Best container plants for shade – 8 pretty choices to lift a dark spot with foliage and flowers (2023)

FAQs

Best container plants for shade – 8 pretty choices to lift a dark spot with foliage and flowers? ›

Hostas are shade tolerant and will do well in varying amounts of shade, yet they still like to receive some sun during the day. In the landscape, pick shady areas with diffuse sunlight and avoid exposure to full sun in the afternoons.

Hostas are shade tolerant and will do well in varying amounts of shade, yet they still like to receive some sun during the day. In the landscape, pick shady areas with diffuse sunlight and avoid exposure to full sun in the afternoons.

Beetroot, carrots (baby), chard, kale, kohl rabi, leaf salads, lettuce, peas, runner beans and spinach are all relatively tolerant of light shade. Sowing seeds in modules in bright conditions and then transplanting will get them off to an early start with an established root system.

Position. Give geraniums full sun for good flowering, though they will grow in light or partial shade.

Ceramic pots are the most popular type of container for houseplants today. You'll find them in all kinds of styles, colors, and sizes.

In an outdoor setting, darker-colored pots will absorb more sunlight and retain heat longer than light-colored ones.

Cut The Flowers

Tall scapes of flowers can be costly for hostas to produce and maintain. Cutting them off as they start to emerge will divert that energy back to the foliage, creating a fuller look. Other gardeners just don't like the look! Don't worry; cutting the flowers back won't damage the plant.

Hostas are among those perennials that do very well growing in the confines of containers. They come in thousands of cultivars and they are easy to care for, making them the perfect plant for busy or distracted gardeners.

What happens if hostas get too much sun? ›

Although they're known for their shade-tolerance, most hosta varieties perform well when exposed to a bit of morning sun and afternoon shade. Too much sun exposure will result in burned leaves, starting from the edges inward. The leaves will look brown, dry, and papery.

A go-to flower for shady spots, impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) will transform any dark corner into a flower festival. Many gardeners use impatiens as a quick-growing summer groundcover for hard-to-plant locations under tall trees.

Tuberous, Elatior or Reiger begonias do not like direct sunlight and need to be in a nice shady spot, especially during the warmer part of the day (from 11 am to 6 pm). Although they love the shade, begonias are still showstoppers. They are bright and full of color, with many shades and varieties to choose from.

But shady gardens can shine, too. Many beautiful annuals, perennials, and shrubs actually love the shade. Whether you're planting under fast-growing shade trees, in flower beds, hanging baskets, or containers on a patio, a wide variety of plants love the shade and will add color and interest to your outdoor spaces.

Geraniums grow well in containers of all shapes and sizes, as long as they have drainage holes. The key to successfully growing geraniums in pots is to place them in sunny locations and out of damaging winds. The added benefit of growing geraniums in pots is that you can simply move pots inside during the winter.

The short answer is that annuals don't come back. Plants that flower and die in one season are annuals—although many will drop seeds that you can collect (or leave) to grow new plants in the spring.

1. Fiddle-leaf fig. While the fiddle-leaf fig may be trending on Instagram, it is also leads the list of the hardest houseplants to keep alive, with 61% of people failing to do so. This pretty plant hates an environment change, so doesn't respond well to moving around the house, or when moving homes.

Concrete pots can stay out all winter and look best if you plant them. In this pot are evergreen boxwoods, evergreen 'Cintronelle' heuchera, and evergreen ivy. The pansies will die back but show again in spring. Concrete containers come in all styles, from fun to traditional.

Metal, concrete and wood containers typically handle freezes well, as do fiberglass and resin pots. Some plastic pots also survive winter fine, but may become brittle over time. Winter sunlight can fade fiberglass and resin pots.

What size pots are best to grow in? ›

Stick to the rule of thumb of only potting into a slightly larger pot, not jumping into a significantly bigger one. This usually means a pot that is 2.5-5cm (1-2in) wider in diameter than the previous container and not much deeper (be careful if potting into deep pots such as 'long toms').

