Designing ContainersCreate gorgeous planters full of flowers, veggies and more
Creating successful container gardens is not something that ’s left to chance . Whether showcasing a single specimen such as a minuscule tree or bush or coalesce flora together , right selection can transubstantiate the mundane into something extraordinary .
Container " recipes " are like cooking . For a compelling remnant result , planning and the correct ingredient are in gild . For container arrangement with dynamism , include mounding plants as " fillers , " trailing varieties as " trawl line " to drape over the edge , and anchor with a dazzle upright accent as a " thriller . " Get started here :
See more : Container Garden Ideas
FULL SUN PLANTS FOR POTS
Superbells ® Pomegrante Punch ™ calibrachoa . pic by : Proven Winners .
CALIBRACHOA
Zones:9 - 11 , grown as an yearbook in most regionsExposure : Sun to partial shadeHabit : mound spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 in tall , 12 to 24 inches wide , up to 30 inches long
One of the most versatile plants for container , with flowers that come in an eternal range of color and patterns . Color coordinate with a ceramic peck and coalesce as a “ trotline ” with a leaf “ filler ” such as silver grey artemisia or golden licorice plant , and a “ thriller ” such as angelonia or small cosmetic grass . Learn calibrachoa .
Pictured : Superbells ® Pomegrante Punch ™ calibrachoafrom Proven Winners .
Summersong ™ Firefinch ™ coneflower . photograph by : Proven Winners .
CONEFLOWER
Zones:
3 - 9 , depending on the variety
Exposure:
Full Dominicus
Habit:
Height/Spread:
Varies , 2 to 5 understructure marvellous , 1 - 1/2 to 2 fundament all-inclusive
With daisy - alike blossom in bold colouring material and a hardy vertical habit , coneflower bring aboriginal appealingness to magnanimous containers . They ’re drought - tolerant and beloved by bee , butterflies , and birds likewise . Learn coneflower .
Pictured : Summersong ™ Firefinch ™ coneflowerfrom Proven Winners .
Virtuoso ® Rad Raz ™ dahlia . Photo by : Proven Winners .
DAHLIA
8 - 11
1 to 6 foot improbable and 1 to 3 feet wide
Among the most popular summer flowers , with thousands of motley in a wide raiment of bloom semblance and forms . Most often grown in the flat coat ; however , dahlia are also easy to develop in containers . utilise as a stomach - alone accent or mix with other late - season plants . Learn dahlia .
Pictured : Virtuoso ® Rad Raz ™ dahliafrom Proven Winners .
Fruit Punch ® ‘ Classic Coral ’ genus Dianthus . Photo by : Proven Winners .
DIANTHUS
Zones:3 - 9 , depending on varietyExposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding , spreading , or erect habitHeight / Spread:4 to 36 in tall and 4 to 24 in wide
This easy - care annual or perennial lends cottage - style ingathering with scented flowers in nearly every color conceivable , from white to near black . Place a container near a terrace , deck , or entree where the scent can be enjoyed up close . Combine with coral bells , geranium , artemisia , or miniature roses . Learn genus Dianthus .
Pictured : Fruit Punch ® ‘ Classic Coral ’ dianthusfrom Proven Winners .
Euphorbia Diamond Frost ® . Photo by : Proven Winners .
EUPHORBIA DIAMOND FROST ®
Zones:10 - 11 , treated as an yearbook in most regionsExposure : Sun to fond sunHabit : Mounding habitHeight / Spread:12 to 18 inch magniloquent and wide
Clouds of airy white blossom bloom throughout much of the grow season . This versatile yearly can be integrated into any style garden . Plant as a “ filler ” constituent in a container in combination with trailing cringe Jenny or seraphic potato vine and add a magniloquent accent mark such as purple outpouring skunk or ‘ Victoria Blue ’ salvia .
Pictured : Diamond Frost ® euphorbiafrom Proven Winners .
Boldly ® Dark Red geranium . Photo by : Proven Winners .
