These container gardening ideas are ideal for warm weather and are full of vibrant colors.
Try one of these ideas for beautiful summer blooms.
ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON
Container gardens aren’t just forspring blooms.
Credit:ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON
These container gardening ideas are full of summer bloomers from brilliant blue hydrangeas to heartySunPatiensto pretty petunias.
These plants stand up tothe summer heatand will add vibrant color to your warm-weather containers.
Cheerful Entry
Fill your pots with varieties that can stand up to a Southern summer.
Copper and green are a “match made in heaven,” says Carmen Johnson of this porch-worthy pairing.Credit:ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON
We dont need to add flowers to make a beautiful display.
This is all textures and leaves, says landscape designer Carmen Johnston.
The space-saving, slim container fits comfortably on a small porch or apartment balcony.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto; Design: Mark Thompson; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Stash your gardening tools along with additional blooms on the shelf below.
Container:Fill the stand with potting soil.
Give full sun and regular water.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Hanging Blooms
Dress up your favorite hanging container with dianthus and petunias.
Add extra oomph with the addition of English Ivy and baby’s tears spilling over the sides.
Don’t be afraid of mixing colors and textures here.
Credit:ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON
The more variety, the better.
Statement Maker
Create an entryway focal point with a trough-style planter.
I think scale is important.
Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez; produced by Mark Thompson
Sunny SunPatiens Pot
In summer, when in doubt, go with SunPatiens.
There’s nothing sweeter (or more summery!)
than a fern-SunPatiens combo.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Made for Shade
Brighten a blank patio wall with a vertical garden.
Choose a matching set of planters (we like Metal Flat Back S/3, $156;peacockretail.com).
Drill drainage holes in the bottoms of the containers.
Credit: Design by Mark Thompson; Photo: Robbie Caponetto; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Fill containers with potting soil and plants before mounting.
The following picks will withstand late-summer heat with regular water in part to full shade.
Late summer needs a gorgeous container too.
Credit: David Hillegas
), and ‘Yellow Moon’ wishbone flower (Toreniasp.).
Plus, it’s as easy as can be to maintain.
Pretty In Pink
Allow a large terra-cotta pot to become a semi-permanent part of your landscape.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Embrace a thrilling mix of highs and lows in rosy hues.
In front, trailing vincas spill over the edge.
Great Falls Angel coleus fill the middle ground, while Peppermint caladiums bring scale with their elephant-ear shape.
Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez; produced by Mark Thompson
Bold Hues
When in doubt, add color.
This brick features a subtle container garden.
Use dianthus, petunias, and baby’s tears for a lively and colorful expression of summer blooms.
Credit: David Hillegas
Easy Elegance
This stately container garden builds height in the plantings by thinking horizontally.
Keep a dark plummy filler planted low in the container, then build blush blooms atop the lowest layer.
Finally, add the brightest, most showstopping plant at the highest point.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Easy and elegant, it’s as simple as that.
Unexpected Summer Mix
A container with lantana and impatiens will bring color and butterflies to your space.
French Field
Channel a rolling French field filled with herbs by creating these elegant and natural containers.
Credit: Southern Living
The waving height and the mix of colors are charming.
Add your favorite herbs and other plants to the mix.
Don’t be afraid to mix in edible ones too.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Here, we worked with salvia, rosemary, coleus, and kale.
Citrus Containers
Why didn’t you think of it before?
Incorporating lively plantings at the base of a citrus tree isn’t just beautiful.
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
It’s equal parts stunning and functional.
When harvest time comes around, you’ll be happy to have oranges (or lemons and limes).
Keep the base plantings natural, wispy, and wild.
Credit:ROBBIE CAPONETTO; STYLING: CARMEN JOHNSTON
Hardy full-sun varieties in a showy monochromatic blend of cool blues and soft purples mimic a whimsical bouquet.
Plumbago blooms are seen throughout, with bursts of Angelface Blue angelonias and Victoria Blue salvias in the back.
Finish by covering with mulch to lock in moisture.
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Keep the container unruly, with varied colors, textures, and heights.
You’ll want to see these beautiful, heart-shaped leaves.
Combine snapdragons, Penny violas, tulips, parsley, and ivy for an elemental and architectural mix.
Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez; produced by Mark Thompson
Lovely Lantana
Bring butterflies galore to your summertime container by planting lantana.
Add other plants with complementary sun and water requirements, or keep it simple and plant only lantana.
Lantana produces a lot of nectar, making them attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Sunny Mix
These plantsorangey coleus and bright yellow lantanastand up to even the hottest Southern summer conditions.
Lantana produces brightly colored, round flower clusters in various hues and has a fragrant, citrusy scent.
Coleus is a perfect complement because of its beautiful foliage.
Credit: Melina Hammer
Thrilling Tulips
Take advantage of May-blooming tulips in this container, a perfect design for early summer.
It’s a vibrant combination that adds some drama to your entry.
Duo Hues
Keep your palette to two colors for instant elegance.
Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson
A coastal-inspired blue patio is elevated here with deep greens and pops of fresh white blooms in multiple containers.
A “Meyer” lemon tree is also a fun addition.
Pretty pink petunias do the trick.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
You’ll have plenty of options as petunias are available in various colors and unique hybrid patterns.
Pink-and-Lime Charm
Pink and lime hues are a no-fail pairing for summertime container gardens.
Try planting purple coneflowers, Cora Cascade vincas, and sweet potato vines to achieve this splendid color palette.
Credit: Southern Living
Add another bold plant with height at the back to create vertical interest.
Using flowers that trail over the container’s edge adds an extra dimension to the plant.
Try mixing different shades of one color for a cohesive look when varying the flower species in one container.
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman
Pretty Purples
What better time to incorporate vibrant violet hues into your space?
Choose your favorite purple blooms and combine them with captivating and architecturally interesting purple-and-green filler plants.
Try using plants with different textures for even more visual interest.
Credit: Photo: Hector M. Sanchez
Zippy Zinnias
These zinnia blooms lend cheery color to an indoor or outdoor container garden.
Je ne sais quoi Trio
It just has that something special.
Together, ‘Strawberry Sundae’ Twinspurs, violas, and kale are a winning combination.
Credit: Southern Living
Twinspurs are great for attracting pollinators, like bees, and are relatively pest-resistant.
Stylish Snapdragons
We’ll happily take advantage of any excuse to incorporate snapdragons in a container.
These containers' cheery pink and yellow flowers add liveliness to this arrangement but don’t overwhelm the space.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Adding two pots with single plantings grounds the vignette.
Dainty Lavender Hues
You need just a few ingredients for this garden dish.
Double the Containers
This entry has a double layer of containers.
Credit: Southern Living
Nearest the door, ‘Blue Point’ junipers, ‘Ogon Gold’ Acorus, and creeping Jenny adds height.
Add scale with large planters and plants.
It’s a simple technique, but it creates a significant impact.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
The varying shades of greenery contrast the container without overwhelming it with too many colors.
Mega Style
Add some mega flora to your container design this year.
Go big or go home in scale, as we did with these elephants' ears.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
Leave room for these leaves to spread because the more space, the more significant the impact.
Layering caladiums and dainty blooms make the most of its square footage.
Top the container with variegated leaves to complement the colorful blooms perfectly.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Complement Pop Star hydrangeas by layering in Diamond Frost euphorbias, white gauras, and Million Bells trailing calibrachoas.
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez; produced by Mark Thompson
