Perennial Container Plants - Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers

What is the best type of container to plant in? -- Whatever looks good to you…a cobalt blue glazed terracotta pot or a tin pail…its all good! The container is less important than the soil, choice of plants, and watering schedule. Just remember that the smaller the container, the more often it will need to be watered. Container volume (and by extension, container water holding capacity) is proportional to the cube of the container radius. In other words, a container that is twice as wide and tall as another can hold approximately 8 times more water, so the watering intervals can be longer. All containers should have a drainage hole in the bottom.

What is the best type of soil to use in a container? -- It is important to remember that plants in containers are under some stress because the root volume is usually much smaller than in the ground, the soil temperature fluctuates much more widely than in the ground and so does the water level. Thus, the best type of soil for container garden plants is a specially designed container mix that holds lots of water but is still loose and fluffy. This is even true for containers with desert plants, albeit to a lesser degree since they generally prefer a fast draining potting mix. With this in mind, remember that your containers will need frequent watering during summer. Large containers can go a couple of days between watering, but smaller containers may need daily or even twice daily drinks.

So, what are the best plants for containers? -- We are glad you asked! Plant Delights Nursery has a huge on-line catalog of the best container garden perennials. So what is the best type of perennial for a container garden? Any kind ... American native plants or exotic plants; ferns, bulbs, ornamental grasses, conifers or flowering perennials; evergreen or deciduous; shade loving plants or sun plants; spring perennials, summer perennials, autumn perennials, or winter perennials. Whatever you desire. Below is a list of suggested container gardening plants, but let's first consider some general rules …

 
First, when grouping plants into one container, select the best perennial plants with similar growing requirements. Secondly, if you are putting a single specimen plant into the container select plants for their whole appearance…not just the flowers. Leaves and stems are also important. Finally, use combinations of plants in your container garden that complement each other and the surrounding environment. When combining plants in a container garden it is standard procedure to mix plants from the following categories : Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers.

Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers

When you are ready to plants for your container garden, we hope our on-line mail order list of the best perennial plants for containers will be helpful.