or hanging basket. You need to go for a bush variety rather than a cordon variety; *Tumbling Tom and Balconi Red are both an excellent choice for cherry tomatoes.
Nasturtiums
This trailing plant could also sit very well in the flowering category. The bright orange flowers are great for making a statement, but they’re also edible, so you can pick them for salads and garnishes. Trailing nasturtiums are tough plants that grow quickly, and they will tolerate poor soil and a bit of neglect. Definitely a great contender for a low maintenance container garden.
The best tools for planting hanging basket and outdoor pots
Gardening in pots and hanging baskets is very straightforward, and you won’t need lots of fancy equipment and tools. Having said that, having a few basic pieces of kit will definitely make things easier.
Top of my list is a good *hand trowel. You’ll use this all the time to fill your containers with compost, and top up gaps around your plants. Go for a size that’s well-suited to your hanging basket or pot; you might find that child-sized tools work best if your containers are on the small side.
Next up is a decent pair of *gardening gloves to protect your hands. This is very much an area where personal preference is important, but don’t be too distracted by pretty designs! You need a pair that fit well and allow you to move your hands easily when you’re wearing them.
I also think a pair of *secateurs or *snips are a must-have to help you maintain your plants. In my experience snips are particularly good for small spaces and hanging baskets.
Finally, make sure you’ve got a *watering can. I use a *mini watering can for my hanging baskets; you can lift these up high more easily, plus they don’t provide a deluge of water that floods your basket too quickly.
Trailing flowers for pots: choosing hanging baskets and containers
You’re spoilt for choice with the range of hanging baskets and pots available for outdoor plant displays. Whatever style you’re after, you can probably find it. Just make sure you think about these key areas before you buy:
Your hanging basket or pot needs drainage holes. Without them, your plants will sit in a puddle of water, and that can quickly kill them. Don’t buy anything that doesn’t already have holes, or an easy way to make some yourself.
You may need to also buy a liner for hanging baskets. Check the size, and if in doubt buy one that’s larger than your basket so you can trim it down.
Pay attention to the hook on a hanging basket. It needs to be strong and sturdy; once the basket is full of compost, plants and water it will be surprisingly heavy.
Go for a basket that can comfortably hold the number of plants you want to grow. Always allow a bit of room for them to fill as they get bigger.
You can also upcycle household objects to make unique plant containers. Here are a few ideas for things that work well:
An old colander with a hanging basket liner, hung up with string
A broken watering can – hang it up by the handle, or stand it on the ground
A large teacup and saucer
Tin cans – hang them up with string, or display on a wall or windowsill
An old tyre
Old wellies – colourful kids wellies work really well
A teapot – hang it up by the handle, or put it on the ground
Whatever you go for, don’t forget those all-important drainage holes.
What is the best soil for hanging baskets and pots?
The compost you use is a really important part of gardening in hanging baskets and pots.
Plants grown in containers only have access to a limited amount of nutrients, because the compost itself is limited. This means at some point the plants will use up all the nutrients, and when this happens they start to struggle. We all tend to pack lots of plants into pots and hanging baskets, so your plants can reach this point quite quickly.
The best way to keep your plants happy is to choose a good quality *peat-free compost. A general-purpose compost will be fine for most container plants, but do check your plant labels as some are a bit fussier and need a particular type of compost. We’ve got a guide to the best compost for pots to help you choose the right product.
If you’re a bit nervous about looking after your plants, or want to be more hands-off with the maintenance, you could go for a compost which is specifically designed for hanging baskets and pots. This will usually contain some slow-release fertiliser plus water-retaining crystals to take care of your plants with minimum effort. You can of course make your own version of this by adding *slow-release fertiliser and *water-retaining granules to standard compost.
How do you plant a trailing hanging basket?
Here’s a quick guide to planting up a hanging basket.
Most hanging baskets don’t have a flat base, and this can make it hard to keep them steady while you plant them up. If you sit your basket on top of an empty plant pot this will help to make planting easier.
If your basket needs a liner, add that first. Make sure you trim it to size for a neat finish.
If you’re using a plastic hanging basket, or a hanging basket with a plastic liner, use a knife or scissors to poke some drainage holes in the plastic.
If you’re adding slow-release fertiliser or water-retaining granules to the compost, mix these in before filling up your hanging basket.
Add compost to the basket, until it’s nearly full.
Remove your plant from its pot carefully, to protect the roots. A good way to do this is to slide your fingers around the base of the plant, then tip the whole thing upside down and ease the pot off with your other hand.
Arrange your plants on the surface of the compost. Remember the Thriller-Filler-Spiller trick!
When you’re happy with your arrangement, fill in any gaps around the plants with a bit more compost.
Water your hanging basket really thoroughly, then allow it to drain for a few minutes before hanging it up.
How do you make a hanging basket look fuller?
We all want our hanging baskets and container displays to look lush and amazing straight away, don’t we? But this is one of those times when you need a little bit of patience!
Don’t be tempted to overfill your container for instant impact. Doing this gives the plants no room to grow, and is only a short-term gain.
Instead, give your plants a bit of space and wait for them to grow and fill out. If you take good care of them this won’t take long. You can help to speed things up by feeding and watering regularly.
If you’re using a wire hanging basket, you can also add plants around the sides to create fuller basket displays. To do this simply poke a hole in the liner, then carefully push your plant into the compost. Keep the hole small to minimise compost leakage.
Care tips for trailing plants in hanging baskets and pots
So you’ve planted up your hanging basket or pot, and now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the results of your hard work, right? Sort of.
Container displays don’t need lots of maintenance, but there are a few things you can do to keep them looking good and get the maximum impact from your plants.
Right plant, right place
The most important of these is to position your container in the ideal spot for the plants inside it. This is known as ‘right plant, right place’ in the gardening world, and it’s a great way to make hanging flowers look good.
Every plant has a specific set of conditions that it prefers. That could be full sun, a sheltered spot, part shade, good drainage, or a specific type of compost. If you provide your plant with these conditions, it will do well. If you don’t, it will struggle.
As well as helping your plants grow strong, positioning them in the right place can also cut down on maintenance and make them less vulnerable to plant pests.
You can usually find the ideal conditions for a plant on the care label it comes with when you buy it. If this is missing or there’s not much information, you can look the plant up online, or use a plant identification app.
Once you’re armed with the best conditions for your plants, you can work out the ideal location for your hanging basket or pot. This works the other way around too; you can start with where you want to put your container, then buy plants that do well in the conditions provided there. This second approach is particularly useful if you’ve already installed your hanging basket bracket!
