Are you looking to beautify a patio, deck, or porch, short on garden space, or simply want to try your hand at container gardening? Think about planting potted perennials. You will have a collection of captivating combinations of texture, color, and scent year after year.
Whether you choose the evergreen or deciduous perennials, you will have a cost-effective, stunning space that doesn’t need replanting every year. However, not every perennial plant is suitable for growing in pots. This guide will be handy here.
We’ll explore the 20 most suitable and stunning perennials to grow in pots.
20 Best Perennials To Grow In Pots
1. Lavender
Loved for its purple flowers, refreshing fragrance, and silvery-green foliage, Lavender makes a wonderful container perennial plant. Planting this sun-loving plant in pots mainly benefits places with harsh winters. You can transfer potted lavenders indoors.
Lavender varieties suitable for pots include English, French, Spanish, and Dutch. Grow this pretty evergreen plant as a standalone or with ornamental grasses.
Hardiness zones: 5-8
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2. Hosta
Enrich the shady parts of your home with Hosta’s lush, broad, sculptural leaves that come in many colors, including green, blue, and variegated patterns. While primarily grown for their foliage, your potted garden will look even better if you choose a variety that blooms.
Depending on your preference and space, you can plant miniature hostas like ‘Blue Mouse Ears,’ medium hostas like ‘June,’ or large hostas like ‘Empress Wu.’
Hardiness zones: 3-9
3. Coral Bells
Let this gorgeous perennial transform your balcony, patio, and other shady spots into picturesque spaces. Coral Bell’s eye-catching, lush, multi-colored leaves that range from deep purples and reds to bright greens and silvers brighten any spot this plant grows.
Besides the colorful foliage, Coral Bells produce delicate bell-shaped flowers. Create a striking combination by pairing coral bells with other shade-loving annuals or perennials.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
4. Coneflower
Growing Coneflowers in pots brings cheerful color and resilience to your outdoor spaces. This summer bloomer brightens any space with its large, daisy-like blooms in pink, purple, orange, and white shades.
Apart from the dazzling color, this hardy perennial’s distinctive cone-shaped centers add texture and attract pollinators. Dried Coneflower seeds feed birds and extend your container garden’s winter interest. Coneflowers are drought-resistant and undemanding.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
5. Black-Eyed Susan
You want this native wildflower in your container garden for its showy, bright, golden-yellow flowers with their characteristic dark brown centers. The conspicuous flowers and the green foliage form an eye-catching display.
Place your Black-eyed Susan pots in sunny areas for optimal flowering and keep the soil well-drained. Choose varieties like Little Goldstar, Maya, Becky, Indian Summer, and Prairie Sun.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
6. Gaura
This charming perennial is suitable for pots because many varieties have a naturally compact growth habit, so it can thrive in pots without becoming too large or unruly. Gaura will give your container garden a delicate look owing to its white and pink butterfly-like flowers and graceful, airy stems.
This adaptable, drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plant’s abundant blooms from late spring to autumn sway gracefully in the breeze.
Hardiness zones: 5-9
6. Aster
Asters burst out in color with blue, pink, white, or purple star-shaped flowers in late summer and fall when many other plants are winding down. Besides creating a visually appealing display, Aster flowers attract pollinators.
This plant comes in many varieties, ranging from dwarf varieties, which are more suited for pots, to taller varieties that may require larger containers or support. Ornamental grasses, sedum, coreopsis, and coneflower pair well with asters.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
8. Sedum
Consider growing sedum in pots if you want a unique succulent plant. This drought-tolerant plant has distinctive fleshy evergreen foliage and clusters of small, star-shaped, vibrant flowers in summer and fall.
You can enjoy this joyful perennial’s late-season blooms and unique, colorful foliage year after year. Expose these plants to full sun for optimal growth but provide some afternoon shade in hot climates.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
9. Salvia
This diverse genus of flowering plants comprises more than 900 species with varying sizes, colors, and growth habits. There are plenty of salvia varieties to plant in pots. Popular options include common sage, woodland sage, scarlet sage, mealy cup sage, and autumn sage.
Salvias have vibrant, tubular flower spikes that pollinators love and aromatic, edible leaves. These plants benefit from light feeding; avoid overfertilization, though.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
10. Japanese Anemones
Japanese Anemones perennial blooms from late summer to fall when they bloom, producing white, pink, or purple, delicate, saucer-shaped flowers with a central cluster of yellow stamens. The dark green, deeply lobed leaves give the flowers an attractive backdrop.
You will need a large pot to grow Japanese Anemones because they reach 2 to 4 feet tall. Ensure the container’s depth and diameter is at least 16-18 inches.
