Plants for Pots

Growing in containers is the most flexible way to garden: you control the soil completely, you can chase the sun through the seasons, and the whole arrangement moves house when you do. This collection gathers the trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering plants that genuinely thrive with their roots in a pot, not just tolerate it for a season.

Container success comes down to matching plant vigour to pot volume and then managing water. As a working rule, transplant into a pot roughly 5 to 10cm wider than the current root ball rather than jumping straight to an enormous container, because oversized pots hold soggy soil that rots roots. Small trees and large shrubs eventually want a 400 to 500mm pot, mid sized shrubs are happy in 300mm, and herbs or seasonal colour manage in 200mm. Always use a premium potting mix rather than garden soil, which compacts and suffocates roots in containers, and feed with a controlled release fertiliser each spring since regular watering flushes nutrients out. Expect to repot or root prune every two to three years to keep long term container plants healthy.

• Never block drainage holes; pot feet improve airflow and prevent waterlogged bases
• Water until it runs from the base, then let the top few centimetres dry before repeating
• Choose light coloured or glazed pots in hot climates to keep root zones cooler
• Refresh the top 5cm of potting mix annually between full repots
• Group pots together in summer so they shade each other and slow evaporation

Matching nursery grades to finished pot sizes is easier with the pot and bag size guide open beside your cart. Apartment growers should cross reference plants for balconies for wind hardy picks, and households where pets share the courtyard can shortlist safely from plants safe for pets. Two of the most rewarding long term container subjects are covered in our olive tree care guide and buxus care guide.