Feeding trailing plants in hanging baskets and pots
As I’ve already mentioned, plants grown in containers have limited access to nutrients. To stop them going hungry, you need to feed them regularly.
What is the best fertiliser for hanging baskets and containers?
A general-purpose plant food is fine for most container grown plants, and you can buy this in a variety of formats.
A *concentrated liquid feed must be diluted before use, while *ready-to-pour liquid feed can be added to your container straight from the bottle. Plant food is also available as *granules, which need to be mixed with the compost before you start planting. The easiest option is ready-to-pour feed, but bear in mind it won’t be the cheapest; it also involves more packaging, so if you want to garden sustainably it’s not ideal.
Can you overfeed hanging baskets?
It’s possible to overfeed any plant. Overfeeding can kill plants, so stick to the recommended intervals between feeds – check the packaging for this info.
Watering trailing plants in hanging baskets and pots
Watering is really important when you’re growing foliage and flowering plants in pots and hanging baskets.
Plants grown in containers usually dry out much quicker than plants grown in the ground. This is because the compost can only retain a finite amount of water, but also because the sides of a container are exposed to warmer temperatures which speeds up evaporation.
To avoid a parched hanging planter full of crispy plants, you need to check them on a regular basis. If the top of the compost feels dry to the touch, your plants need a drink.
Should I water my hanging baskets every day?
The answer to this question depends on the weather. In very warm conditions you may need to water every day, or even twice a day. Be guided by the weather where you live, and how dry the soil feels.
Watering hanging baskets can be a bit tricky, as they tend to overflow before the compost and roots can absorb the water. Try to water them as gradually as possible; you can even water them lightly, then come back in ten minutes and repeat the process.
Another good trick is to place a small plant saucer in the bottom of the basket before you plant it up. Doing this creates a little water reservoir and helps reduce leakage.
If you make sure the soil doesn’t really dry out between waterings this will help with water retention too. Water tends to simply pour over very dry soil, rather than soaking in.
What time of day should you water hanging baskets?
Early morning is the best time of day to water any plants. Watering before the hottest time of the day minimises evaporation and gives plants a better chance of absorbing the water. The next best option is to water in the early evening, but don’t leave it too late; damp leaves overnight can lead to problems with mould and mildew.
How do you keep hanging baskets blooming?
As well as feeding and watering your hanging baskets and pots, there’s another quick and easy way to keep them looking good for as long as possible. Welcome to the world of deadheading!
Deadheading sounds like a serious business, but it’s actually super-simple. All you do is remove any drooping or dead flower heads, plus any seed heads that the plant has formed. When you do this, you stop the plant setting seed, which in turn stimulates it to make more lovely flowers.
You can use your fingers or a pair of *snips to deadhead your plants. Try to do it on a regular basis; as well as keeping the time required to a minimum, this will help to keep your containers looking neat and tidy.
I hope this guide to the most popular trailing plants for hanging baskets and pots helps you to create some amazing container displays. If you’ve got any top tips for container gardening please do share them in the comments 🙂
More container gardening resources
Here are some more container gardening blog resources that you might find useful.
Are you looking for advice on the best plants for outdoor pots?
Whether you’re a beginner gardener who’d like to start small with plants in containers, or a seasoned pro who’s keen on planting outdoor pots, there’s lots here to inspire you.
This post on the best plants for pots lists over 30 fantastic low maintenance plants for outdoor pots. I’ve also included simple tips for taking care of your plants so that they thrive and provide you with a gorgeous display, and a quick guide to the basic tools you need for planting containers.
The benefits of growing plants in pots
Growing plants in pots has lots of advantages.
If you’re new to gardening, growing plants in pots is a great way to get started. You can keep things small-scale, moving onto larger displays as you learn and become more confident.
The other element of container gardening that suits new gardeners is the low maintenance aspect. It’s easier and quicker to take care of a plant in a pot than it is to keep on top of a whole garden border. In addition, containers are relatively portable, so if your plant is struggling you can easily move it to a different location before it’s too late.
That portability is a big plus for renters too, because you can take your plants with you when you move.
Containers are also perfect for gardening in small spaces. You don’t even need a garden; you can tuck a pot onto a balcony, outside a front door, or on a window ledge. This makes growing plants in pots a super-easy way to green up your outdoor space regardless of its size.
Gardening in pots, baskets and containers allows you to adjust the height of your garden too. This is particularly helpful if your movement is restricted, or you struggle to garden at ground level. Being able to play with height is also a fantastic way to create a bigger display of plants and flowers in a small space by using a range of pot sizes, trellis or even shelving.
Container gardening is also ideal for children. Kids love having their very own pot to take care of, and it’s easy for them to plant in a smaller space. You can introduce some fun crafting too, by decorating their pot or making plant markers.
Finally, if you don’t have lots of time for gardening, concentrating on growing plants in pots is a good compromise. The smaller scale translates into less time dealing with watering, weeding and pests – and you won’t have to do any digging!
It’s not hard to see why container gardening is so popular, is it?
Do plants grow better in pots or in the ground?
Some plants are better suited to growing in the ground, and some will be more than happy growing in a pot. Choose plants that are well-suited to growing in container planters, and you stand a much better chance of creating a healthy and beautiful container garden. In the gardening world this if often referred to as ‘right plant, right place’.
Right plant, right place
You might have come across the saying ‘right plant, right place’ already; it’s a key element of good garden design, and is often mentioned in gardening programmes and magazines. It’s a simple but powerful approach to helping your plants thrive, and it’s well worth taking a little bit of time to understand the concept.
All plants – regardless of what you grow them in – have their own set of conditions that they will thrive in. Put your plant somewhere that provides these conditions, and you’re already well on the way to making it happy.
The flip side of this idea is that by forcing a plant to grow in conditions it doesn’t naturally enjoy, you will automatically limit how well it does.
The ‘right plant, right place’ concept goes a long way towards explaining why you might have lost plants in the past, and also gives you a simple framework for growing your plants going forward.
So how do you work out the conditions that your plants need? First of all, check the care label. If you don’t have one, look the plant up online, or use a plant identification app. Some plants need full sun, while others are happy growing in full shade. Your plant may need a high humidity level, or love to bake in dry heat. Once you’re armed with this information, you can choose the perfect spot for your container and make sure you’ve given your plants the best possible chance of doing well.
The difference between annual and perennial plants for outdoor pots
If you’re relatively new to gardening, here’s a quick guide to the difference between annual and perennial plants. This will come in handy when you’re choosing your plants and setting your budget.
