22 plants for pots and containers

Pots and containers offer the gardener great versatility and are a fantastic way to experiment with planting and design. From short-term bedding displays to permanent features of small trees and topiary, planting in pots adds another dimension to the garden, softening corners, brightening dull spots and providing instant, yet easily changeable, results.

When choosing your pot, stick to just one or two different materials. Take your cue from the style of the house and garden – red brick buildings are enhanced by terracotta containers, while a modern plot is the best backdrop for galvanised metal pots. Bigger pots have more impact, and plants growing in them won't dry out as quickly, but an eclectic group of small containers creates a quirky, ever-changing scene. Repetition can be effective – garden designers often use three or more identical containers planted with the same plants, for maximum impact.

The best plants for pots and containers

Euonymus

Variegated foliage is a real pick-me-up all year round. For a striking display, try it with creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia), tulips, golden narcissi or primroses.

• Buy Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold'from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, J Parker's and Suttons

Pittosporum tenuifolium

This elegant evergreen shrub is available in a range of varieties with differently coloured foliage. 'Tom Thumb' has rich chocolate-purple leaves that emerge a light-green colour before darkening. 'Variegatum' has beautiful grey-green foliage with creamy margins, and 'Golf Ball' is a compact variety with mint green leaves. Pittosporum tenuifolium is slightly tender, so it will need a sheltered spot over winter.

• Buy Pittosporum tenuifolium from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, J Parker's and Suttons

Skimmia japonica

Skimmia japonica is one of the best winter plants for pots. It has glossy evergreen leaves and an abundance of tiny red buds through the winter, which open to white, pinky-white or greenish flowers in spring. Female and hermaphrodite varieties develop red berries during autumn.

• Buy Skimmia japonica from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus and J Parker's

Hosta

Hostas make beautiful architectural plants and work well in containers, either alone or with other plants. Try combining with bleeding heart or other foliage plants such as heucheras.

• Buy hostas from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, J Parker's and Suttons

Fountain grass (Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum')

Fountain grass is a real show-stopper. Grow in large pots with alliums for dramatic impact or on its own to make a statement. Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' has graceful stems and red-tinged, squirrel-tail flowers that fade to beige in autumn. Protect from frost in winter.

• Buy Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

Buddleja 'Buzz'

Buddleias in the 'Buzz' series are compact, making them perfect for growing in pots. While they don't flower all year round and need to be pruned back in spring, they will form a perennial display that you can complement with other plants that flower at different seasons.

• Buy Buddleja 'Buzz' from Thompson & Morgan, J Parker's and Van Meuwen

Hebe

Many hebes are compact enough to grow in pots. Most have evergreen leaves, and their flowers last well into autumn and even winter when conditions are mild. Flowers range in colour from pinks to purples and whites.

• Buy hebes from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, J Parker's and Suttons

Agapanthus

Agapanthus work well in pots, as they do best when their roots are slightly restricted. Grow them on their own, or pair them with other plants that flower at different times of year. Most agapanthus are evergreen, but there are some deciduous types.

• Buy Agapanthus from Thompson & Morgan, Crocus, Suttons, J Parker's and Sarah Raven

Cornus

Many varieties of dogwood, including cultivars of Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea and Cornus sericea, have beautifully colourful winter stems and work well in pots. They make an excellent backdrop for other winter perennials, and you can choose plants (such as the lavender, hebe and phormium shown here), which will take centre stage when the leaves grow on the cornus stems in spring, dulling its display.

• Buy Cornus sanguinea from Crocus
• Buy Cornus sericea from Crocus
• Buy Cornus alba from Crocus

Heuchera

Heuchera is an evergreen foliage plant that comes in a range of vibrant colours. They're perfect for using as a foil for other plants and make excellent long-lasting displays.

• Buy Heuchera from Crocus and J Parker's

Phormium

Compact phormiums, such as ‘Chocomint’, ‘Jester’ and ‘Platt’s Black’, make ideal low-maintenance outdoor potted plants, creating architectural structure all year round. They can be combined with grasses and low-growing flowering plants to create eye-catching displays beside entrances, on patios or along paths.

• Buy phormium from Thompson & Morgan, Van Meuwen and Burncoose

Scented-leaf pelargonium

Scented-leaf pelargoniums (sometimes referred to as ‘scented-leaf geraniums’) are ideal for pots in full sun beside a path or entrance where their fragrance can be enjoyed as you brush past the foliage. As tender perennials, pelargoniums can be left in pots all year round as long as they're kept in a frost-free place over winter.

