20 BEST PERENNIALS FOR CONTAINERS

AGASTACHE (Agastache spp.)

Zones: 3-10, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright, bushy, or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to early fall

Agastache is an herbaceous perennial with spikes of tubular flowers in a range of colors. This mint relative can be planted in pots on a patio or apartment balcony to attract butterflies and other beneficial pollinators. Combine in a large container with other sun lovers such as ornamental grasses, lavender, and coneflower. Read more about how to grow agastache.

Pictured: Meant to Bee® 'Queen Nectarine' agastache from Proven Winners.

ASTILBE (Astilbe spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Summer

Astilbe is a hardy perennial with fern-like foliage and feathery flower spikes in summer. Use in pots to add summer color to a shady patio, deck or balcony. Plants prefer even moisture and rich, well-drained soil. Use astilbe as a focal point by itself or combine with hosta, coral bells, and ferns. Read more about how to grow astilbe.

Pictured: 'Dark Side of the Moon' astilbe from Proven Winners.

BEARDTONGUE (Penstemon spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding or upright habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 96 inches tall, 8 to 20 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring to early summer; some varieties rebloom

Beardtongue is a hardy native perennial with tubular flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds and insect pollinators. Plants prefer good drainage, and are drought-tolerant once established. Combine smaller varieties such as Rock Candy® Purple, ‘Electric Blue’ or ‘Elfin Pink’ in a container with salvia, bee balm, and agastache for an irresistible hummingbird garden. Read more about how to grow beardtongue.

Pictured: 'Midnight Masquerade' beardtongue from Proven Winners.

BLANKET FLOWER (Gaillardia spp.)

Zones: 3-10
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright, mounding, or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring through fall

Blanket flower produces cheerful daisy-like flowers for months of continuous bloom. Plants are virtually carefree, preferring full sun and well-draining soil. Use compact varieties as a filler element in combination with blazing star or salvia for a colorful warm-season container. Read more about how to grow blanket flower.

Pictured: SpinTop Red blanket flower from Proven Winners.

CATMINT (Nepeta spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

This herbaceous perennial is virtually maintenance-free, offering season-long color with pastel-colored blooms. Catmint is a vigorous grower and may crowd out other plants. Use a pot that’s at least 12 inches wide and deep. Choose a smaller variety such as ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ or ‘Blue Wonder’ that is suitable for containers and won’t flop. Read more about how to grow catmint.

Pictured: 'Cat's Pajamas' catmint from Proven Winners.

CONEFLOWER (Echinacea spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer

This native perennial produces daisy-like flowers in a range of colors. Choose compact varieties such as Summersong™ Firefinch™, ‘Kim’s Knee High’, or ‘PowWow White’. Use at least a 3-gallon-sized pot to accommodate the taproot. Plant in a container with other drought-tolerant perennials such as fountain grass, salvia, and sedum. Read more about how to grow coneflower.

Pictured: Summersong™ Firefinch™ coneflower from Proven Winners.

CORAL BELLS (Heuchera spp.)

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Partial sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 30 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer

Coral bells are grown for the evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage in a range of colors. This versatile ornamental plant can grow in sun or shade and different soils. Plant in a shady spot with fern, hosta, and creeping Jenny. For a winter container, combine with hellebore, black mondo grass, and lemon cypress. Read more about how to grow coral bells.

Pictured: Dolce® 'Silver Gumdrop' coral bells from Proven Winners.

"Coral bells bring color even when not in bloom. We use it mostly for the gorgeous foliage, making it a perfect filler for containers that need texture and visual interest.” — Heidi Grasman, Garden Crossings

CRANESBILL GERANIUM (Geranium spp.)

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright or mounding habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 36 inches tall, 12 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall

This long-blooming carefree perennial forms a dense mound, with dissected foliage and cup-shaped flowers in various colors. Plant in an oversized pot to allow plenty of room to grow. Choose smaller varieties such as ‘Ballerina’, ‘Karmina’, or ‘Biokovo’ that won’t spread as much. Divide and repot every 3 years.

DAYLILY (Hemerocallis spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 6 feet tall, 1 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall, depending on the variety

This low-maintenance perennial is popular for the showy trumpet-shaped blooms in a range of colors and patterns. Daylily performs well in containers as long as there is enough room to grow. Place in a spot with full sun and provide regular water. Choose smaller varieties such as ‘Stella de Oro’, ‘Always Afternoon’, or ‘Rosy Returns’. Read more about how to grow daylilies.

DIANTHUS (Dianthus spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright or mounding habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 36 inches tall, 4 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring to early summer; some varieties have intermittent or continuous rebloom

Dianthus is a diverse group of flowering plants with blooms in a range of colors and patterns. Pinks and alpine types stay smaller and are best for pots. Provide a pot wide enough to accommodate the spreading habit and don’t allow overcrowding. They prefer good drainage, evenly moist soil, and regular fertilizing. Alpine types require less water. Read more about how to grow dianthus plants.

Pictured: 'Paint the Town Fancy' dianthus from Proven Winners.

FOUNTAIN GRASS (Pennisetum spp.)