Annual plants grow, flower and die in one growing season, or year. As a result, you will usually need to replace them with new plants every year.
Perennial plants will grow year after year. They might die back in winter and grow again in spring, or be evergreen. Either way, you shouldn’t need to replace them on a regular basis.
The majority of plants sold in garden centres and online for container planting are annual plants. They’re often labelled as ‘bedding plants’ and common varieties include begonia, pansies, petunia, lobelia and marigolds.
Absolutely. If your perennial plant is suited to growing in a pot, there’s no reason not to. In fact, growing perennial plants in containers is a much more cost-effective way of gardening. It also opens up the range of plants available to you significantly. You can grow flowering plants, shrubs and even small trees perfectly well in pots, if you choose the right variety. Read on to find out what perennials do well in pots.
The best low maintenance plants for outdoor pots
So you’re raring to go with container gardening, and now it’s time to choose your plants. Here are my top picks for low maintenance plants for outdoor pots that will help you create stunning container displays.
Perennial plants for pots
Standard shrubs
A standard shrub is a shrub that has been grown into a specific shape. This is often a lollipop-shape that resembles the structure of a small tree. Standard shrubs are ideal plants to grow in containers, and can be used to create a big impact. They also make ideal tall plants for pots.
Great low-maintenance standard shrubs for outdoor pots include bay, photinia, wisteria, holly and ornamental cherries. I have a miniature ornamental cherry called Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ which is an absolute stunner in springtime.
Roses
There are many varieties of roses which are well-suited to growing in pots. As the name suggests, a patio rose variety is a perfect choice. I love the white simplicity of ‘Bianco’, but there’s a wide range of colours to choose from.
Succulents
You probably associate succulents with indoor plants, but many varieties are ideal for outdoor pots. You can plant several varieties together to create a desert garden effect, or stick to one type for a more contemporary look. Succulents look fantastic against a gravel background, this is a great way to stop soil splashing onto the leaves too.
Succulents are very low maintenance outdoor potted plants, but they don’t enjoy sitting in soggy soil. Make sure you give them plenty of drainage.
Camellias
If you’d like to introduce an evergreen shrub to your container display, consider a camellia. Their deep green glossy leaves provide interest all year round, and they put on a stunning flower display in early spring. You do need to plant camellias in ericaceous compost and grow them in a sheltered position, but if you get both of these things right they don’t need much in the way of maintenance.
Agapanthus
The restrictive nature of a pot works in your favour when it comes to agapanthus, because it makes the plant produce more flowers. Agapanthus will provide height and showy blooms during summer months, and shades range from white to deep blue. I think they work particularly well in a contemporary setting, and also against a dark backdrop which makes the colour sing out.
Box
If you’d like a formal, sleek look for your container, a clipped box plant is the way to go. These plants are slow-growing, so they’re not cheap to buy, but you can go for a small plant to keep costs down. Having said that, if it’s large plants for pots you’re after, a large box in a lovely pot can make a fabulous focal point.
Because box is slow-growing, you’ll only need to give it a trim every year or so. The rest of the time all it needs is water. Do check whether you live in an area that has a problem with box blight or box tree caterpillar before you buy; if you’re concerned you could go for an alternative evergreen such as yew or bay.
Dwarf buddleja
Dwarf buddlejas are designed to be grown in pots, and offer the low maintenance floral impact of a traditional buddleja plant in a much more compact area. They’re also a fantastic plant for pollinating insects, and particularly loved by butterflies.
Dwarf Lavatera
This is another traditionally large plant that has recently been introduced as a dwarf variety for container gardeners. Dwarf lavatera (or mallow) is a tough plant that will cope with a bit of neglect, and produces masses of pale pink blooms on tall stems. It’s another great plant for pollinating insects too.
Lavender
Lavender is a traditional cottage garden plant, but it also looks amazing in a more contemporary setting. You can also plant lavender in pots. Choose a hardy English variety and you will keep the maintenance to a minimum. Lavender enjoys good drainage, so don’t overwater it. It’s a good idea to plant lavender companion plants alongside to boost wow factor.
Spring flowering bulbs
*Bulbs are well-suited to growing in pots, and you can create a lovely display in spring before your other plants get going. A particularly clever way of doing this is to plant a bulb lasagne, which involves layering your bulbs up in a pot to extend the flowering period. My post on planting a bulb lasagne shows you how to do this.
Hardy geraniums
Hardy geraniums are really low-maintenance, unfussy flowers for pots. They will happily grow in containers, where they will produce masses of flowers for very little effort. You can also divide them when they get bigger and make new plants for free!
Hostas
You don’t have to have flowers to make a big impact in a container. With their large, textured leaves, hostas are perfect specimen plants for containers, providing an impressive foliage display. An added bonus of growing them in pots is that you can keep the slugs and snails off them much more easily.
Heucheras
Another great option for foliage, heucheras are available in many colours from deep purples through to golden bronzes. They work really nicely alongside flowering plants, but also look great on their own or as several different colours grouped together in their own pots.
Hydrangeas
We tend to think of hydrangeas as great big garden border plants, but they will also be happy to grow on a smaller scale in a container. Hydrangeas bloom for months, so you can create real wow factor over a long period of time from just one pot. Do check water levels regularly, as they are thirsty plants.
Grasses
Ornamental grasses are fantastic plants for outdoor pots. Use them to add height, texture and movement to a display. I love using grasses as a foliage backdrop with annual flowering plants. Grasses are also brilliant for providing structure and interest over the winter months; some are evergreen, but even the ones that die back can look stunning if you leave the dead stems intact.
Annual plants for pots
When it comes to annual plants for outdoor pots, there’s a wide range to choose from. Here are my favourite low-maintenance annuals for containers.
Osteospermum
Also known as African Daisies, Osteospermum have lots of cheery daisy-like flowers and are available in a range of colours. I like using them alongside smaller-flowered plants such as lobelia.
Lobelia
Lobelia is a great plant for bulking out a container display. It’s covered in tiny little blue, white or purple flowers, and just keeps on going. You can buy standard or trailing lobelia varieties; I think the trailing ones are particularly useful in containers, as they allow you to soften edges and continue the display over a larger area. They’re one of the best plants for hanging flower baskets too.
Petunias
Petunias are hugely popular container plants, and for good reason. They’re easy to grow, produce masses of flowers, and come in a wide range of colours. If you deadhead them regularly, they will flower for months too.
Verbena
Annual verbena is another versatile bedding plant that you can combine with other plants to create a colourful display. I like to use white varieties of verbena in combination with stronger colours to provide contrast, but there are shades of pink and purple if you’d prefer more ‘oomph’.
