Good Potting Flowers
Flowers growing in containers work well on patios, decks, porches, balconies and also in tiny yards. Plants grown this way are mobile so the place is changeable. Flowers that are good for potting tolerate dry conditions, create interesting forms and fill pots using color.
Waterwise Flowers
The faces of the plant pots are exposed to the atmosphere, which dries the dirt over when the blooms are grown in the ground. “Arizona Sun” blanket flower (Gaillardia x “Arizona Sun”), tolerates dry growing conditions like those found in containers. It flowers from summer through fall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, with 3-inch-wide red blossoms edged with yellow. This North American native blossom reaches 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide, attracting butterflies to the container. Curious orange monkey flower (Mimulus aurantiacus “Mimapri”) remains evergreen in USDA zones 9 through 11, producing bright orange trumpet-shaped blossoms from spring through early summer. In light coastal areas, this 18-inch-tall and equally broad perennial blooms year old.
Upright Blossoms
Upright flowers grow best when placed in the center of a container or in the rear of a window box, giving the container garden vertical components. Pink n’ Pretty genetian beardtongue (Penstemon gentianoides Pink n’ Pretty) rises well in USDA zones 7 through 10, attracting hummingbirds to 36-inch-tall pink-edged flower spikes. This 24-inch-tall perennial blooms from summer until the end of fall. “Swirling Water” daylily (Hemerocallis x “Swirling Water”) reaches 15 inches tall with summer blossom spikes shooting around 22 inches high, topped with bright purple flowers with white throats. Growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 11, the green strap-like leaves spread two feet across.
Cascading Blooms
Cascading flowers create interesting draping stems growing above the rims of their plant pots. Plant this kind of blooms around the taller upright crops in the center. The “Blushing Susie” black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata “Blushing Susie”) produces apricot, ivory and pink shades of blossoms in USDA zones 10 and 11. This summer blooming perennial covers the 5-foot-long comes with botanical leaves. Cascading hopflower oregano (Origanum libanoticum) grows best in USDA zones 4 through 10, with fragrant leaves reaching 1 to 2 feet tall. From summer until fall, this perennial produces light green paper-like lanterns hanging from thin arching stems with a tiny purple flower on every lantern.
Evergreen Flowers
Evergreen flowers fill containers with year round color, as the blossoms fade away, but the leaves remain green throughout the winter in their growing zones. 1 evergreen plant great for potting is that the “Passion Dance” dwarf poker (Kniphofia hirsuta “Fire Dance”), that rises well in USDA zones 4 through 9, reaching 15 to 18 inches tall. In summer, yellow and red flowers spikes loom above the narrow arching blue-green leaves, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the container. Flame bush lily (Clivia miniata “Monya”) produces deep reddish-orange blossoms in the early spring in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. The evergreen wide strap-like leaves forms mound 2-3 feet tall and wide.
