Container Gardening: Fun & Flexible
Container Solutions
You have a green thumb, but you don’t have the yard space. You have images of lush flowers and harvest after harvest of fresh fruits, but your reality is parking lots, stairwells, and balconies. But don't worry! On every patio and walkway is a potential garden, full of the flora you dream of. Container gardening allows you to save space and fill that once-concrete-area with plants of every size and color!
Now, before you jump in and start potting your dream plants, read this guide on some of the top plants for your container creations. With a little light, love, and care, you'll have a flourishing garden that's even easier than the old fashioned in-the-ground method.
Game Plan
Potting: Clay pots are attractive, but they can be hard to move around. Plastic pots aren’t always as pleasing to the eye, but once everything blooms, the foliage and flowers will take center stage. You can also consider purchasing aeration containers like Smart Pots, which keep the plants from becoming root-bound.
Check out our White Delilah pot for a great plastic container option!
Watering: If your ambitions are high, then your container garden may reach epic proportions. A large garden means lots of watering. Consider getting a drip irrigation system for container gardens - you’ll spend more time admiring and less time watering.
Next, read up on each plant you’re considering for your garden to learn about its specific needs.
Check for:
- Sunlight requirements
- Space needs
- Companion plants that can enhance growth
- Pest or disease thresholds
- Bloom time and/or harvest time
Choose Your Plants
There are tons of container plants to choose from! You’ll just have to decide which route you want to go. Are you looking for fruit trees for your patio? Flowering varieties for your deck? Maybe you want to create a tropical oasis or shaded backyard retreat. Whatever your preference, there’s an option for you.
Check out the container categories and suggestions below to ignite your creativity!
Fruit Container Plants
Fruit trees and shrubs make for excellent container plants. From citrus to berries and everything in between, the choices are limitless. You’ll get unique, healthy plants perfect for decorating patios and decks, and you’ll reap the delicious, bountiful fruits from them! Sink your teeth into these compact, fabulous fruit finds:
- Meyer Lemon (pictured above)
- Key Lime
- Baby Cakes Blackberry
Flowering Container Plants
When you want to add some color, texture and aroma to your space, try a flowering container garden. Plant a single flowering shrub into a pot of your choice, or create a mixed container planting with multiple options! Sweet smells and pollinator-attracting blooms await your container displays. These are a few of our favorites for blooming beauty:
- Coral Knock Out Rose
- Double Blooming Gardenia Tree (pictured above)
- Phenomenal Lavender Plant
- Endless Summer Hydrangea
Click to read our tips on growing flowering trees in containers!
Tropical Container Plants
If you’re an exotic plant lover, take yourself to the tropics by planting up varieties like Palm Trees, Bananas, Papayas, and more! They’re well suited for containers as an alternative to in-ground planting, and they’ll quickly make you feel as if you’re on an island vacation. Try these plants out for a tropical trip that doesn’t require leaving your yard!
- Christmas Palm Tree
- Dwarf Cavendish Banana (pictured above)
- Papaya Tree
Shade Container Plants
If you're looking for a little shade in a small space, we've got you covered! There are plenty of shade trees well-suited for small landscapes. Finding ones that will thrive in containers is even better! Check out these shade-friendly options for low-maintenance appeal with high reward:
- Emperer Japanese Maple (pictured above)
- Little Gem Magnolia
- White Kousa Dogwood
With so many container plant options and styles, filling pots with your favorite varieties is a no-brainer. Whether it’s due to space or sunlight, or you just want something smaller and more manageable, containers lend themselves to some of the most fun and flexible plantings!
For more patio and container-friendly plants, view our collection of Patio Plants!
