by Amanda Shepard, Staff Writer | Updated 4/8/25

Whether you’re gardening on a balcony in the city or on acres of land, containers are a great addition to any garden. They give you a chance to express your style and brighten up an outdoor living space. Containers are a great way to experiment and have fun with gardening.

We offer a beautiful variety of perennials for containers and container-happy bulbs so you can create a unique statement with a stunning container garden.

There are a few secrets to successful container gardens.

  • First, make sure your containers have good drainage, especially when planting perennials.
  • Start with potting soil that suits your plant choices.
  • A little fertilizer once you plant is also a good idea to give your plants the best chance to grow healthy and produce vibrant blooms.
  • Make sure to check the light requirements for the plants and bulbs you’re growing, and place your containers accordingly.

The Best Perennials For Containers

In general, you will want to look for smaller, compact, or dwarf perennials to perform best in containers. When shopping for container plants online,  use the filters to narrow down your selection to plant heights that are suitable for your containers. Larger plants will need larger containers.

Make sure to account for the mature size and height of the plant when deciding which container to plant it in, since you want to make sure the roots have plenty of room to grow!

Best perennials for containers:

  • Hostas - great for shade
  • Bellflower - eye-catching flowers
  • Lavender - drought-tolerant and fragrant
  • Lilies - fragrant flowers and upright habit
  • Sedum - creeping sedum can spill over the edges
  • Gaillardia - can handle hot, dry conditions
  • Coral Bells - lovely foliage
  • Viola - sweet and great for smaller containers
  • Ornamental Grass - adds texture to complement flowers
  • Coreopsis - long-lasting blooms
  • Thyme - low-growing for a spillover effect, and fragrant
Hostas add interest to containers with their gorgeous foliage.
Hostas add interest to containers with their gorgeous foliage.

The Best Bulbs For Containers

Spring-planted summer-blooming bulbs for containers produce some of the most spectacular flowers of the season. These are prime candidates for show-stopping containers! As with our perennial plants, when shopping, you can use the filters to narrow down your selection to find the right colors, light requirements, and plant sizes for your container garden.

Best flower bulbs for containers:

Begonias make gorgeous windowboxes.
Begonias make gorgeous windowboxes.

Dig In & Have Fun With Container Gardens

Regardless of the size of your land, there are endless possibilities when it comes to growing in containers! It’s a great way to get creative with your favorite plant varieties.

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