Perennials for Containers – Frugal Ways to Fill Your Flower Pots

Using perennials for containers is a great way to save money and keep the plants in the ground happy and healthy.

Today I’m back with the wonderful group of gardening bloggers from Tuesdays in the Garden. We will be sharing a new gardening topic, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, from now until September. Today’s theme is all about things we like to accomplish in the garden at the beginning of the season.

Perennials for Containers

Outside of pruning and tool maintenance, one of the first things I do in the spring is look at dividing my perennials. Then as the weather warms up I buy tons of annuals for all of my planters. However a couple of years ago I got really busy and didn’t have time to buy all the annuals that I usually do. In addition, I had more than enough perennials which really needed to be divided, and not a lot of places for them to go. So, I ended up using them in some of my containers and I’m so glad I did.

Above is a photo of some of my mini hosta in early spring. They had no trouble growing after a long winter.

This is the same hosta in bloom during the summer. See how it grew well into the sidewalk. I kind of like this look, but it goes to show you that taking a few divisions for pots is not big deal. There’s plenty to go around.

Here’s a photo of growth at the beginning of the season. The plant in the back is a penstemon, and the front is the mini lime green hosta. This is a great time to divide most perennials whether they are in the ground or in pots. This is especially true for hosta, because you can easily see where to make a cutting. Once they fill in it becomes a little harder to separate the plant.

Mix in a few annuals if you want. This torenia added a touch of color to the penstemon and hosta. Pay no attention to that bit of wayward clover. 🙂

If you have any Geranium sanguineum in your garden, they you probably have many volunteers as it spreads readily. Why not move some of them to containers?

Lamium is another cold hardy perennial.

It’s ground cover that looks beautiful trailing out of pots. This one is ‘Orchid Frost,’ and works great in a shady spot.

In late fall or early winter, move the pots close to the house, a shed, or garage, for extra protection during the winter.

If you’re not using perennials from your own garden make sure they will thrive in your area. You can refer to the USDA zone guide to determine your zone before you buy a new plant. Most plant labels the plant’s hardiness zone.

Here are few suggestions that work in my Zone 6a garden.

Perennials for Containers – Shade

hosta
ferns
penstemon
hardy geranium
heuchera
brunnera

Perennials for Containers – Sun

lavender
salvia
echinacea (short varieties)
coreopsis
veronica

Perennial Ground Covers for Containers – Great for Trailing

lamium
golden creeping jenny
sedum

The spring is a great time to divide perennials. This helps avoid disease from over crowding, and ensures bigger and more productive blooms, so why not take advantage and consider using perennials for containers? It will help you save money, because you will have less annuals to buy. The rest you can relocate or give away to friends and family.

Now let’s see what my fellow Tuesdays in the Garden friends are sharing this week.

Preparing the Garden @ Frugal Family Home

7 Ways to Keep Your Garden Feed Free @ Simplify Live Love

Easy to Grow Vegetables @ An Oregon Cottage

9 Tips for Gardening Success @ Homemade Food Junkie

April Gardening in Zone 6 @ The Freckled Rose

About Patti Estep

Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

Affiliate Account Hearth and Vine/Patti Estep is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Comments

Mary says
April 11, 2018 at 8:37 am

Thank you for the tips. How do you winter over the plants in pots that are not huge and better insulated? Do you move them out in Fall?

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 11, 2018 at 9:04 am
  
  Good question Mary. I move some of my pots unto our patio near the house in the late fall. I think it helps protect them some.
  
  Reply
Joyce says
April 10, 2018 at 8:51 pm

I really appreciate your ideas and advice. Keep them coming. I look forward to seeing and reading them. When it comes perinals garding and flowers I have no restrictions. Love love it!

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 11, 2018 at 7:01 am
  
  Glad to hear it Joyce. Welcome!
  
  Reply
Jami says
April 10, 2018 at 4:06 pm

I love this idea so much, Patti, and am so inspired seeing your pots filling on their own in the spring instead of having to buy a ton of perennials! I’ve done a little of this, but am totally going to think more perennials with annual fillers for the future – thank you!

