From flora fiestas to wildlife-friendly oases and dinner combos, here are some container garden combination ideas curated by four green-thumb experts.
11 Plant Combination Ideas for Container Gardens
Updated on Sep. 01, 2024
One gardening hack is to compartmentalize the task by using containers. It’s also a great way to cultivate your own creativity, experimenting with various design concepts. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some plant combinations ideas for container gardens, curated by four of our favorite all-star gardening experts.
What Is a Container Garden?
A container garden is a type of gardening where plants are grown in containers or pots instead of directly in the ground. It allows you to maintain better control over soil conditions and pest management, plus move plants around to optimize sunlight and protect them from bad weather.
“Container gardening is also popular in urban areas or places with limited yard space, as it allows people to cultivate plants on balconies, patios, decks or even indoors,” says Peggy Anne Montgomery, a horticulturist with flowerbulb.eu.
Container gardens are not just limited to flowers. Depending on the size of the container, it’s also possible to grow herbs, bulbs, vegetables and even small trees and shrubs.
Tips for Combining Flowers in a Container Garden
One popular approach for creating impactful container combinations is called “thriller, filler and spiller,” says Montgomery. Find a plant that is thrilling to look at, surround it with plants that will fill space in the container and then add some that drape over the edges.
“Put a new twist on it by adding a killer,” she says. “Adding bulbs to the container is the killer for a mid-summer surprise.”
Also, make sure to combine plants that thrive in a similar amount of sunlight and other growing conditions. And when you can, don’t forget to go native.
“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,” says Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation.
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Fiesta Flora Combo
Combination: Salvia, Ligustrum, Lantana, Weeping Loropetalum, Everillo
For a container bursting with bold shapes and colors, try mixing Southern Living’s Saucy Red Salvia, Sunshine Ligustrum, Pot of Gold Little Lucky Lantana, Purple Pixie Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum and Carex EverColor Everillo.
The saliva’s sizzling scarlet red flower spikes attract hummingbirds and butterflies, says gardening author and TV personality Linda Vater. Then the vibrant golden Ligustrum brings structure and a burst of sunshine, while the spiky everillo’s lime-green foliage adds texture and movement.
“The lantana also adds a waterfall of color with a profusion of clusters filled with delicate yellow flowers throughout the summer,” says Vater. “And the Loropetalum tumbles elegantly over the edges.”
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Classic Elegance Combo
Combination: Cleyera, Weeping Loropetalum, Purple Sweet Potato Vine, Mums
Another of Linda Vater’s favorite Southern Living combos is planting Juliet Cleyera with Purple Pixie Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum, Purple sweet potato vine and Mums.
“The timeless elegance of variegated Cleyera adds year-round beauty with glossy, evergreen leaves, edged in creamy white,” says Vater. “And the mums add instant pizzazz and soft texture.”
Finally, the rich burgundy-purple foliage of Loropetalum and purple sweet potato vine help anchor the design, adding depth and spilling over the container’s edges.
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Contrasting Vibrance Combo
Combination: Hydrangea, Moneywort
Create a big, bold surprise in an otherwise overlooked shady corner by combining Heart Throb Hydrangea and moneywort.
“Add classic romance and drama to your containers with hydrangea’s show-stopping blooms, which age from cherry-red to radiant green from summer to fall,” says Vater. “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.”
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Native Wildlife Combo for Full Sun
Combination: Blazing Star, Wild Geranium, Frogfruit
Attract butterflies, caterpillars and native bees by combining blazing star, wild geranium and frogfruit.
“The blazing star’s tall spikes with feathery purple blooms add dramatic height and visual interest with contrasting grass-like foliage,” says Phillips. “Then wild geranium’s cascading light-purple flowers rise above low-growing leafy foliage to create a stunning focal point.”
Finally, the trailing steps and dainty white-pinkish blooms of frogfruit spill gracefully over the container’s edges. Blazing star and wild geranium are also larval host plants for several species of native moths, while frogfruit supports native butterflies, including the common buckeye.
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Native Wildlife Combo for Part Sun
Combination: Cardinal Flower, Whorled Milkweed
Combine cardinal flower and whorled milkweed to please butterflies, native bees and hummingbirds.
“Cardinal flower’s vertical towering stems display masses of vibrant red tubular blooms, adding a bold pop of color and height,” says Phillips.