Pansies & Violas
Another great low-maintenance annual, pansies and violas will grow pretty much anywhere. They’re happy to flower in colder months too, making them perfect for adding winter interest to your garden.
Sunflowers
Not all sunflowers are six foot giants! There are lots of smaller varieties that are well-suited to containers, including our favourite *Teddy Bear which as you might imagine is wonderfully fluffy.
As well as being real showstoppers, sunflowers will provide your local birds and pollinating insects with a source of food. Sunflowers are perfect plants to grow with kids too. My step-by-step guide to growing sunflowers in pots includes planting advice, care tips and good varieties to grow.
Nigella
Nigella is a truly low-maintenance plant for outdoor pots. You literally scatter the *seeds on the soil, and leave them to grow. Nigella likes to seed itself around the garden, so you may well find more plants growing next year with zero effort from you.
Nasturtium
*Nasturtiums are ideal plants for hanging baskets and pots, providing a bright shot of colour throughout summer. They will tolerate poor soil and cope with whatever space you give them, and as an added bonus the flowers are edible.
Wildflowers
Don’t assume that you need a huge meadow to grow wildflowers. Even a small pot of *wildflowers can provide a rich habitat for local wildlife and a beautiful cottage-garden style display of blooms. Wildflowers are ridiculously low-maintenance too; scatter the seeds, rake them in lightly, water, and that’s it. If you’d like to grow them with the kids, check out my post on growing wildflowers.
Coleus
For striking foliage, you can’t beat coleus. They look brilliant planted together, or used as accents in a mixed container. Some varieties prefer sun and some prefer shade, so check the label before you buy. You can have a go at turning coleus into a houseplant over winter, moving it back into the garden once all chance of frost has gone.
Cineraria
Another fantastic foliage plant for containers, cineraria has beautiful silvery leaves that work really well against pink and purple flowers. Pretty much every container in my garden has cineraria in it! If your garden is in a sheltered spot, the plants may well survive over winter.
Ivy
Last on my list is good old ivy. It’s a trailing plant, so you can use it to extend a display over the edges of your pot, and you can choose from varieties with all-green or variegated leaves to suit your finished look. Growing ivy in containers also means you avoid the problem of it getting out of hand and taking over!
Tips for looking after potted outdoor plants
Getting the right low maintenance plants for outdoor pots is a big part of making a success of container gardens, but there are also a few other factors which will have an impact. Take a look at these simple tips for taking care of outdoor plants in pots, and you’ll be well on the way to becoming a container gardening pro.
The best containers for outdoor plants
When it comes to the actual pots you grow your plants in, there are only a couple of rules. The most important one is to make sure your pot has drainage holes in the bottom. Most plants hate to have their roots sitting in a puddle, and you can quickly kill a plant this way. If your pot doesn’t have holes, you need to either make some (a hammer and a nail do the job nicely on plastic and metal pots), or add an inner plant pot which does have drainage holes before planting.
The other key area to consider is the size of your container. Think about the number of plants you want to grow in it, and the eventual size they will reach. The plant’s label should tell you the size, or you can look it up online. Choose a size that will suit your plants for at least a year, to give them plenty of room to thrive and avoid the need to repot them regularly.
Other than that, it’s really up to you when it comes to the shape, colour, material and style of your pots. You can match the style to your existing outdoor space, or mix things up a bit. There’s also tonnes of potential to upcycle and recycle containers; old teapots, sinks, chimney pots, wellies and storage crates all work well. Just remember to add those drainage holes.
Choosing compost for plants grown in outdoor pots
Compost matters more than ever when plants are grown in pots. If you grow plants in the ground, their roots have easy access to nutrients in the soil, and aren’t restricted by the limits of a pot. In contrast, plants that are grown in containers will quickly exhaust the nutrients available to them from the compost.
For this reason, it’s always a good idea to use a good quality, *peat-free compost for your container plants. A general-purpose compost will be fine for most plants, but some plants require specific compost to help them thrive. Check your plant label for this information.
You can also buy compost that’s designed specifically to support plants grown in containers and hanging baskets. This usually has water-retaining crystals and slow-release fertiliser added. It’s not essential to use this when planting your pots, but it can help reduce the amount of plant maintenance required. If you don’t have lots of time, or tend to neglect your plants, I think it’s a good option.
For more advice on compost and container plants, head over to my guide to the best compost for pots.
Should I repot my plants after buying?
Generally, you should aim to repot your plants into your own containers as soon as you get them home. Ease the pot away from the plant, and you will probably find that the roots are quite compacted. This means the plant will benefit from a larger pot with more compost.
The exception to this rule is when you buy plants that are already potted into an ornamental pot, or a pre-planted container display such as a hanging basket. In both these situations, the plants should already have been provided with the right sized container.
Feeding plants growing in outdoor pots
As your container plants will use up the nutrients in the compost, you should feed them regularly to help them thrive. A general purpose plant food is a simple option, but if you’re growing fruit and veg in containers make sure you go for a plant food designed specifically for these.
Plant food is available in a few different formats. The most common is a *concentrated liquid, which you dilute according to the pack instructions and use to water your plants. You can also buy *granules which should be scattered on the surface of the soil and lightly raked in, and *ready-to-use liquid feed which you just pour into the pot. This last option is great if you’re a bit daunted by the idea of getting the feeding right, but it’s not the cheapest or most recycling-friendly choice.
If you like the idea of being self-sufficient, or are gardening on a budget, you can also make your own natural plant feed from comfrey or nettle leaves. This is a great option for organic gardening. Here’s how to do it:
Drainage for plants grown in pots
I’ve already talked about drainage in terms of holes in the bottom of your container. It’s also a good idea to pop a few stones or broken pieces of terracotta pot into the bottom before you add your compost.
If you’re thinking ‘why do I need to put rocks in the bottom of a planter?’, here’s the answer. Adding a layer of stones will increase the container’s ability to drain away excess water, which in turn helps to provide a more balanced growing environment. This is particularly important in the colder months of the year.
Watering container plants
When it comes to water, a container plant is more reliant on you than a plant that’s grown in the ground. A container will generally dry out much quicker than a garden bed, and not just because there’s a limit on the water in there. The sides of a pot are more exposed to warmer temperatures, which heats up the soil and in turn speeds up evaporation.
In warmer months, check the soil in your containers regularly. If it feels dry to touch, you need to water them. Another telltale sign is drooping plants, but ideally you should move in with the watering can before this stage.
