Are you looking for inspiration on the best perennial plants for pots?
Perennial plants can be an excellent choice for containers, providing year round interest and low effort displays that don’t break the bank. But some perennials are better suited to growing in pots than others – which is where this plant guide comes in very handy!
The best low maintenance perennial plants for pots
In this article we’ll explore 30 fantastic perennial plants that are perfect for pots and containers. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a budding plant parent, we’ve got tips and advice to help you create a low maintenance container garden that’s bursting with colour and interest.
What are perennial plants?
Perennial plants thrive year after year, typically requiring infrequent replacement. They come in two main types: evergreen, maintaining their leaves all year, and deciduous, shedding foliage in colder seasons.
Unlike perennials, annual plants complete their life cycle within a single growing season, from germination to flowering and eventual death. As a result, they typically require replacement each year.
This article on perennial vs. annual plants covers the differences in more detail.
Why use perennial plants in pots?
There are lots of compelling reasons to consider perennial plants when planning your container displays:
- Year-round interest: Perennial plants can provide continuous colour, texture, and appeal. This is especially valuable during the dormant seasons of winter and early spring.
- Low-effort container gardening: Perennials allow you to avoid the hassle of replacing plants each season. Many perennials are also hardy plants, requiring minimal care, even in colder weather.
- Cost-effective: With proper care, perennials in pots will maintain their good looks year after year, reducing the need for frequent plant purchases. As well as making your garden more eco-friendly, this is also great if you’re trying to save money on gardening.
- Plenty of choice: there’s a vast selection of perennial plants for pots, boasting impressive foliage, striking blooms, or vibrant berries to elevate your garden’s aesthetics.
Things to consider when choosing perennial plants for pots
Before you start shopping for perennial plants, it’s important to consider the following:
- Pot size: What size is your planting container?
- Desired height: How tall would you like the plant to grow?
- Growth rate: How quickly do you want the plant to grow?
- Support: Can you provide plant support (such as a trellis or obelisk) if required?
- Location: What levels of sun exposure, shade, wind, and shelter does your pot’s location provide?
- Personal preferences: Do you want a specific colour of flower, type of foliage, or scent?
Considering these aspects will help you select the right plant for your containers.
Flowering perennials for pots
Achillea
With their delicate, feathery leaves and flat-headed flowers, achilleas have a lot to offer in pots. They’re loved by pollinating insects too.
Agapanthus
For stunning perennial flowers in pots, grow agapanthus (also known as African lilies) in your pots. Give these impressive plants like sun and well-drained soil, and they will reward you with blooms from midsummer to early autumn.
Some varieties of Agapanthus need winter protection, so growing them in pots makes it easy to move them to a warmer location in cold months.
Ajuga
A good ground cover option, Ajuga is a low maintenance plant that produces dainty flowers in spring and early summer.
Alliums
For late spring blooms, consider allium bulbs in pots. Opt for shorter varieties like ‘christophii’, or ‘cowanii’ or ‘oreophilum’ to ensure they fit well in your container display.
Aquilegia
Spring flowering aquilegias will complement annual flowers beautifully in spring pots. With a variety of colours available, they effortlessly blend into any garden scheme. Plus, if you let them, they will readily self-seed, adding a touch of spontaneity to your garden.
Azalea
For vibrant flowers, look no further than azaleas. These popular plants enjoy sheltered conditions and partial shade.
Dahlia
Dahlias are well-suited to growing in pots, and can take a container display from late summer right into autumn. The added bonus of container planting dahlias is you can keep their slug and snail enemies under control more easily.
There’s a huge selection of dahlia varieties to choose from, so it’s not hard to find a shade that suits your container colour scheme.
Eryngium
Resembling thistles, Eryngiums have spiky blooms and silver-blue stems. Perfect for adding height and impact to a pot, they will thrive even in poor soil conditions. Do bear in mind that these plants are quite prickly; it’s a good idea to plant them in a pot that you don’t come into contact with regularly.
Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
Wallflowers are truly long blooming perennials for containers. This variety of wallflower produces lovely purple flowers on delicate grey-green stems from late winter months right into summer.
Geum
You probably associate geums with cottage garden planting. These tough plants produce an abundance of small flowers without a fuss, and are happy in full sun or part shade.
Hardy geranium
Hardy geraniums are low-maintenance, hassle-free perennial flowers for pots. They will bloom abundantly with minimal care, and you can easily divide them to create new plants at no cost.
Hellebore
Hellebores are ideal for late winter and spring containers, providing flowers at a time when many other plants are dormant.
Lavender
Lavender is a brilliant perennial for pots. The silver-grey foliage is evergreen, and the delicate purple flowers give off an incredible scent. Lavender is pretty enough to plant solo in a container, or you can combine it with other plants on the pink/purple/silver spectrum for an impactful display.
Growing lavender in pots is also a great idea if you want to make your garden more wildlife friendly.
Penstemon
Penstemons resemble foxgloves, with tubular flowers on tall spikes. They’re popular with pollinating insects and are available in a range of colours. Grow this hardy perennial in large containers for best results.
