Four green-thumb experts have compiled a list of container garden ideas, ranging from flower festivals to wildlife-friendly oasis and meal combinations.
Using containers can help break down the intimidating nature of gardening work. Experimenting with a variety of design ideas also helps you develop your own imagination. If you’re looking for inspiration, four of our best all-star gardeners have compiled some suggestions for container gardens based on plant combinations.
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This describes a container garden.
In a container garden, you cultivate plants in pots or containers instead of directly from the ground. It lets you keep better control over soil conditions and pest management, as well as shift plants to maximize sunlight and shield them from unfavorable situations.
Container gardens comprise more than just flowers. Depending on the size of the container, one can grow herbs, bulbs, vegetables, and even small trees and bushes.
Tips for Combining Flowers in a Container Garden
“Thriller, filler, and spiller,” advises Montgomery, is a common method for designing striking container combinations. Choose a plant that you find exciting to look at, surround it with plants to fill the pot, and then add some that dangle over the margins.
“Add a killer to give it a fresh spin,” she explains. The trick for a mid-summer surprise is to add bulbs to the container.
Combine plants that thrive in similar levels of sunshine and other growth conditions. And, whenever possible, remember to go native.
Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation, notes, “Container gardens packed with flowering natives that bloom in different seasons provide essential nectar, pollen, and micro-habitats for pollinators and other beneficial insects in urban settings.”
Fiesta Flora Combo
The plants include Salvia, Ligustrum, Lantana, Weeping Loropetalum, and Everillo
Try combining Southern Living’s Saucy Red Salvia, Sunset Ligustrum, Pot of Gold Little Lucky Lantana, Purple Pixie Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum, and Carex EverColor Everillo for a container bursting with strong shapes and colors.
Linda Vater, a garden author and TV personality, believes the searing scarlet red flower spikes of saliva attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Then the spiky everillo’s lime-green leaf provides texture and movement, while the vivid golden ligustrum brings structure and a blast of sunlight.
Vater states, “The lantana also contributes a waterfall of color with a profusion of clusters packed with exquisite yellow blooms throughout the summer. And the loropetalum falls beautifully over the margins.
Classic Elegance Combo
Combine Cleyera, Weeping Loropetalum, Purple Sweet Potato Vine, and Mums.
Planting Juliet Cleyera with Purple Pixie Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum, Purple Sweet Potato Vine, and Mums is another of Linda Vater’s favorite Southern Living combinations.
Vater notes that the classic elegance of variegated Cleyera offers year-round beauty with glossy, evergreen foliage bordered in creamy white. And the moms offer delicate texture and quick pizzazz.
Finally, Loropetalum’s rich burgundy-purple foliage and purple sweet potato vine anchor the arrangement, add depth, and spill over the container’s edge.
Contrasting Vibrance Combo
Combining hydrangea and moneywort.
Combining Heart Throb Hydrangea with moneywort will provide a large, striking surprise in an otherwise neglected shaded location.
Vater advises adding classic romance and drama to your containers using the show-stopping blossoms of hydrangea, which age from cherry-red to brilliant green from summer to October. “Then moneywort’s cascading green stems with tiny, bright-green leaves drape beautifully over the edge and offer a stunning contrast to the dark green foliage of the hydrangea.”
The Native Wildlife Combo is ideal for full sun exposure.
Combining Wild Geranium, Blaze Star, and Frogfruit
Combining blazing star, wild geranium, and frogfruit will attract butterflies, caterpillars, and native bees.
“The tall spikes of the blazing star with feathery purple blooms add dramatic height and visual interest with contrasting grass-like foliage,” notes Phillips. “Then the cascading light-purple flowers of wild geranium rise above low-growing leafy foliage to provide an amazing focal point.”
Finally, the trailing steps and delicate white-pinkish frogfruit blossom spill gracefully over the container’s edge. While frogfruit supports native butterflies, including the common buckeye, blazing star and wild geranium are larval host plants for many kinds of native moths.
Native Wildlife Combo for Part Sun
Combine cardinal flowers with whorled milkweed.
To please natural bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, mix whorled milkweed with cardinal flowers.
“Cardinal flower’s vertical towering stems show masses of vivid red tubular blooms, adding a bold pop of color and height,” notes Phillips.
Many native butterfly and moth species. Stalks with whorled thread-like leaves accentuate the white, level-topped clusters of whorled milkweed blossoms. These are also larval host plants for monarch butterflies.
Native Wildlife Combo for Shade
Eastern Columbine combined with snowy milkweed
Try a container arrangement of eastern columbine and snowy milkweed if you want to give those challenging, shady areas of your yard or porch a richness of color. Among its exquisite, creamy white blossoms and vivid green leaves, the milkweed supports monarch caterpillars.
“The lacy foliage of the columbine and nodding bicolored flowers add red and yellow energy and provide vital nectar for spring migrating hummingbirds,” notes Phillips. The columbine duskywing butterfly uses them as a larval host plant.
Soft pastel combo
Combo: Asiatic Lilies, Begonias, Gladiolus
To maintain that carefree springtime impression hanging in the air all summer long, mix light pink Asiatic lilies, begonias, and gladiolus. “Plus, the light yellow gladiolus supplies height and architectural drama,” explains Montgomery.
Choose a somewhat stronger begonia color, such as apricot or a brighter pink, to introduce some more drama. Set up this container in direct sunlight.
All-White Combo
Calla lilies, Allium, and the Star of Bethlehem
Allium, calla lilies, and Star of Bethlehem taken together create a personal elegance for your scene. From formal wedding backgrounds to a comfortable nook where you curl up with pals for afternoon tea, the airy mix accentuates everything. It also works wonderfully for the partially shaded alcove.
“All three bloom conspicuously in this container design,” explains Montgomery. “Plus, the brilliant green leaves contrast and accentuate the beauty of every flower.”
A pop of purple combo
combo: Anemones, Gladiolus
Gladiolus is a reliable choice for creating a vertical impression. Add in peppy, friendly anemones, and they make a happy background for a porch or fence line.
“In this combo, elegant purple gladiolus adds dramatic height while adorned with delicate white anemones for added interest,” notes Montgomery. Vibrant green foliage covers the base of the pot, highlighting the blossoms above.
Once more, the gladiolus will bloom more brilliantly in the sun, although both plants can also withstand some shade.
Bright Yellow Combo
Combine: calla lilies, gladiolus, and crocosmia
Going pure yellow is not mellow when you like to emphasize your joyful vibe. In this example, that corresponds to crocosmia, calla lilies, and brilliant yellow gladiolus.
“Combining flowers in a container that is one color gives extra impact,” advises Montgomery. “This mix is especially sunny, ideal for summer.”
This pairing will perform best in full sun, with a few exceptions—crocosmia should receive partial protection in extremely hot locations to prolong the flowers’ lifespan. Try to keep calla lilies away from the wind.
Edible Dinner Combos
The ingredients include tomatoes, basil, chives, oregano, onions, bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, and carrots.
One container should hold everything you need for your preferred meal. Try planting all that. Think Italian using sweet basil, organic Roma tomatoes, zesty chives, oregano, and bunching onions. Consider preparing a stir-fry dish that includes bell peppers, broccoli, hot Thai peppers, garlic, and carrots.