GERANIUM , PELARGONIUM
Zones:9 - 12Exposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding , upright , or trailing habitHeight / Spread:6 to 36 inch tall , 6 to 24 in wide , tail 12 to 36 inches long
Geraniums come in a range of flower color and forms , including zonal and trailing ivy . The scented foliage can be immature , atomic number 79 , variegated , or pattern . Suited to hanging baskets and windowpane boxes , combine with “ shedder ” such as drag genus Vinca or Ag dichondra , and “ fillers ” such as sweet alyssum or annual lobelia . Learn geraniums .
picture : Boldly ® Dark Red geraniumfrom Proven Winners .
Truffula ™ Pink gomphrena . pic by : Proven Winners .
genus Gomphrena
Zones:9 - 11 , usually grow as an annualExposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding habitHeight / Spread:6 inch to 4 feet tall , depending on mixture
orb - shaped blooms in pictorial pinks , purples , and whites make gomphrena a cheerful addition to container garden . It ’s estrus - tolerant , long - blooming , and holds its shape well in mixed plantings . take genus Gomphrena .
Pictured : Truffula ™ Pink gomphrenafrom Proven Winners .
Luscious ® Citrus Blend ™ lantana . photograph by : Proven Winners .
LANTANA
Zones:9 - 11 , acquire as an yearly in most zonesExposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding , spreading , or upright habitHeight / Spread:4 to 36 inches tall and 4 to 24 inches blanket
This easy - care annual or repeated lends cottage - style appeal with scented flowers in nearly every color imaginable , from ashen to nearly black . Place a container near a patio , deck of cards or entryway where the scent can be relish up closely . Combine with coral bells , geranium , artemisia , or miniature roses . Learn lantana in containers .
envision : Luscious ® Citrus Blend ™ lantanafrom Proven Winners .
‘ Aurora Yellow Fire ’ marigold . pic by : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia .
MARIGOLD
Zones:9 - 11 , grown as an annual in most regionsExposure : Sun to fond shadeHabit : Mounding or vertical habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 inches improbable and 6 to 24 inches extensive
Scented marigolds are a staple of kitchen and cottage - way garden , grown for their bright , pollinator - favorable flower . Plant in a container with other bungalow - style yearly such as red salvia , nasturtium , and calendula . admit as part of a mini herb container garden alongside St. Basil , oregano , and thyme . hear marigold .
Sunstar ® Pink pentas . exposure by : Proven Winners .
PENTAS
Zones:10 - 11 , produce as an yearbook in most regionsExposure : Full sunHabit : vertical mounding habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 feet marvellous and across-the-board
These star - shape flowers bloom nonstop in hot weather and are a favorite of butterflies . Compact and colorful , pentas flourish in sunny containers and intermix well with other heat - loving annual . Learn petunias .
Pictured : Sunstar ® Pink pentasfrom Proven Winners .
Supertunia ® Royal Velvet ® . Photo by : Proven Winners .
PETUNIA
Zones:10 - 11 , rise as an annual in most regionsExposure : Full sunshine to fond shadeHabit : Mounding , spread , or trailing habitHeight / Spread:6 to 24 inches marvelous , 12 to 36 inches wide , up to 36 inches long
This old - fashioned pet has delight new popularity as new crossbreed in a concourse of colors and patterns have been introduced . A basic for window boxes , hanging baskets and container , combine as a “ spiller ” with spiky dracaena or royal jet grass , filling in with vervain , African daisy , or diascia . larn petunias .
Pictured : Supertunia ® Royal Velvet ® petuniafrom Proven Winners .
Dwarf mugo true pine . Photo by : APugach / Shutterstock .
pine tree
Zones:2 - 10Exposure : Full sunHabit : Upright or spread out habitHeight / Spread:2 to 130 foot marvelous and 1 1/2 to 40 pes all-inclusive
This diverse group of evergreen conifers is grown for its attractive needle , class - round prayer and carefree nature . Slow - growing midget forms worthy for containers admit dwarf mugo pine tree , ‘ Blue Shag ’ eastern white pine , and dwarf Scots pine . space in a container as a suffer - alone accent near an entry or unite with other seasonal plant with similar cultural need .