Hardiness zones: 4-8
11. Astilbes
Are you looking for a potted plant that can cheer and brighten shaded areas? Astilbes are wonderful choices. These elegant, hardy perennials produce stunning feathery flower plumes that strikingly contrast against their rich, fern-like foliage.
Astilbes give spaces a sophisticated and serene charm. Place the pots with Astilbes in shaded areas or those with dappled sun. Dwarf Astilbe varieties are more suited for pot growing.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
12. Dianthus
Commonly called pinks or carnations, Dianthus is perfect for adding a splash of color and a delightful scent to containers. They bloom best when exposed to plenty of sunlight, producing pink, white, red, or purple flowers.
Dianthus provides a continuous color display from spring to early summer. These vibrant flowers are perfect for small spaces because of their compact size and neat growth.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
13. Coreopsis
Known for their sunny yellow, orange, pink, and red flowers, coreopsis’ abundant, daisy-like blooms are lively and effortlessly add cheer to spaces. Opt for compact coreopsis varieties, such as Coreopsis’ Nana’ or Coreopsis’ Zagreb,’ as they are well-suited for pot culture.
Coreopsis is drought-tolerant once established, but water it regularly to promote more abundant blooming. Also, deadhead wilted flowers to stimulate more blooms and prolong the flowering period.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
14. Hellebores
Turn the shady corners you often overlook into cheerful spaces with hellebores’ enchanting colors. When most plants retreat in winter, hellebores’ beautiful blossoms peek through the snow, offering a dash of color when you need it most.
Hellebores thrive in partial shade to full shade. These plants flourish in pots but ensure the roots have sufficient space.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
15. Boston Ferns
Boston ferns have a graceful and elegant appearance that gives spaces natural and sophisticated beauty because of their arching fronds and delicate, lacy foliage. These plants love low-lit areas; hence, they are perfect for dimly lit areas of your home.
Boston ferns are surprisingly easy to care for, requiring consistently moist soil and indirect light. When growing them in pots, choose a container slightly larger than the root ball.
Hardiness zones: 10-12
16. Fountain Grass
Picture this ornamental grass’ arching, fountain-like shape, graceful blades, and showy plumes gently swaying and dancing, adding movement and texture to your garden. Fountain grass is a feast for the eyes, but that’s not all.
It’s drought-resistant, perfect for sunny spots, and does well in pots. Just give it some well-draining soil and occasional watering, and it’ll reward you with its beauty year after year.
Hardiness zones: 6-9
17. Brunnera
You can grow Brunnera in pots, provided it has sufficient drainage holes and the soil is consistently moist but not soggy. This plant suits the garden’s shaded spots or containers exposed to dappled sunlight since it flourishes in partial to full shade.
When this shade-loving perennial blooms, the delicate, sky-blue flowers will make the area pop with color. The striking heart-shaped foliage, often marked with silver or white, adds to Brunnera’s appeal
Hardiness zones: 3-8
18. Bee Balm
Also called Monarda, this plant captivates with vibrant flowers and aromatic foliage, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Bee balm fills pots beautifully, creating a spectacular display of pink, purple, red, or white, eye-catching flowers.
Growing them in pots allows you to maximize the available space while enjoying their beauty. Opt for a sunny to slightly shady spot and well-draining soil.
Hardiness zones: 4-8
19. Peony
Peonies’ lush blooms and intoxicating fragrances make them charming. Growing the flowering perennials in pots gives you a manageable way to enjoy these beauties.
Fill a large pot with good drainage with rich, well-draining soil to grow peonies. Also, position your potted peonies where you can appreciate their beauty.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
20. Bellflower
This versatile perennial brings beauty, color, and vertical interest to a potted garden. Bellflowers are known for their blue, purple, pink, or white bell-shaped flowers. They also feature lanced or heart-shaped leaves and grow in upright or spreading forms.
Bellflowers suitable for containers include Carpathian Bellflower, Peach-leaved Bellflower, Dalmatian Bellflower, and Clustered Bellflower.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Concluding Remarks
Bring nature closer to your living and seating spaces by planting perennials in pots. There’s a perennial perfect for your container garden, whether you favor dazzling blooms, aromatic herbs, or lush foliage. Feel free to experiment with different perennials and their cultivars to see how various plants complement each other.
Hey there, fellow plant enthusiasts! I’m Rachel, the green-thumbed writer behind Rooted In Garden. With a deep-rooted love for all things botanical, I’ve made it my mission to help you cultivate a thriving collection of houseplants. As a devoted plant parent myself, I understand the joys and challenges that come with nurturing these leafy wonders. Whether you’re a succulent aficionado, an orchid enthusiast, or simply adore all potted flora, join me on this journey as we explore the secrets to growing and caring for our beloved green companions. Together, let’s create a flourishing oasis indoors.