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Plant Ideas for Beautiful Patio Containers

Published on March 12, 2019Last updated October 7, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

This post contains affiliate links.
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Want to know the secret to beautiful garden containers? These plant lists tell you exactly which plants you need to create these eye-catching planters.

Want container recipes for window boxes? See Gorgeous Plant Combinations for Window Boxes.

Garden planters
Photo credits: Proven WInners

Patio Container Recipe No. 1

Colorful planter of flowers by Proven Winners.

Thank you to Proven Winners for providing the images of these plants.

Want to create your own patio planters like the ready-made ones you see at garden nurseries? Iโ€™ve picked three examples to choose from. You can find these plants wherever Proven Winners plants are sold.

This one is my favorite. Shop in-person to find the blue-est petunias available.


Plant List

Plant selections including Supertunia, Coleus, and Begonia.
ASupertuniaยฎ Royal Velvetโ„ข
  • Petunia hybrid
  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: part sun to sun

BGays Delight (Coleus)

  • Solenostemon scutellariodes
  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: sun or shade

CPegasusยฎ Begonia

  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: part sun to sun

Patio Container Recipe No. 2

Garden planter with various colors and textures.

This next one has just three plants that play off each other with contrasting colours and textures.

To get a two-tone pot like this, you could easily create the same effect by spray-painting a plastic pot. Be sure to use spray paint suited for plastic surfaces. Use painterโ€™s tape to get crisp lines and allow proper drying time between coats.


Plant List

Begonias and Coral Bells.

APegasusยฎ Begonia

  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: part sun to sun

BDolceยฎ Appletini (Coral Bells) Heuchera hybrid

  • Duration: Perennial
  • Light level: part shade to shade

CSurefireยฎ Rose (Begonia) Begonia benariensis

  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: sun or shade

Patio Container Plant List No. 3

Plant list for eye-popping colours.

If you are using a large container like this one, you do not need to fill it with container mix.

Instead, insert something like an upside-down plastic tub to fill half the volume.

Add proper organic soilless potting mix to the upper half where the plant roots will reside.

This will save you money and the plants will be just as happy.


Plant List

Colorful plant selections for containers.

ASuperbellsยฎ Dreamsicle (Calibrachoa) Calibrachoa hybrid

  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: part sun to sun
  • Lobelia erinus
  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: part sun to sun

BLagunaโ„ข Sky Blue (Lobelia)

  • Lobelia erinus
  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: part sun to sun

CFlambeยฎ Yellow (Strawflower) Chrysocephalum apiculatum

  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: sun

DDaredevelยฎ Claret (Zonal Geranium) Pelargonium zonale

  • Duration: Annual
  • Light level: sun

EGraceful Grassesยฎ Blue Mohawk (Soft Rush) Juncus inflexus

  • Hardy zones: 5 to 9
  • Light level: part sun to sun

Recommended Book

book cover

Container Gardening Complete

by Jessica Walliser

See it on Amazon โžค

This has everything you want to know about growing plants in containers: flowers, herbs, veggies, and more.

Itโ€™s packed with useful information, creative container projects, and lots of beautiful photos.

And there you go. Be sure to sign up for the free Empress of Dirt Creative Gardening Newsletter for more.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt โ™›

Colorful planter of flowers by Proven Winners.
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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