• Buy scented pelargoniums from Sarah Raven, J. Parker’s and Potash Nursery

Fuchsia

These attractive shrubs can be either hardy or tender perennials. Compact hardy fuchsias are a sustainable choice for garden pots as they will flower every summer, whereas tender varieties are often treated as annuals. Trailing varieties, such as ‘Patricia Hodge’, look fantastic spilling over the edge of hanging baskets.

• Buy fuchsias from Suttons, Thompson & Morgan and Crocus

Blueberry

Blueberry plants are low-maintenance shrubs with white bell flowers in spring, followed by delicious summer fruits, and then glorious autumn colour. With a wide range of varieties to choose from, it's possible to harvest blueberries throughout the summer. They're well suited to containers, but do need to be planted in peat-free ericaceous (acidic) compost.

• Buy blueberries from Sarah Raven, Dobies and Suttons

Hydrangea

More compact hydrangeas, like Hydrangea macrophylla 'Miss Saori' and 'Early Blue' (shown above), are perfect for large pots in a partially-shaded spot. If you buy a blue variety of Hydrangea macrophyllum or Hydrangea serrata, you'll need to plant it in peat-free ericaceous compost to ensure the pH stays below 5.5, which will maintain the blue colouration. Prune hydrangeas in spring.

• Buy hydrangeas from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Dobies

Roses

Patio roses are bred for smaller gardens and container growing. They're easy to grow – they just need a prune in spring and repotting if necessary. Most compact rose varieties suitable for pots have a lifespan of around 5-7 years.

• Buy patio roses from David Austin, Harkness Roses, World of Roses and Peter Beales

Clematis

Some clematis varieties with a more compact growth habit are particularly suitable for large containers. They need good drainage and sturdy supports to avoid damage from windy conditions.

• Buy compact clematis from Thorncroft and Raymond Evison Clematis

Azalea

Azaleas are deciduous or evergreen shrubs with vibrant flowers in a wide range of colours, usually in spring. They're well suited for pots, especially in gardens with alkaline soil, where they'd struggle in the ground. Azalea plants in containers need to be grown in peat-free ericaceous compost and watered with rainwater. They grow best in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade.

• Buy azaleas from Crocus, Thomspon & Morgan and Dobies

Begonias

Ideal to bring colour and interest to areas in semi-shade, begonias thrive in pots of peat-free multi-purpose compost. Although often grown as annuals, most are tender perennials that can be brought in over winter (for fibrous begonias) or stored as tubers in the same way as dahlias (for tuberous begonias).

• Buy begonias from Suttons, Thompson & Morgan and Sarah Raven

Dahlia

With a vast range of varieties to choose from, dahlias come in almost every shape, colour and size. Ideally suited for pots, more compact varieties can be combined with other late summer-flowering perennials grown in containers to create flamboyant displays in hot colours, or used singly as specimen plants.

• Buy dahlias from Sarah Raven, Suttons and J. Parker’s

Chillies

Chilllies work well in containers and can be grown outside in the summer months. Plant them into peat-free, multi-purpose compost in a pot slightly larger than the rootball. Always let the compost dry out between waterings and feed weekly with a tomato fertiliser once flowers appear.

• Buy dahlias from Sarah Raven and Suttons

Jasmine

The best jasmine for pots is star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides. Make sure the container is large as climbing plants need a lot of room to grow. Plant in a peat-free, loam-based compost like John Innes No. 2. Grow it against a south- or west-facing wall where it's protected from wind – in colder regions you may need to bring it indoors for winter.

• Buy dahlias from Sarah Raven and Suttons

How to plant up a pot

In this short video, Gabrielle Shay demonstrates how to plant up a pot to ensure it looks good and the plants stay healthy.

How to feed and water plants in pots

In this short video, Gabrielle Shay shows how to water plants in pots to keep them healthy, plus she explains when and what to feed your plants with.

Best plants for pots all year-round

The best plants for pots all year round include those with hardy evergreen foliage like yucca, English ivy, variegated euonymus and heuchera, and long-flowering plants like perennial wallflowers, Skimmia japonica and hebes. This is because they look better for longer. Evergreen plants should be paired with plants that flower at different times of year so there's always a contrasting focal point.