Try to avoid watering your containers at the warmest part of the day, so you don’t lose as much water to evaporation. Watering in the early morning is ideal, and the next best option is early evening.
You could also add some *watering retaining crystals to your compost when potting up your containers. This will help to keep moisture levels more steady, and should mean you need to water your pots less frequently.
In colder months, you may not need to water your containers at all, but it’s still worth checking the soil regularly.
How to keep container plants flowering for longer
Having invested time and money in your plants for outdoor pots, it makes sense to try and get the best display out of them for as long as possible. Deadheading is a simple way to do just that.
Deadheading involves removing any flowers that are drooping, dead, or forming seed heads. Doing this stops the plant setting seed, and makes it produce more flowers instead.
To deadhead your plants, you simply pinch or snip off the old flower heads. You can use your fingers, but a pair of *snips will make the job a lot quicker.
Try to deadhead your plants regularly for the best results.
The best tools for growing plants in containers
Container gardening doesn’t require much in the way of garden tools and equipment. Having said that, there are a few items that will make life easier.
As well as containers, it’s a good idea to buy a *hand trowel. You can use this for the majority of your planting and re-potting jobs, and it’s also handy for weeding.
I’d also recommend a decent pair of *gardening gloves to protect your hands. Look for a pair that you can move properly in while wearing them – it sounds obvious, but not every pair will be a good fit.
I think a *watering can is also an essential piece of kit. Choose one with a ‘rose’ head attachment, this will help to avoid washing away the top layer of compost in your pots with a big gush of water. I actually like to use my daughter’s *mini watering can for my smaller containers, because it makes it even easier to control the flow.
Finally, a pair of *secateurs will come in handy for pruning and deadheading.
This is really all the kit you need to grow plants in containers. You are of course more than welcome to get carried away with all manner of extra gadgets if you’d like to!
A checklist for low maintenance outdoor potted plants
Here’s a quick checklist to help you grow beautiful outdoor plants in pots:
Right plant, right place: choose plants that suit the conditions in your garden (sunny spot, partial shade, direct sunlight, indirect light, low light, full sun exposure, shady spot, dry conditions etc.)
Annual plants grow, flower and die in one growing season; perennial plants grow year after year.
Use our list of great container plants to select your favourite plants; they all require little maintenance. Popular flowering plants for pots, herbaceous perennials, evergreen plants, drought-tolerant plants, dwarf varieties, colourful flowers, taller plants and foliage plants are all included.
Make sure your container has drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
When choosing pot size, think about the number of young plants in it, and how big they will eventually grow. A large plant needs a large pot; small plants will be happy in small pots.
Use good quality peat-free compost for outdoor container plants. Aim for well-draining soil.
Check how dry the soil is regularly, and water if necessary. Aim for regular watering and moist soil.
Feed your container plants regularly with a general purpose plant food. This can be concentrated liquid, water-soluble fertiliser, or ready-to-pour.
Deadhead your plants to encourage more beautiful flowers.
Good choice gardening tools for container growing: hand trowel, gardening gloves, watering can and secateurs.
More gardening inspiration
If you’d like to explore some other gardening projects and ideas, take a look at these posts.
I hope this guide to the best low-maintenance plants for outdoor pots has given you lots of container gardening ideas and inspiration, and helps you to create a beautiful container display. What container plants are top of your wish list?
If you’ve enjoyed this post and found it useful, here are some ways you can say thanks and support Growing Family:
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Fact: Every kitchen needs a set of good glass jars or canisters to keep food fresh. Whether you’re storing baking staples (such as flour and sugar), stocking bulk grains (such as rice, quinoa, and oats), or packing up your meal prep for the week, you can’t argue with the versatility of a glass storage container. But, with so many shapes and sizes out there, it can be a bit overwhelming to choose from the vast selection. Which ones actually keep food fresh? Which ones make sense in a pantry? Which ones can you skip? If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry: We’re here to help. We’ve scoured the web for the best dry goods containers, containers for leftovers, and spice jars to create the most comprehensive list around — and then we narrowed down the list to our favorite 16 options. Let’s take a look!
Do you have a favorite glass container to add to this list? Tell us in the comments below!
At this time of year a lot of people who like to pretend to be experts armed with crystal balls predict trends with a concerning degree of confidence.
Pantone’s Color of the Year is selected in a process the company says is “the culmination of macro-level color trend forecasting and research.” I think that means they pick colors that they know are likely to get people talking and therefore mention “Pantone” millions of times.
Last year’s color—Viva Magenta—was a hit with gardeners who found plenty of ways to work the color into their gardens and stay “on trend.” The 2024 Color of the Year—Peach Fuzz—is even more garden-friendly.
Lakeview Peach Fuzz ahead of it’s color-of-the-year time in my garden last year.
Let’s just say that with that color I am a gardener ahead of my time. Many of my favorite garden flowers fall in that peach to apricot color range. In snapdragons (Antirrhinum), both the Chantilly and Madame Butterfly series have gorgeous peach bloomers. Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum) and Calendula also have beautiful peach varieties that are easy to grow. And there are too many excellent peach varieties of Dahlia to name, but I’ll give you one I grew last year: ‘Lakeview Peach Fuzz.’
If anything, I think Pantone played it safe with its 2024 color pick, so allow me to lay down my own garden color trend prediction: silver. Gray might be on its way out for interiors, but in the garden, I predict you’ll be seeing lots of silver.
Of course you’ll have to permit me a wide berth in the definition of the color because much as gardeners like to call purple flowers blue, when it comes to plants, silver typically refers to the grayish-green or blueish-green color usually found on foliage.
Senecio candicans Angel Wings, whichsports very gray leaves, has been catching gardeners’ eyes for several years now, but it can be a bit tricky to grow and won’t tolerate too much moisture or humidity.
Senecio Angel Wings created a stir when it hit the gardening world a few years ago. Proven Winners photo
A new dusty miller (Centaurea) called Silver Swirl has bold silvery white leaves with wavy edges. It’s only hardy down to zone 6b, but who cares? It will be an amazing in containers or grown as an annual.
With it’s white-silver ruffled foliage, Silver Swirl can’t be beat in containers.
There’s also a cute new lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) called Little Lamb, that falls on the sage green side of the spectrum but will make an excellent small-textured groundcover in areas with good drainage.
Artemisia ‘Silver Lining’ is a hardy perennial (zones 4 to 9) that will work equally well in containers. At 12 to 16 inches tall by 32 to 36 inches wide, it will fill a nice space in the garden, but is said to be a better behaved than some more aggressive Artemisia. Its pointed leaves offer a great deal of interest beyond just its excellent color.
