Best Container Plants For Creating Privacy


Excited by new trends in outdoor living and a desire to connect to nature, gardeners across the country are extending outdoor living areas. You can create a garden room using your deck, patio, porch or balcony. Extend your living area into a serene, private space with the help of container grown plants. If you’ve always wanted to create a little oasis, you can use flowers and foliage planted in containers to create the perfect retreat.
Finding The Best Plants For Natural Privacy
When you’re trying to create a private space with container plants, consider the view you wish to block at eye-level – whether that is standing or seated. If you're surrounding a seating area or table, look for plants that reach eye level while sitting. If you are working to obsure an unsightly view, you can use taller plants to block and redirect your gaze. The benefit of planting in containers is that you can place them on top of tables to help your foliage reach new heights!
Once you’ve decided how you wish to achieve a sense of privacy, it’s time to look at plant choices! At American Meadows, we offer over 100 container-happy perennials, with plenty of choices for your unique growing conditions. When searching, look d plants that exhibit several of the following characteristics:
- Strong Foliage – When planting for privacy, it's important to look for plants with lush foliage. Grasses, Shrubs, and Elephant Ears are some of the best plants for long-lasting foliage.
- Beautiful Form and Color – As an extension of your living space, consider which colors of both flowers and foliage you would like to see in your space.
- Height – Use the filters on the shopping page to find plants that will grow as low or as tall as you need.
- Four-Season Interest – Why not plant for enjoyment throughout the year?
- Drought Tolerant – You may want to consider this if you sometimes forget to water!
With those characteristics in mind, let’s look at a few suggestions for some of the best container plants to create privacy in your outdoor oasis!
Container-Happy Shrubs For Privacy
Shrubs are terrific choices to create privacy as they are often well branched, have an exciting flowering season (sometimes with scent!), and can bring a sense of traditional hedging to a small space. When grouped with smaller container plants or layered with other shrubs, they provide the backbone needed to make more from less. One of the most important thingst to look for with shrubs is the mature size – including width. You don’t want to be crowded off your patio by a mature shrub! That being said, their flowers, foliage, and year-round visual interest make them an excellent feature of an outdoor retreat. They'll attract birds and butterflies as well, adding a new layer of serentiy to your garden.
Some shrubs like Elderberry are quite happy to pruned into the shape of small trees, adding a 'canopy layer' to your private retreat with flowers! Make sure you research when it’s best to prune your shrub so you don’t end up cutting off the potential flower buds.
Along with flowering often comes scent. Fragrance will add an intoxicating effect to any garden, but is particularly noticeable in a small, enclosed space. Consider planting a few scented shrubs to stagger bloom time and keep that scent throughout the season.
When the autumn arrives, chances are you’ll still want to use your private retreat. Planting shrubs with good fall foliage and autumn or winter bark color ensures you’ll keep bringing out the drinks and candles until temperatures really drop.
Best Privacy Container Shrubs
Butterfly Bush
Butterfly Bushes are true to their name, attracting an outstanding variety of winged pollinators. Pruning them back hard in the early spring will ensure a strong structure, but if space is an issue, you can use dwarf cultivars; or create mini-trees with larger cultivars by pruning out lower branches and encouraging a bushier shrub at eye-level. Drought-tolerant.
Lavender
Though you might not think of Lavender as a shrub for privacy, many of the larger hybrid lavenders such as Provence can grow three feet tall. Pair this with a large container and you’ll have glorious scent and color throughout the season – lavender foliage is almost as fragrant as the flowers. Trim it back after its first bloom in spring, and it is likely that you’ll have blooms in late summer too. Drought-tolerant.
Elderberry
Native to the edges of Northeast woodlands, Elderberry is a wonderfully versatile shrub that is beautiful throughout the seasons in foliage colors of green, gold and nearly black. Enjoy the panicles of edible flowers in spring, then use the berries in summer to make jam or homemade wine. Moisture lover.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are a beloved garden shrub with large clusters of flowers that are great for inside vases. They maintain a great branching habit, and often sport good fall color. Hydrangeas make wonderful container plants but require a generous hand with the watering wand. Consider mophead varieties for consistent structure, or use large panicle hydrangeas to create a generous amount of privacy and pizazz. Tolerates part-shade.
Clethra
With its sweet, summertime scent and a strong, bushy habit, clethra makes a terrific shrub for your shadier private patio. Plus, the foliage will turn bright yellow when autumn turns summertime cocktails into mugs of mulled cider. Ruby Spice is a cultivar with pink tinged blossoms shaped into mini-bottlebrushes. Great for lines of ‘hedging,’ but needs a bit of space. Moisture lover.