Peony
For truly showstopping blooms, it’s hard to beat peonies. They like to grow in full sun and enjoy rich soil, so make sure you feed them regularly in pots.
Salvia nemorosa
This ornamental sage is a compact variety that works well in pots. The flower spikes combine with textured leaves to create lots of impact.
Sedum
If texture is your preference, sedums are a good choice. These low-growing plants are excellent for covering soil in pots and work well alongside succulents.
Spring bulbs
Spring flowering bulbs are perfect for pots, and can create focal points in a garden that hasn’t really got going yet.
Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, iris, snowdrops and fritillaries are all good options for gorgeous containers. Creating a bulb lasagne – layers of bulbs topped with plants – is an easy way to get the most out of your pots.
Sunflower
Smaller varieties of sunflowers can look wonderful in pots. Great options include *Choco Sun and *Teddy Bear.
Foliage perennial plants for containers
Bamboo
Bamboo plants have a reputation for rampaging around a garden if you let them, but growing them in a pot allows you to avoid this and still enjoy their looks. Bamboos are tall perennials for pots, so they’re ideal for creating privacy on an overlooked patio too. Choose a large pot to keep this plant happy.
Brunnera
A foliage stunner that also flowers, brunnera has interesting heart-shaped leaves and is suited to shady pots.
Cordyline
The striking sword-shaped leaves of Cordylines will add a modern edge to you container displays. There’s a range of colours to choose from, including deep red, pink, and greens.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’
As the name suggests, this is a great perennial for a winter pot. Yes, there are white flowers to enjoy in summer, but it’s the impactful orange and pink stems in winter that you really want this plant for. Use large pots for this perennial.
Euonymus fortunei
This evergreen shrub is low growing, making it a useful ground cover in larger containers. Use the striking foliage to add visual interest and colour to a container display.
Fatsia japonica
If you like your leaves big and bold, try a Fatsia. These evergreen perennials work well in shady areas.
Ferns
Ferns are fantastic if you’d like to create a woodland or tropical vibe in your perennial containers. Their beautiful foliage is packed with texture and can create movement when the wind blows. Good varieties of fern for containers include Athyrium filix-femina, Athyrium Pewter Lace, and Dryopteris Wallichiana.
Heuchera
Heucheras, (or coral bells) truly shine in container displays. While their interesting foliage steals the show, they also boast small summer flowers, perfect for attracting pollinators. Available in a spectrum of shades, from rich reds to vibrant greens, these tough perennials can elevate pots with their stunning colours.
Hosta
Who needs flowers for a striking container display? Hostas, with their big, textured leaves, are ideal specimen plants. Their impressive foliage steals the show, making a bold statement. Growing hostas in pots also offers the benefit of easier slug and snail control.
Ornamental grasses
Outdoor pots flourish with the addition of grasses. These versatile plants can provide height, texture, and movement, and serve as an excellent backdrop to flowering plants.
Ornamental grasses really stand out in winter, when their structural elegance shines amidst a quieter garden. Evergreen varieties like Feather Reed Grass, Blue Fescue, Tufted Hair Grass, Stipa tenuissima, and Japanese Sedge will look good year-round.
Stachys byzantina
Also known as lamb’s ears, the soft, fuzzy leaves of stachys serve a purpose, reducing water evaporation and making it a great choice for drought-tolerant foliage in containers.
Care tips for perennial plants in pots
Growing perrenials in pots restricts their access to nutrients and space. This means it’s crucial to provide adequate support for your plants to flourish.
Here are some useful tips to help your container grown perennials thrive:
Choosing pots for perennial plants
When choosing a suitable pot for perennial plants, ensure it meets the following criteria:
- Sufficient space to accommodate the plant’s eventual size (refer to plant care instructions for guidance).
- Adequate drainage holes at the bottom to avoid waterlogging.
Best compost for perennials in containers
Using high-quality potting soil in containers is crucial, as it provides the primary nutrient source for your plants. Choose a *multi-purpose peat-free potting compost for convenience, or enhance water retention with a *moisture control compost.
For more compost advice, take a look at our article on the best compost for pots.
Watering container perennials
Perennial potted plants tend to dry out faster than those in the ground. During warmer months, monitor your pots frequently; if the soil surface feels dry, it’s time to water.
However, be cautious not to overwater, as inadequate drainage can lead to root rot.
Elevating pots on *pot feet will help with good drainage, as will incorporating *perlite into the soil mix.
Feeding potted perennials
Over time, container plants will deplete soil nutrients, leading to diminished growth. To prevent plant decline, it’s essential to feed your plants regularly.
For ornamental plants, opt for a general-purpose plant food, available in either *liquid form to dilute in water, or *granules to incorporate into the soil.
In conclusion, perennial plants offer endless possibilities for container gardens. From their year-round beauty to their low-maintenance charm, these plants are the perfect choice for anyone looking to add long-lasting vibrancy to their outdoor space. Whether you’re gardening on a balcony, in patio pots, or on a windowsill, you can embrace the versatility of perennial plants and enjoy a low maintenance perennial container garden all year round.
More container gardening advice
For more tips on gardening in containers, check out these articles:
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