Low growing and eye catching, ‘Silver Lining’ will be a star in the garden and in containers. Walters Gardens photos
The need for sharp drainage and drought resistance are common factors of silver plants, many of which get their color from the tiny, soft hairs on their leaves that reduce transpiration and keep leaves cool.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a couple of my all-time favorite silver plants: silver sage (Salvia argentea) and Plectranthus argentatus Silver Shield, both of which I grow almost every year.
I think I’ll always grow Salvia argentea. I just love those fuzzy thick leaves.
Plectranthus Silver Shield is easy to grow and another silver star that works both in the ground and in containers.
My prediction that silver will take gardens by story is not based on the kind of “macro-level forecasting” that Pantone uses, but rather an excellent variety of silver plants now available to gardeners.
Oh, and did I mention that silver looks great with Peach Fuzz?
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Get ready to wrap up 2023 in style with Tupperware’s incredible end-of-year sale! The renowned food storage brand is slashing prices on a wide range of must-haves, including water bottles, bowls, lunch boxes, commuter mugs, food storage, and more — essentially, everything you need to start the new year on a high note. Now’s your chance to stock up on extra water bottles for your daily commute, bowls for efficient meal prep, and lunch boxes that liberate you from the takeout trap. It’s the perfect moment to replenish your kitchen essentials: Trust me, your future self will be grateful!
Whether you’re seeking a holiday gift idea or simply looking to upgrade your food storage, Tupperware has got you covered. Let’s make 2024 an organized year and shop our top picks from the sale ahead. After all, everyone can use new storage containers, am I right?
Finding the best plants for shallow pots can sometimes feel like a challenge. Surely that lack of depth means less than ideal conditions for your plants?
Not necessarily. There are lots of fantastic plants that are well-suited to growing in shallow pots and containers – you just need to choose the right plants.
25 fantastic plants for shallow pots
This article has 25 great outdoor plants for shallow pots, window boxes, and containers. We’ve included flowering plants, foliage plants and edible plants, so all your container gardening needs are covered.
Benefits of growing plants in shallow pots
More portable: shallow pots will be less heavy than deep pots, so they’re easier to move around.
Compact: a shallow pot is less space-hungry than a deep pot. If you’re gardening in a small garden area such as a balcony, front door, or windowsill, shallow pots can help you make the most of the outdoor space available.
Good drainage: not as much soil means less chance of your plants becoming waterlogged.
Great for low maintenance plants: lots of low-maintenance plants cope well in shallow pots, so if you’re short on time they’re a good option.
Cheaper: shallow pots are often less expensive than deeper pots, as they require less materials. If you’re gardening on a budget this can help.
What makes a great plant for shallow pots?
There are two key features of a plant that’s well-suited to growing in a shallow pot. Try to tick both of these boxes when choosing your plants:
1. Plants with shallow roots
Plants that naturally grow shallow roots are the perfect choice for shallow pots. The compact root system won’t be striving to grow deeper and hitting a dead end, which will keep the plant happy. Plants that naturally grow deep roots should be avoided in shallow pots.
2. Plants with a compact growth habit
The lack of depth in a shallow pot limits the amount of space available to the plant. Consequently, plants that are naturally small and compact will be ideal in shallow containers.
What types of shallow pot plants are there?
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to shallow rooted plants for pots. Here’s a quick outline of the two main types of plant available:
Ornamental plants for shallow pots: these plants are grown for their looks, whether that’s beautiful flowers, gorgeous foliage, or ornamental berries.
Edible plants for shallow pots: these plants include fruit, vegetables, and edible flowers.
The best outdoor plants for shallow pots and containers
Here are our top picks for plants that will be happy to grow in a shallow pot.
Flowering plants for shallow pots
Petunias
Petunias really earn their space in a shallow pot. They produce masses of flowers, grow quickly, and don’t need much attention to keep them happy. There’s so much choice with this plant too; cascading and upright varieties, plus a huge range of colours.
Marigolds
A classic garden plant, marigolds enjoy well-draining soil and will reward you with vibrant flowers in bold shades of yellow and orange. The foliage is strongly-scented too.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums have a lot to offer in a shallow container display: Bright orange edible blooms, trailing habit, quick growth, and tolerant of neglect. What’s not to love?
Snapdragons
If you like your containers to look traditional, snapdragons (also known as antirrhinum) are ideal. The dainty flowers suit cottage gardens really well, and they’re also easy flowers to grow from seed.
Zinnias
For summer wow factor, add zinnias to your shallow pots. These showy plants like full sun, and are loved by pollinating insects.
Pelargoniums
Pelargoniums have a compact habit that makes them a great option for shallow pots. In addition to the lovely flowers, the leaves are highly scented too.
If you like the idea of perennial plants for shallow pots, you can’t go wrong with lavender.
Choose a dwarf variety of this cottage garden favourite for your shallow pots and you can enjoy colour, scent and lovely grey-green foliage for months.
Foliage plants for shallow pots
Succulents
Succulents are a popular choice for shallow pots. These low-maintenance plants have shallow roots and are also well-equipped to cope with dry conditions and minimal watering, so they’re a great option for both indoor and outdoor shallow pots.
Echeveria, hens-and-chicks, aloe and lithops (also known as pebble plants) are all succulents that are suited to shallow pots.
Heuchera
For showstopping foliage in shallow pots, take a look at heucheras. The leaves have an interesting shape and there are lots of bold colours to choose from. Most heuchera varieties are evergreen too.
Creeping Jenny
This is such a great foliage plant for a shallow pot. As the name suggests, it has a creeping habit that will cover soil and spill over the edges of a container. The foliage is a green-yellow colour so it pairs well with bright flowers.
Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox is an evergreen perennial with shallow roots. It works brilliantly as a ground cover plant, and produces masses of small flowers in late spring and early summer.
Sedums
If you like plants with texture, sedums are perfect. They’re low-growing and very handy for covering the soil in shallow pots. Sedums work really well alongside succulents in a container display.
Ornamental grasses
We tend to think of ornamental grasses as big statement plants in the garden, but there are some lovely small varieties too.
Grasses can add lots of texture, movement and interest to a container display. The following varieties are all low-maintenance and suited to shallow pots:
Zebra grass – Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’
Blue Fescue – Festuca glauca
Dwarf fountain grass – Pennisetum alopecuroides
Japanese blood grass – Imperata cylindrica
Dwarf Hosta
Miniature hostas look really cute in containers, and if you grow them in shallow pots you can restrict the plant roots to make them even smaller. Varieties include ‘Whirlwind’, ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ and ‘Paradise Puppet’.