Weigela With long, reaching stems, weigela can get out of control on a small patio quickly, yet it brings foliage, flower and scent to the garden. Thankfully there are lots of new dwarf cultivars that can give you the vigor and look of classic weigela without the bulk. Try Dark Horse or My Monet. Drought-tolerant. Hardy Hibiscus Add a tropical note to your private patio with large, colorful blooms while also adding the privacy-enhancing structure of Hardy Hibiscus. It’s a tough shrub with remarkably delicate blooms and responds well to pruning shears. For even more appeal, choose a cultivar with black or variegated foliage such as Kopper King or Showtime.
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‚All Summer Beauty‚ Hydrangea is a compact, long-blooming mophead variety that produces big, bouncy flowers on 4 ft shrubs. Because it blooms on both new growth and old w...
Learn MoreAll Summer Beauty Mophead Hydrangea Mophead Hydrangea All Summer Beauty Hydrangea macrophylla All Summer Beauty$18.65Per Plant - 4" Pot'All Summer Beauty' Hydrangea is a compact, long-blooming mophead variety that produces big, bouncy flowers on 4 ft shrubs. Because it blooms on both new growth and old wood, flowers will form throughout the season, even after a harsh winter - which can be the undoing of other hydrangeas. Known for its bright blue blooms in acid soils, expect to see shades of pink and purple where the ground is more alkaline. (Hydrangea macrophylla)Buzz ‚Hot Raspberry‚ produces some of the most vibrant and fragrant blooms we‚ve seen on a Butterfly Bush. Saturated raspberry-pink flowers bloom throughout the ent...
Learn MoreBuzz® Hot Raspberry Butterfly Bush Butterfly Bush Buzz® Hot Raspberry Buddleia davidii Buzz® Hot Raspberry$11.99 Sale $9.59Per Plant - 3" PotBuzz 'Hot Raspberry' produces some of the most vibrant and fragrant blooms we've seen on a Butterfly Bush. Saturated raspberry-pink flowers bloom throughout the entire growing season, attracting loads of butterflies and hummingbirds to their sweet scent. With its compact shape, Buzz 'Hot Raspberry' is well-suited to containers and small spaces, but don't overlook this one for full-sized pollinator gardens and perennial beds. (Buddleia davidii)Buzz Ivory Butterfly Bush is a prolific bloomer, loaded with fragrant ivory spikes and generous foliage. Compact in size, Buzz Ivory grows to only 3 - 4 feet and is perfect for conta...
Learn MoreBuzz® Ivory Butterfly Bush Buzz® Ivory Butterfly Bush Buddleia Buzz® Ivory$11.99 Sale $9.59Per Plant - 3" PotBuzz Ivory Butterfly Bush is a prolific bloomer, loaded with fragrant ivory spikes and generous foliage. Compact in size, Buzz Ivory grows to only 3 - 4 feet and is perfect for containers, small-space gardens and patio plantings. It's also a great choice for disguising your foundation or creating a secondary layer of color between taller background shrubs and perennial plantings. Placed in full sun, this butterfly bush will bloom from spring through fall. (Buddleia davidii)
Container-Happy Grasses For Privacy
When selecting a container grass for privacy, your first consideration should be height without the tendency to flop. There are lots of wonderful medium grasses (4-5’) that are self-supporting, but the container gardener has even more from which to choose. Small grasses (1-3’) paired with a large container might just give you all the height you need.
Grasses don’t just grow up – they grow out too. Look at the mature width of a grass and its shape. Nothing is worse than wispy foliage tickling your nose while you enjoy a late evening drink. There are many grasses with a more vertical form – like ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass – giving you height without all the bulk.
Best Privacy Container Grasses
Miscanthus Grass
Choose medium cultivars of the vase-shaped maiden grasses when choosing for containers such as Morning Light Miscanthus or Purple Miscanthus. Foliage is most often very narrow and comes in a variety of colors from variegated, to gold banded, to light cream. These grasses will make an effective but gentle screen, and when flower plumes appear in mid- to late-summer the effect is magical.
Pampas Grass
Popular in seaside towns for its ability to tolerate salt, Pampas Grass can make its home in a variety of soils, as long as it can spend plenty of time in the warm sun. A statuesque plant, its ornate, flowering plumes are always eye-catching and look almost weightless as they bend and sway in the breeze. Generally considered to be a large and fast-growing grass, Dwarf Pampas varieties offer a shorter choice for suburban, small-space and container gardeners.