Rockin ' ® Fuchsia sage . Photo by : Proven Winners .
sage
Zones:5 - 9 , for most varieties ; some grown as annualsExposure : Full sunHabit : upright piano habitHeight / Spread : variety 1 to 6 feet marvellous & wide , with most averaging 2 to 3 foot
know for its spiky flowers and long bloom meter , salvia adds vertical interest and pull pollinators in drove . Heat and drought tolerant , it ’s perfect for sunny good deal and pairs attractively with trailing plants . pick out smaller assortment for better set in jackpot . Learn salvia plants .
Pictured : Rockin ' ® Fuchsia salviafrom Proven Winners .
Rock ' N Low ® ' Boogie Woogie ' sedum . picture by : Proven Winners .
SEDUM
Zones:3 - 11 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright , mounding , or trailing drug abuse , depend on varietyHeight / Spread:2 feet marvelous and encompassing for upright varieties , 2 to 6 inches tall for groundcover or trailing type
Succulent leaves and starry blooms make sedum a low - maintenance standout in container gardens . prefer trailing varieties for a cascade down core , or erect case like ‘ Autumn Joy ’ for body structure and late - time of year color . Learn sedum plants .
Pictured:‘Sweet Caroline Light Green ’ fresh potato vinefrom Proven Winners .
‘ Sweet Caroline Light Green ’ sweet potato vine . photograph by : Proven Winners .
SWEET POTATO VINE
Zones:9 - 11 , grown as an annual in most regionsExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Mounding give chase habitHeight / Spread:6 to 16 inches tall , 3 to 6 feet wide , up to 10 ft long
One of the best trailing yearbook for containers , grown for its exotic - looking foliage in a variety of leafage shapes and colors . Use as a cascade down speech pattern in window box , hang baskets , or containers with other strong - time of year annuals in complementary colors , such as flame nettle , petunias , imperial fountain grass , or African daisy . Learn fresh potato vine .
Superbena Sparkling ® Amethyst verbena . exposure by : Proven Winners .
VERBENA
Zones:8 - 11 , grown as an annual in most regionsExposure : Full to fond sunHabit : mound drop back habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 inches tall , 18 to 30 inches wide
These low - growing foul-up deliver vibrant coloring all time of year long , attracting butterflies and hummingbirds with their clustering of tiny flush . They make love full Lord’s Day and well - drained soil , making them ideal for containers in red-hot , sunny spots . watch verbena .
‘ richness ’ zinnia . Photo by : Janet Loughrey .
old maid flower
Zones:9 - 11 , grown as an annual in most regionsExposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding or just habitHeight / Spread:6 to 48 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide
Bright pollyannaish blossom and long bloom meter make zinnia a favourite of gardeners . invest a decorative container on a sunny deck or terrace with a mound form such as ‘ Profusion ’ as a “ makeweight ” . compound with an upright piano salvia or canna lily and a “ spiller ” such as hang back lobelia , calibrachoa , or sweet spud vine . study zinnia .
Get inspired with morefull sun container formula from Proven Winners .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janet Loughrey is a seasoned garden writer and lensman with over 25 year of experience , contributing to major publications like Garden Design , Better Homes and Gardens , and Sunset . A former Master Gardener , she make for hands - on expertise from garden in a wide range of climates , from upstate New York to the Pacific Northwest .
ONLINE:DESIGNING ABUNDANT CONTAINERS
Learn the authentication of a well - designed container garden from professional designer Karen Chapman in this award - win online workshop . You ’ll study about layering foliage and flowers , produce a cohesive color palette , and more . Chapman walk you through the stride from planning , to soil , to denounce for plants , and final planting .