Ferns
Some varieties of fern are shallow root plants, so you can use them for real foliage wow factor in a small pot. Bird’s Nest Fern, Boston Fern and Hardy Maidenhair Fern are all good varieties to go for.
Ajuga
Also known as bugleweed and carpetweed, ajuga are low-growing, shallow-rooted plants with purple flowers. It’s a member of the mint family, and like mint it will spread quickly to fill a pot.
Edible plants for shallow pots
Herbs
Growing herbs in shallow pots is a great way to create a small-scale herb garden. Oregano, basil, parsley, lemon balm, thyme, rosemary, sage and mint are all great candidates for a shallow container.
Swiss chard
While the main reason to grow swiss chard is for its edible leaves, the red, green or yellow stems and vibrant green leaves also look lovely. If you keep cutting older leaves you can have a continuous supply of new growth from just one pot.
Kale
If you grow kale in deep soil or large pots it will be a much bigger plant, but you can grow baby kale successfully in shallow pots. As with swiss chard, keep harvesting the largest leaves for a continuous supply.
Spinach
You can grow spinach from *seedoutdoors from late spring to early autumn. It’s happy in shallow planters and likes direct sunlight.
It’s really easy to grow radishes from *seed, and these root vegetables don’t need a particularly deep pot. They grow fast too; you can have a harvest within a month if you choose a quick-to-mature variety.
Spring onions
Spring onions have shallow root systems and a very upright growth habit, so you can grow them in small pots. They like well-drained soil, so be careful with the watering.
Strawberries
Strawberry plants will happily grow in shallow soil – and that includes hanging baskets. The added bonus of growing them in pots is it makes it harder for slugs and snails to eat them!
Care techniques for shallow plants in pots
With any plant grown in a pot, there will be limited access to nutrients, and limited space to grow. This means you need to support your plants in order for them to thrive.
Choosing shallow plant pots
When selecting the best pots for shallow plants, make sure it has the following:
Enough space for the plant you want to put in it (check the plant care instructions to see how big it will eventually grow)
Drainage holes in the bottom (to prevent waterlogging)
Our article on the best compost for pots has lots more advice and tips to help you choose the right product.
Watering plants in shallow pots
Potted plants will dry out more quickly than plants grown in the ground. This is even more true of shallow pots due to the smaller amount of soil, and it’s relevant to both indoor and outdoor plants.
In warmer months, check your pots regularly; if the top of the soil feels dry, they need watering.
At the other end of the watering spectrum, remember that plants in pots can get root rot if they don’t have adequate drainage. Standing them on *pot feetwill help deal with excess water, but avoid over-watering too.
Container plants will eventually use up all the nutrients in the soil. At this point, the plant will start to struggle. To avoid losing your plants, it’s a good idea to feed them regularly.
You can use a general purpose plant food for ornamental plants. This is available as a *concentrated liquid that is diluted in your watering can, or *granules that are added to the soil.
If you’re growing indoor plants in shallow pots, go for a *houseplant feed, and for edible plants you should always use a *feed designed specifically for fruit and vegetable plants.
More container garden resources
For more tips on container gardening, take a look at these articles:
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Are you looking for advice on the best low maintenance evergreen plants for pots?
This article covers 25 fantastic evergreen plants to inspire your container gardening and help you create a stunning display all year round.
The best evergreen plants for pots
We’ve included evergreen shrubs, flowering evergreen plants, and potted evergreen trees, so there’s something for every container size and location. Whether you’ve got one pot to fill, or a whole garden full of containers, you’ll find the perfect option here.
What is an evergreen plant?
An evergreen plant is a plant that doesn’t lose its leaves. Unlike deciduous shrubs and plants, which lose their leaves at some point in the year (usually winter), evergreen plants retain their foliage, adding more leaves each year.
Examples of evergreen plants include holly, conifer, eucalyptus, bay and camellia.
Why use evergreen plants in pots and containers?
There are lots of great reasons why you should think about using evergreen plants in pots:
Year-round interest: evergreen plants provide year-round colour, texture and interest. This is particularly useful in winter months and early spring, when most plants are dormant.
Low-maintenance container gardening: you won’t need to replace all your potted plants every season. Evergreen plants are also usually very hardy, which means you don’t have to worry about plant protection in colder months.
Money saving: if you look after them, evergreen plants will look good year in year out. That means you can buy less plants – great news if you’re gardening on a budget.
Lots of choice: there’s a wide range of evergreen plants for pots, offering lush foliage, stunning flowers or bright berries for garden wow factor.
25 low maintenance evergreen plants for pots
Let’s dive into our top picks for container gardening with the best all year round plants for pots.
Flowering evergreen plants for pots
Camellias
Camellias are best known for their flowers, and those beautiful blooms will certainly create impact in early spring. But the foliage is well worth a mention too. Camellias have glossy dark green leaves that will add texture to a potted display all year round.
Camellia plants are happiest in slightly acidic soil, and you can provide this by using *ericaceous compost in your pot. They are native to the woodlands of South Asia, so they will also thank you for a shady spot or somewhere that has filtered light.
Heather
Heathers are compact plants with interesting texture and bags of colour. The abundant small flowers will bloom throughout winter and into spring, providing a much-needed source of pollen and nectar for insects.
Heathers like acidic soil, so they’re another candidate for *ericaceous compost.
Japanese Skimmia (Skimmia japonica)
Skimmias have glossy leaves and spring flowers, followed by bright red berries in autumn and winter – perfect for a festive show of colours.
To get those all-important berries, you need female plants (such as ‘Kew White’, “Temptation’ or ‘Nymans’), plus a male plant (such as ‘Kew Green’ or ‘Rubella’) nearby.
Daphne Odora ‘Aureomarginata’
This Daphne variety is a lovely evergreen for pots, with variegated leaves and beautiful pale pink blooms with a powerful fragrance. It can grow pretty big – up to 1.5 metres high – so make sure you choose a big pot if you want to grow this flowering shrub.
Wintergreen
Another good candidate for festive colours, Wintergreen (or Gaultheria procumbens) is compact and low-growing. Use it in smaller pots over winter months.
Cotoneaster
White flowers, red berries and green leaves: cotoneaster has plenty to offer. It’s easy to grow, and you can choose from low-growing or upright evergreen varieties.
Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’
If you can provide some *trellis in your container, this evergreen clematis is a great option. The impressive flowers have freckle-like markings and will help to liven up the garden in winter. It’s a compact variety, and doesn’t need lots of pruning.