Switchgrass
Switchgrasses are native, clump-forming grasses with a strongly upright habit – terrific for maintaining a privacy screen without extra bulk. They form light, airy panicles of silvery-red bloom in late summer and are well-suited to drier conditions. Choose cultivars like Ruby Red or Shenandoah Red to bring late summer color to your natural screen.
Fountain Grass
A constant favorite for containers, fountain grasses come in many sizes and add soft, colorful interest while gently screening tough views. Many are extremely colorful and work as effective accents with other perennials, such as Purple fountain grass. Large, fluffy seed heads in varying shades of soft pink and taupe add to the display as summer draws on. Some species will be hardier than others, so research this group carefully.
Feather Reed Grass
Feather reed grasses can add a sharp, vertical accent, or a wider, softer one, depending upon the species. Unlike other grasses, moisture retentive soil is best for this grass – particularly in containers. ‘Karl Foerster’ is perhaps the best known of this group and will create strong architectural lines for your patio design.
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‚Hameln‚ Fountain Grass is a smaller variety with three distinctive seasons of stunning displays in full sun or part shade gardens. First, fine-textured green grass blade...
Learn MoreHameln Fountain Grass Hameln Dwarf Fountain Grass Pennisetum alopecuroides HamelnAs low as $12.79Per Plant - 3.5" Pot'Hameln' Fountain Grass is a smaller variety with three distinctive seasons of stunning displays in full sun or part shade gardens. First, fine-textured green grass blades up to 3 feet tall are tipped with soft, wheat-shaped seed heads. Foliage turns rust gold in autumn, and finally, pale blonde in winter. 'Hameln' is a favorite for birds and resists hungry deer. A great match for late-season perennials and colorful shrubs in the mixed border, as well as cut or dried flower arrangements. (Pennisetum alopecuroides)‚Red Head‚ Fountain Grass stands out as one of the earliest-flowering fountain grasses. ‚Red Head‚ dazzles with bottlebrush plumes that emerge burgundy red in...
Learn MoreRed Head Fountain Grass Red Head Fountain Grass Pennisetum alopecuriodes Red HeadAs low as $17.32 Sale $13.86Per Plant - 3.5" Pot'Red Head' Fountain Grass stands out as one of the earliest-flowering fountain grasses. 'Red Head' dazzles with bottlebrush plumes that emerge burgundy red in mid-to-late summer. Soft, fuzzy plumes shift to a silvery hue in fall and remain in place throughout winter. Flowing, ribbon-like grass blades adds texture and motion throughout the seasons, with leaves taking on yellow highlights in autumn. An excellent cut flower, fresh or dried. (Pennisetum alopecuriodes)‚Pumila‚ Dwarf Pampas Grass makes a bold statement with massive ivory plumes towering over handsome arching foliage. Attractive feathery flowers emerge in late-summer and...
Learn MorePumila Dwarf Pampas Grass Pumila Dwarf Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana PumilaAs low as $14.65 Sale $11.72Per Plant - 3.5" Pot'Pumila' Dwarf Pampas Grass makes a bold statement with massive ivory plumes towering over handsome arching foliage. Attractive feathery flowers emerge in late-summer and last for months. Like their larger counterpoints, the silky plumes are an excellent attraction in the landscape, and are beautiful for cutting or drying. Pampas Grass tolerates wind and moves gracefully in a breeze. A tough, fast-growing and drought-tolerant specimen, this variety is sterile and will not reseed. (Cortaderia selloana)Switchgrass Northwind is an extremely-hardy, native grass that thrives in any sunny spot. Gorgeous, steel-blue leaf blades change to a golden yellow in the autumn months, making it t...
Learn MoreNorthwind Switchgrass Northwind Switchgrass Panicum virgatum NorthwindAs low as $14.92Per Plant - 3" PotSwitchgrass Northwind is an extremely-hardy, native grass that thrives in any sunny spot. Gorgeous, steel-blue leaf blades change to a golden yellow in the autumn months, making it the perfect backdrop for your favorite flowering-plants! (Panicum virgatum)
Flowers and Bulbs For Containers
It’s not just about tall grasses and shrubs! There are many perennials and annuals you can use in your containers to enahnce privacy while creating texture and introducing exciting colors Plus, if you use 'risers' like pots, tables, boxes, etc., to create staggered heights, you can use just about any well-shaped plant to create a private garden feel.
When choosing container annuals and perennials for privacy, look for those that have a good structure all season and are able to support their own weight against winds. They’ll be more vulnerable in taller containers than they would be in the ground.