They also looked at 65 independent studies across a wide range of species including tomato, corn, pine tree, cactus, wheat, and cotton plants, and found that all species reach larger sizes when grown in a bigger pot. On average, doubling pot size allowed plants to grow 43% larger.

Unlike clay, plastic is non-porous, which means it doesn't let in or out as much moisture or oxygen. As a result, plastic planters retain moisture for nearly double the time of clay planters. That means if you're the type that tends to forget to water your plants, plastic is probably a safer option than clay.

Our advice is to go porous. Porous ceramics like terracotta will dry more evenly than plastic pots, and any wood planter will dry even faster than terracotta. Ceramic planters also are great choices. And if you're worried about weight, fiberglass planters are ideal for plants 8" or larger in diameter.

Choose plants with a variety of different shaped leaves and flowers, some with larger leaves and others with finely textured ones. Choose a mix of thrillers, fillers and spillers to give some dimension to your container planting. Just be sure to follow guidelines 1 and 2 first when selecting plants.

Light-colored pots such as orange, beige, and yellow can make your home or garden look vibrant and full of energy. In contrast, dark-colored pots such as blue, green, or gray can give off a more relaxed and demure feel.

The good news is that hostas, also known as plantain lilies, are tough and forgiving plants. Even if you forget to prune them at a certain time or you neglect to prune them at all, they'll still survive just fine, even if they don't look their best.

Unlike some perennials, hostas can go for years without being divided—they just keep getting bigger. However, dividing them every four or five years encourages vigorous, healthy growth and will prevent crowding. And the result is simply more of a good thing.

As a general rule, hostas should be cut back in the late fall. Start with leaves that have wilted or turned brown. Healthy leaves can stay a bit longer to help the roots store needed energy. If 25% or more of the hostas is dying, you will know it is time to cut it back.

Where should you not plant hostas? ›

Avoid planting hostas in heavy clay soil, which won't offer enough drainage. In areas that receive a lot of snow in the winter, to protect stems and leaves, place hostas where snow tends to pile up.

Steps to Plant Hosta in Containers. Small varieties of hostas work excellent in containers. Whirlwind works great, but there are other varieties as well. Some popular options are Blue Mouse Ears, Tiny Tears, or Cracker Crumbs.

You want a pot that provides about three inches between the base of the plant and the side of the container. Hostas prefer for their roots to be cool, so don't pick a black or metal container.

Can I use Epsom Salt on hostas? Yes! Epsom Salt is full of magnesium. It will give your hostas a great boost if applied to the ground or the leaves.

Supplement your soil with organic matter.

Put a few inches of finished compost around your plants at least once per year. Spring is the preferable time to do this. Even better, add compost twice a year. Once in Spring, once in Fall.

A. Hostas are great plants for a low-maintenance garden, with many varieties to choose from. Though they are considered shade-tolerant plants, most will not thrive if grown in deep shade. Many hostas are more vigorous and will show best colors when given some exposure to sun, such as morning sun with afternoon shade.

When you're looking for full sun flowers for pots, consider summer snapdragons, lantana, mandevilla vines and portulaca. This planter of full sun flowers includes 'Akila Lavender Shades' osteospermums (also known as African or Cape Daisies), 'Cool Wave Frost' spreading pansies and 'Clear Crystal' white alyssum.

Hostas are easy to overwinter in containers. Herbaceous perennials in pots — plants that die back and are dormant in winter — that have been part of your summer container displays need to be protected over the winter if they're going to survive and bloom again next year.

Fiberglass, lead, iron, heavy plastic, and stone are the best weather-resistant containers to use; terra-cotta will eventually expand and crack with repeated freezing and thawing.

SNOWDROPS (Galanthus nivalis)

True to their name, these early-blooming bulbs often emerge while snow is still on the ground to provide a breath of fresh air for winter-weary gardeners. In mild winters, snowdrops can flower as early as late January, but February or March is more common.

What plants do well in heat and shade? ›

Cool-Weather Crops

These plants don't tolerate hot weather. In the vegetable garden, it's the cool weather crops — lettuce, spinach, arugula, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, peas, cilantro — that suffer in hot weather.