Hebe
Hebe plants give you lots of options on foliage colour. Dense leaves and a low-growing habit make them ideal for filling up pots and providing impact and texture. Most varieties produce flowers in summer months too.
Photinia ‘Little Red Robin’
This is a lovely low-maintenance evergreen shrub for a large planter. Bright red leaves mature into deep green shades, and there are white flowers in spring.
Photinia ‘Little Red Robin’ is bushy in nature and will grow to around 1 metre tall.
Sweet box (Sarcococca confusa)
Another large shrub option when it comes to evergreens for containers, sweet box combines dense foliage with highly scented small white flowers in midwinter that give way to black berries. Grow it near a doorway or path to make the most of the fragrant blooms.
Evergreen Azalea (Japanese Azalea)
For flower wow factor, azaleas are hard to beat. These low maintenance evergreen shrubs are renowned for their floral display, with an abundance of flowers in late spring and early summer.
Azaleas need acidic soil (*ericaceous compost) and partial shade to thrive. If the variety you choose isn’t cold-hardy you will need to provide the pot with protection over winter.
English Lavender
English lavender retains its foliage all year round, so technically it can be classed as an evergreen plant. The foliage will fade in colour during winter, but the plant can still provide useful structure in a container display.
Our article on growing lavender in pots has more tips on using this fragrant favourite in containers.
Evergreen foliage plants for pots
Box (Buxus sempervirens)
Box is probably one of the most iconic evergreen shrubs for pots. Clipped pyramids, spheres and topiary shapes are an excellent choice for pots at the front door, or in a formal garden.
Box is a pretty slow-growing shrub, which means a larger plant can be quite an investment. The plus side of this slow growth is there’s very little maintenance; simply give your plant a trim every year to keep the new growth neat.
If you’re keen on adding a box plant to your garden, make sure you check whether your local area has a problem with box tree caterpillar or box blight first. If there is an issue, it’s a good idea to go for an alternative plant.
Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Bay laurel is a good alternative to box plants for pots, as you can trim it into shape for a formal look. If you choose an edible variety you can also use the fragrant leaves in your cooking.
Bay enjoys a sunny location and free draining soil.
Heuchera
If you’re looking for a foliage showstopper in your pots, heucheras are definitely worth considering. They’re available in a range of stunning colours, from golds and reds through to deep purples.
In pots, heucheras will work hard to provide colour and interest when other plants have died back, or you can group them together for a foliage display.
The majority of heucheras are evergreen, and will happily grow in a container.
Calocephalus
If you like silver tones in your planting schemes, look no further than calocephalus. The frothy, silvery stems look delicate, but it’s a hardy plant that can cope with pretty much any soil and weather. Use it to contrast with richer colours such as purples.
Evergreen succulents
Succulents are well-known for being low maintenance and evergreen. Choose a hardy variety for your outdoor pots; sempervivum, sedum and agave are good options.
Fatsia japonica
If you want to go big on foliage impact, you can’t go wrong with Fatsia japonica.
The leaves are an impressive size, an interesting shape, and a rich green. The plant also produces white flowers followed by black berries, but it’s the leaves that steal the show here. Grow it in a shady spot and provide plenty of nutrients.
Ivy
With its trailing habit and glossy green leaves, ivy makes a very useful evergreen plant for pots. Use it to soften the edge of a container and increase the surface area of your planting.
The other great reason to grow ivy in pots is you can keep it under control!
Hart’s Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)
Ferns are always a great option for dense green foliage in pots, and this variety is a tough little plant. Like many ferns, it will thrive in moist, shady areas, so it’s perfect if you have a tricky spot that most plants don’t like.
Phormium (New Zealand Flax)
Phormium is an evergreen shrub that produces upright, sword-shaped leaves. As such, it’s perfect for creating drama in a pot.
Choose from a range of colours, including greens, pinks, yellows and deep reds.
Ornamental grasses
Grasses make wonderful plants for outdoor pots. They can be used to add texture, height, movement and even sound in a container, and also work brilliantly as a backdrop to flowering plants.
Grasses can really come into their own in winter months, when their structure stands out in the less busy garden. Great evergreen grasses include Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass), Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ (Blue Fescue) , Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass), and Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ (Japanese Sedge).
Varieties that die back can also look fantastic in winter; just leave the stems intact (this will also help provide garden wildlife with food and shelter).
Evergreen trees for pots
Emerald Green Arbovitae (Thuja occidentalis)
If you’re short on outdoor space, this narrow evergreen tree could be the solution. It has a natural pyramid shape and is great for adding height, but not spread, to your container display – perfect for small spaces and compact patios. Grow it in direct sunlight for best results.
Dwarf conifer
As the name suggests, dwarf conifers are small versions of conifer trees. Compact in size and slow-growing, they will provide foliage in a pot for many years.
Korean Fir (Abies Koreana)
The Korean Fir will grow up to 50ft high, but it’s very slow-growing, so don’t rule it out for a pot.
Grow it in full sun and well-drained soil, and it will reward you with zingy green needles and unusual purple-blue cones. Definitely a conversation starter for a container garden.
Care tips for evergreen plants in pots
Evergreen plants are pretty low-maintenance, but you can still take a few steps to make sure they thrive and put on their best show.
Here’s a quick guide to caring for evergreen outdoor plants in pots.
Right plant, right place: Position your evergreen potted plants in a spot that provides the conditions the plant likes. For example, full sun, full shade, sheltered from strong winds etc.
Choose the right container: Make sure your pot is big enough for your plant – remember it will grow! – and has drainage holes in the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
Use good quality compost: Container evergreens can only access a limited amount of soil, so make sure you use a good *peat-free compost. Check also whether your evergreen plant needs a specific type of compost. You’ll find more tips in our article on the best compost for pots.
Feed your container plants: potted plants will eventually exhaust the nutrients in their soil, so you need to top those up regularly. Options for plant food include *concentrated liquid, *granules and *ready-to-pour liquid feed.
Water container plants when required: plants grown in containers dry out more quickly than plants grown in the ground, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on moisture levels regularly and water if necessary. Evergreen plants in pots won’t need much water in cooler months, but it’s still worth checking the soil on a regular basis.
Useful tools for container gardening: you only need a few basics, but the right tools will make life easier and help your plants thrive. We recommend a *hand trowel, *gardening gloves, *small watering can, and *secateurs or *snips for pruning.
More container gardening advice
For more tips, inspiration and advice on gardening in containers, take a look at these articles:
Pin for later: 25 best low maintenance evergreen plants for pots
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