If the perennials will overwinter in place, choose those whose hardiness is rated at least a zone colder than your zone. In cold climates, some great plants that grow from tropical bulbs, like Canna Lilies or Elephant Ears, can be overwintered easily in a dormant state for next year.
Best Privacy Container Flowers & Bulbs For Containers
For a meadow-like feel:
For movement, sound and wildlife habitat, consider placing containers of long-blooming meadow favorites such as Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan or Bee Balm in front of containers of medium grasses. Add some annual seeds of Cosmos, Sunflowers, or Zinnias and you’ll attract pollinators while blocking difficult views with beauty.
For a classic, colorful feel:
Some well-loved, vigorous perennials such as Shasta Daisies or Asiatic Lilies adapt beautifully to large containers – giving you strong foliage and great flowers. When containers are grouped together with larger shrubs such as hydrangea, you can create a formal look, stagger bloom times and block views.
For a lush, tropical feel:
Try large foliage annuals such as Canna Lilies or Elephant Ears which grow vigorously and often don’t need any help from other larger plants to block views – especially when strategically placed in groups. They’re moisture lovers, so keep that hose on standby and add to the jungle effect with large Ferns or Hostas.
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Our Radiant Low-Grow Coral Bells Collection shines year-round with richly hued foliage, providing attractive evergreen groundcover in shaded gardens and containers. In summer, flower...
Learn MoreRadiant Low-Grow Coral Bells Collection Radiant Glow Coral Bells Collection HeucheraAs low as $62.65 Sale $50.12Per Collection of 4Our Radiant Low-Grow Coral Bells Collection shines year-round with richly hued foliage, providing attractive evergreen groundcover in shaded gardens and containers. In summer, flower spikes feature dainty, bell-shaped blooms. Our Low-Grow Collections are perfect for transforming your yard from lawn to flowers, a few square feet at a time! Coral Bells are highly adaptable and deserve a place in every garden. Plant below taller perennials, as edging for a garden border, or as a no-mow lawn alternative. Collection of 4 or 12 plants.‘Purple Dream’ Asiatic Lily looks like a rare exotic flower, with the perk of being reliable and easy to grow. The center of each upward-facing violet-pink blossom is dee...
Learn MorePurple Dream Asiatic Lily Purple Dream Asiatic Lily Lilium asiatic Purple DreamAs low as $19.99 Sale $15.99Per Bag of 3‘Purple Dream’ Asiatic Lily looks like a rare exotic flower, with the perk of being reliable and easy to grow. The center of each upward-facing violet-pink blossom is deeply flecked with plum tones, and ‘Purple Dream’ produces many flowers on each sturdy stem. It’s a fabulous choice for dramatic accents sprinkled throughout garden beds, and the plentiful early summer flowers make spectacular cut flowers too! (Lilium)Flame® PRO White Phlox offers all of the flower power of its bigger cousins, but in a compact, manageable size. In mid-to-late summer, pure white panicles of star-shaped blossoms to...
Learn MoreFlame® PRO White Phlox Flame® PRO White Phlox Phlox paniculata Flame® PRO White$9.32 Sale $7.46Per Plant - 3" PotFlame® PRO White Phlox offers all of the flower power of its bigger cousins, but in a compact, manageable size. In mid-to-late summer, pure white panicles of star-shaped blossoms top the strong 12-18” stems, attracting butterflies, bees, and moths. The deep green lanceolate foliage of White Flame PRO® provides a backdrop for this native stunner, and shows strong mildew resistance. Pure white flowers on tall stems make beautiful cut flowers, and deadheading will encourage more blooming. An excellent option for small gardens and tight spaces, or anywhere you’d like to add a bright spot in a sunny garden! (Phlox paniculata)Add a refreshing burst of color to your sunny summer garden with our Pink Lemonade Low-Grow Plant Collection. These compact, long-blooming perennials are easy to grow, and the flower...
Learn MorePink Lemonade Low-Grow Plant Collection Pink Lemonade Low-Grow Plant CollectionAs low as $26.99Per Collection of 4Add a refreshing burst of color to your sunny summer garden with our Pink Lemonade Low-Grow Plant Collection. These compact, long-blooming perennials are easy to grow, and the flowers produce non-stop color all season to keep pollinators nourished. Our Low-Grow Collections are perfect for transforming your yard from lawn to flowers, a few square feet at a time! Plant below taller perennials, as edging for a garden border, or as a no-mow lawn alternative. Collection of 4 or 12 plants.