It’s also a larval host plant to several native butterfly and moth species. Meanwhile, the white, flat-topped clusters of whorled milkweed blooms are accented by stems with whorled thread-like leaves. They are also a larval host plant for monarch caterpillars.
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Native Wildlife Combo for Shade
Combination: Eastern Columbine, Snowy Milkweed
If you’re looking to add a richness of color to those difficult, shady corners of your yard or porch, try a container combination of eastern columbine and snowy milkweed. The milkweed supports monarch caterpillars among its clusters of delicate, creamy white flowers and bright green leaves.
“The columbine’s lacy foliage and nodding bicolored flowers add red and yellow energy, plus provide vital nectar for spring migrating hummingbirds,” says Phillips. They area also a larval host plant to the columbine duskywing butterfly.
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Soft Pastel Combo
Combination: Asiatic Lilies, Begonias, Gladiolus
Combine light pink Asiatic lilies, begonias and gladiolus to keep that carefree springtime feeling lingering in the air all summer long. “Plus the light yellow gladiolus provides height and architectural drama,” says Montgomery.
To add a little more drama, go with a slightly bolder begonia color, like apricot or a brighter pink. Make sure to set up this container in direct sunlight, which will help keep the gladiolus colors more vivid.
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All White Combo
Combination: Allium, Calla Lilies, Star of Bethlehem
A combination of allium, calla lilies and Star of Bethlehem brings an intimate elegance to your setting. The airy combination accents everything from formal wedding backdrops to a welcoming nook where you cozy up with friends for afternoon tea. It’s also a great mix for that partly shaded alcove.
“All three bloom extravagantly in this container design,” says Montgomery. “Plus the bright-green foliage adds contrast and highlights the beauty of each flower.”
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A Pop of Purple Combo
Combination: Gladiolus, Anemones
When you want to make a vertical statement, gladiolus is a tried-and-true friend. Add in perky, amiable anemones, and together they make a cheerful backdrop for a porch or fence line.
“In this combination, elegant purple gladiolus adds dramatic height while adorned with delicate white anemones for added interest,” says Montgomery. “Vibrant green foliage fills the pot’s base, spotlighting the blooms above.”
Again, the gladiolus will flower more vibrantly in the sun, but both plants can tolerate a bit of shade as well.
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Bright Yellow Combo
Combination: Gladiolus, Calla Lilies, Crocosmia
When you want to maximize your cheery vibe, there’s nothing mellow about going full yellow. In this case, that means bright yellow gladiolus, calla lilies and crocosmia.
“Combining flowers in a container that are all one color delivers extra impact,” says Montgomery. “This combination is particularly sunny, perfect for summer.”
This combo will also do best in full sun, with a few exceptions: crocosmia should be partly sheltered in particularly hot climates to help the flowers last, and try to keep calla lilies out of the wind.
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Edible Dinner Combos
Combination: Tomatoes, Basil, Chives, Oregano, Onions, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Garlic, Carrots
Try planting everything you need for your favorite meal in one container. Think Italian, with organic Roma tomatoes, sweet basil, zesty chives, oregano and bunching onions. Or maybe a stir-fry, with bell peppers, broccoli, spicy Thai peppers, garlic and carrots.
“Basil and tomatoes work great as companion plants, and the aroma of basil helps deter pests,” says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed‘s From Seed to Spoon app. For more inspiration and curated combo food patches, check out the app.
About the Experts
Mary Phillips is Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. As an ambassador for nature, she keeps habitat gardening programs flourishing with sustainable practices and ever-evolving scientific knowledge. NWF also offers these wildlife garden tips.
Linda Vater is an acclaimed author and media producer who loves to cultivate garden-inspired living. She consults for Southern Plant Living’s plant collection.
Peggy Anne Montgomery is a horticulturist with flowerbulb.eu. She has 35 years of experience working with flowers, including owning her own landscape design firm in the Netherlands.
Carrie Spoonemore is co-creator of Park Seed‘s From Seed to Spoon app, which helps people successfully choose and grow plants suited to their area, find recipes and more. She lives in Oklahoma, where she grows food with her husband and kids, and makes YouTube videos demonstrating gardening techniques from their five-acre homestead.
