There’s something magical about cultivating flowers in outdoor planters. Whether you’re adorning a front porch, brightening up a small patio, or enhancing a sprawling garden, planters allow you to create vibrant and personalized displays. Container gardening is incredibly versatile; it lets you experiment with different plants and designs, all within the controlled environment of a pot or container. Plus, planters are perfect for spaces where traditional garden beds aren’t an option.
However, to make the most of your planters, it’s important to select flowers that will thrive in containers. Choosing the right plants ensures that your outdoor display is not only beautiful but also healthy and long-lasting.
Let’s explore some of the best flowers for outdoor planters and tips and techniques to help your container garden flourish.
Flowers from Outdoor Planters
1. Asiatic Lilies
Asiatic Lilies are a stunning choice for outdoor planters. These vibrant flowers are known for their large, colourful blooms that can instantly brighten any space. Asiatic Lilies thrive in full sun, making them ideal for planters placed on a sunny porch or patio. They are also relatively low-maintenance, needing just regular watering and well-draining soil. Their upright growth allows them to stand out as a focal point in your container, providing a bold statement of seasonal colour.
2. Tuberous Begonias
Tuberous Begonias are an excellent option for shaded areas. These flowers are admired for their ruffled petals and wide range of colours, from soft pinks to vivid reds. Tuberous Begonias do best in partial shade, making them perfect for planters positioned under a tree or on a covered porch. Their cascading habit also makes them a wonderful choice for hanging baskets, where they can spill over the edges, adding a touch of elegance and movement to your garden.
3. Ever Amethyst Agapanthus
Ever Amethyst Agapanthus is another fantastic flower for outdoor planters. With its tall, slender stems and clusters of violet-blue blooms, this plant adds height and drama to any container arrangement. Agapanthus thrives in full sun and is fairly drought-tolerant, making it an ideal choice for sunny spots. This plant’s unique appearance and long blooming season ensure that your planter remains visually interesting throughout the summer.
4. Heart Throb Hydrangea
The Heart Throb Hydrangea is a showstopper in any planter. Known for its large, heart-shaped blooms that come in shades of pink and red, this hydrangea adds a romantic touch to your garden. It thrives in partial shade and benefits from regular watering to keep its soil consistently moist. Heart Throb Hydrangea can serve as the “thriller” in a “thriller, filler, spiller” arrangement, providing a striking central feature that draws the eye.
5. Chinese Fringe Flower
The Chinese Fringe Flower is an excellent “filler” plant for outdoor planters. It features delicate, fringed pink blooms and dark, evergreen foliage, adding texture and color to your arrangement. This plant thrives in partial sun and is relatively easy to care for, making it a reliable choice for a low-maintenance container garden. The contrast between its foliage and flowers adds depth to your planter, ensuring a visually dynamic display.
6. Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle, especially the dwarf varieties, is a superb choice for outdoor planters. These plants produce a profusion of flowers in shades ranging from deep purple to bright red, providing a burst of colour that lasts throughout the summer. Crape Myrtle does well in full sun and can tolerate heat, making it perfect for sun-drenched patios or walkways. Its compact growth habit and extended blooming period make it a favourite for summer planters.
7. Azalea Autumn Starburst
For a vibrant fall display, consider the Azalea Autumn Starburst. This azalea variety features stunning blooms in shades of orange, red, and yellow, which bring warmth to your garden as the temperatures begin to drop. It thrives in partial shade and requires well-draining soil to flourish. The Autumn Starburst’s vivid colours and compact shape make it an excellent choice for fall planters, ensuring that your outdoor space remains colourful and inviting as the seasons change.
Making The Right Pick
a. Flowers That Thrive in Containers
Selecting the right flowers for your outdoor planters is crucial to ensure they thrive in their confined spaces. Some plants are naturally more suited to container life than others, often due to their root structure, size, and care requirements. For example, compact plants with shallow root systems, such as pansies, petunias, and geraniums, do exceptionally well in containers. These flowers can grow in a range of settings, from full sun to partial shade, making them versatile choices for various garden styles.
Another group of container-friendly flowers includes drought-tolerant plants such as succulents, lavender, and marigolds. These plants require less frequent watering, which is beneficial for planters as they tend to dry out more quickly than traditional garden beds.
b. The “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” Concept
Creating a visually dynamic container garden is easy when you follow the “thriller, filler, spiller” concept. This design principle involves selecting three types of plants to create a balanced and eye-catching arrangement. The “thriller” is the star of the show—a tall, dramatic plant that adds height and serves as the focal point of the container. Examples include the Heart Throb Hydrangea or Ever Amethyst Agapanthus.
The “filler” plants are medium-height flowers that fill in the middle space around the thriller, providing bulk and colour to the arrangement. Chinese Fringe Flower and Tuberous Begonias are perfect fillers, offering texture and contrast. Finally, the “spiller” plants cascade over the edges of the container, softening the overall look and adding movement. Plants like ivy, sweet potato vine, or trailing petunias work beautifully as spillers.
c. Matching Flowers to Sunlight
One of the most important factors to consider when selecting flowers for your outdoor planters is the amount of sunlight the plants will receive. Flowers have different sunlight requirements—some thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial shade or even full shade. Understanding the light conditions in your garden will help you choose the right plants for each container.
For planters in full sun, opt for sun-loving flowers like Asiatic Lilies, Agapanthus, or Crape Myrtle. These plants thrive in bright, direct sunlight and will produce vibrant blooms throughout the summer. On the other hand, if your planters are located in a shaded area, choose shade-tolerant flowers such as Tuberous Begonias, Heart Throb Hydrangea, or Azalea Autumn Starburst. These plants can tolerate lower light levels and will still produce beautiful, healthy blooms.
d. Watering Tips for Planters
Watering is critical in container gardening, as planters tend to dry out more quickly than garden beds. This is especially true during the hot summer months when the sun and heat can quickly evaporate moisture from the soil. To keep your flowers healthy and hydrated, it’s important to water them regularly and deeply.
A good rule of thumb is to water your planters until water starts to drain from the bottom of the container. This ensures that the roots receive adequate moisture. Depending on the size of the container, the type of plants, and the weather conditions, you may need to water daily or every other day. In hot climates, consider adding a layer of mulch on top of the soil to help retain moisture and keep the roots cool.
e. Changing Planters with the Seasons
One of the joys of container gardening is the ability to change your planters with the seasons. This allows you to keep your outdoor space looking fresh and vibrant all year round. In the spring, fill your planters with early-blooming flowers like tulips, daffodils, and pansies. These flowers thrive in cooler temperatures and will add a burst of colour to your garden as winter fades away.
As summer approaches, swap out your spring flowers for heat-tolerant plants like petunias, marigolds, and zinnias. These annuals can withstand the hot summer sun and will keep your planters looking lively throughout the season. In the fall, consider adding mums, ornamental kale, and asters to your planters for a touch of autumnal colour.
Conclusion
Cultivating flowers in outdoor planters is a delightful way to enhance your garden, porch, or patio. Planters’ versatility allows for endless creativity, letting you mix and match plants, experiment with colors, and even shift your arrangements as the seasons change. From the vibrant blooms of Asiatic Lilies to the lush foliage of Tuberous Begonias, your planters can become the perfect showcase of seasonal colour and personal style.
Incorporating flowers into your outdoor planters enhances your landscape and brings joy and beauty to your daily life. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, container gardening offers a fun and flexible way to create your oasis.