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 4:28 pm
  
  I’m so glad you like this idea Jami. A real time saver and I have no idea why it took me so long to try it out.
  
  Reply
Jenny Young says
April 10, 2018 at 1:43 pm

What a timely post! I have a perennial bed I need to get rid of. I can’t keep up with it all as I’ve gotten older. This is a great way to keep some of my favorite plants! And of course, I already have plenty of extra pots to put them in.

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 2:20 pm
  
  I’m so glad you liked it Jenny. It’s funny that I’ve just started doing this myself after many years of gardening. And, I’m thinking a pot of a pretty perennial might make a nice gift for someone who doesn’t really like to dig in the garden and/or maybe has a small area to enjoy.
  
  Reply
Shelly says
April 10, 2018 at 11:42 am

I have a few hostas that need to be divided. But I’m afraid I’ve missed the opportunity for this year since they are already opening up their leaves. I’ll have to try in the fall. Time got away from me this year.

I love how you use perennials to fill in your containers. I need to give it a too. Such a great idea, Patti!

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 4:27 pm
  
  In my experience Shelly hosta can be divided at any time. It’s just a little harder when they fill in and you might cut off a part, but hey, they are super survival plants and will bounce right back.
  
  Reply
Teresa Marshall says
April 10, 2018 at 10:47 am

I need SHADE LOVING preinals and pictures if possible advice. I’m disabled have a little space outside my apt.snd so desperate to give God beauty and then me. I need the pictures because I have a hard time remembering what it should look like. Can you help? Thanks.

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 11:13 am
  
  The planter in the post has all shade loving plants in it. The mini hostas shown here are perfect for the shade, as is the penstemon in the back.
  
  Ferns are always a good choice. Another good one is coral bells also know as heuchera. This perennial is small and compact and has beautiful different colored foliage. Here’s a link showing several different heuchera http://www.finegardening.com/genus/heuchera
  
  How about lily of the valley? They smell wonderful but the blooms are short lived.
  
  A lot of perennial geraniums do well in the shade too, especially big root geranium or Geranium macrorrhizum.
  
  Hope that helps.
  
  Reply
Diane Williams says
April 10, 2018 at 10:19 am

Ok NOW I’m getting out there and dividing my poor hostas. The weather is perfect for it and they are so overgrown. I’m always excited this time of year to get my containers planted. I have a few with perennials in them. Some of those will winter over in our milder winters. Love this inspiring post. Thanks for the tips!

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 10:34 am
  
  I’m so glad you liked it Diane. Hosta just seems to grow and grow and grow, doesn’t it? It really does look nice in containers. My only problem is finding somewhat shady areas for it because sometimes I get burn out from an area that is too sunny.
  
  Reply
Michelle Marine says
April 10, 2018 at 9:25 am

We have lots of hostas around our barn. Thank you for the reminder to divide them soon. We should do that. I also have to say, I love that little wayward clover in your pot. I think they have interesting leaves and look great. 🙂

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 9:36 am
  
  Thanks Michelle. I get wayward volunteers all the time. Some I also really like. There’s one little weed I sometimes get that looks like a pretty fern. I usually leave it there unless it gets too big.
  
  Reply
Carole West says
April 10, 2018 at 9:15 am

Great ideas Patti – Missing some of my flower perennials from the farm but my herbs have filled the void. Love the foliage form the Lamium and the thing I like about putting some perennials in containers is seeing the trailing transpire, it adds character to the presentation.

Reply
- Patti Estep says
  April 10, 2018 at 9:36 am
  
  I totally agree Carole. Vines and ground covers look beautiful in containers when they trail over the sides.
  
  Reply
  - Diane says
    April 15, 2018 at 10:03 am
    
    I love growing vines in containers on a trellis. Great for a different use of plants in the “thriller ” category.
  - Patti Estep says
    April 15, 2018 at 11:04 am
    
    Thanks Diane! I agree. Perennials make great “Thrillers.”