Zones: 5-11
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 4 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

Add elegant texture and structure to containers with the feathery plumes and fine foliage of fountain grass. Plant a perennial variety by itself in a pot as a focal point, or in combination with other plants. Use a dwarf variety such as ‘Little Bunny’ or ‘Piglet’ as a thriller element alongside coneflower, tickseed, and trailing sedum.

HELLEBORE (Helleborus spp.)

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Compact spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Winter to spring

Hellebore is a winter-blooming perennial with flowers in a range of colors and patterns. One of the best plants for winter containers, combine hellebore with cyclamen, coral bells, nandina, heather, trailing vinca, and moss. Choose a pot with ample room to accommodate the roots. Place containers where you can enjoy them from indoors. Learn more about how to grow hellebores.

Pictured: Honeymoon® Paris in Pink hellebore from Proven Winners.

HOSTA (Hosta spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial sun to shade
Habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 48 inches tall, 5 to 60 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer

Grown for the attractive foliage, Hosta is virtually carefree, performs well in containers, and is a perfect choice for a shady balcony or patio. Select a pot large enough to accommodate the roots, provide regular moisture, and protect from hot afternoon sun. Use as a focal point by itself in a decorative pot, or in combination with ferns, coral bells and creeping Jenny, for season-long color. Learn more about how to grow hosta plants.

Pictured: Shadowland® 'Autumn Frost' hosta from Proven Winners.

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
Habit: Upright arching habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: No flowers

With an elegant habit and silvery green foliage, Japanese painted fern is easy to grow in containers, and is useful for brightening up a shady patio or balcony. Provide regular moisture, rich soil, and good drainage. Combine this herbaceous perennial in a pot with hosta, coral bells, astilbe, and sedge.

‘It’s beautiful to have some kind of ferny texture, especially when paired with bold-leaved plants like hosta.” — Laura, Garden Answer

LAVENDER (Lavandula spp.)

Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright bushy habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 5 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall

The wand-like flowers and soothing fragrance of lavender can help create a calming oasis on a sunny patio or deck. Use a pot 12 to 18 inches wide, provide good drainage, and avoid overwatering. Choose dwarf varieties such as Sweet Romance®, ‘Nana Alba’ or ‘Anouk’. Larger varieties can be transplanted into the ground after 1 to 2 years if they outgrow their pot. Learn more about how to grow lavender.

Pictured: Sweet Romance® Lavender from Proven Winners.

PHLOX (Phlox spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, mounding, or creeping habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 48 inches tall, 6 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Spring to fall, depending on the variety

Phlox is a cottage garden favorite with star-shaped flowers in a variety of colors. Use a creeping type such as ‘Magenta Sprite’ as a spiller element in a container, or a dwarf garden phlox such as ‘Purple Flame’ in combination with bee balm, salvia, and yarrow. Provide full sun, well-drained soil, and regular water. Learn more about how to grow phlox.

Pictured: 'Opening Act White' phlox from Proven Winners.

PRIMROSE (Primula spp.)

Zones: 2-8
Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
Habit: Upright, mounding, or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 48 inches tall, 4 to 36 inches wide
Bloom time: Late winter to summer, depending on the variety

Primrose produces colorful flowers in spring, and is commonly planted in garden pots. Provide rich, well-drained soil, regular moisture, and a semi-shaded spot on a balcony, porch, or deck. Plant singularly or grouped in pots, or in combination with spring bulbs, bleeding heart, hosta, and ferns. Learn more about how to grow primrose plants.

Pictured: Bouquet Perfect™ 'Blue Ripples' primrose from Proven Winners.

SALVIA (Salvia spp.)

Zones: 4-12, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 6 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to fall, depending on the variety

This warm-season perennial or annual produces colorful flower spikes that attract pollinators. Provide a spot on a sunny deck or patio. Allow these drought-tolerant plants to dry out between watering, and deadhead to extend bloom time. Choose smaller perennial varieties such as Color Spires® ‘Pink Dawn’, ‘Caradonna’ or ‘May Night’. Combine with bee balm, coneflower, and yarrow. Learn more about how to grow primrose plants.

Pictured: Color Spires® 'Pink Dawn' salvia from Proven Winners.

SEDUM (Sedum spp.)

Zones: 3-11
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, creeping, or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 3 to 36 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Summer to fall

Sedum is a drought-tolerant succulent with clusters of star-shaped flowers in summer and fall. Use a trailing type such as ‘Angelina’ or Lemon Coral® as a spiller element in a container, or an upright variety such as ‘Autumn Joy’ in combination with coneflower, fountain grass, and salvia. Provide full sun and good drainage. Learn more about how to grow sedum plants.

YARROW (Achillea spp.)

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright spreading habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 4 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Summer to early fall

This versatile perennial produces ferny foliage and flat-topped flowers in different colors. Yarrow does well in containers, preferring full sun and well-drained soil. Place on a sunny deck or patio and allow pots to dry out between watering. Combine with other drought-tolerant perennials such as salvia, bee balm, and tickseed. Learn more about how to grow yarrow plants.

Pictured: 'Firefly Sunshine' yarrow from Proven Winners.