Perennial plants in pots: 6 ideas for colorful, durable and easy to maintain pots

Which perennials in pots or planters to choose to beautify the balcony, the terrace or the edges of the windows? To mark the arrival of sunny days and the start of deconfinement, we are all looking for an original and economical idea to develop a dream outdoor space . And flowering perennials are perfect for this purpose. Whether small or tall, summer or winter flowering, shade or sun resistant, we offer a wide choice of proven varieties to create lovely planters and pots. Durable and easy to maintain, these pots can be kept for several years without having to change the soil or renew the planting.

Growing perennials in pots: 6 varieties to consider and so many tips for taking good care of them

Several are perennials for beddingwhich can be grown in pots, tubs or planters. It is even possible to keep certain varieties for several years without offering them special maintenance. Alysse, geranium, campanula, camellia… let yourself be guided by our small selection of proven perennials carefully chosen by our experts. For planters with blooms that are renewed with the seasons, do not hesitate to combine perennials with spring, summer and winter bulbs. We remind you that flowering must be noted on the product sheet. And while some varieties flower in the first year, for others, you have to wait 1 to 2 years to enjoy the desired effect. To promote their development, choose large enough containers.

How to plant perennials in pots in 6 easy steps?

While perennials are easy to grow in containers, there are some key steps you can take to help get them planted. But before you reveal them to you, get the following materials:

1 pot / planter with a drilled bottom
clay balls
soil
some water
perennials suitable for container culture

Steps to follow :

Pour the clay balls into the pierced container (about 5 cm thick) and fill half of the latter with potting soil. Remove your perennials from their original pots, carefully disentangling the roots so as not to damage them. To make your task easier, water them lightly. Plant your perennials in the pot (or planter) making sure they aren’t too close together. Then fill the container with potting soil and gently tamp it down. Leave a space of 2-3 cm with the edge of the tray. Finish by watering abundantly.

Perennial plants with evergreen foliage in the sun: Alysse

In flower boxes or in beds, flowering perennials give off a pleasant scent and bring the outdoor space to life. Unfortunately, not everyone is fortunate enough to benefit from a garden or a balcony. But those who have a southern exposure, know that it can become a real headache. The sun shining on it all day can damage your outdoor furniture as well.than your greens, especially if they are not resistant to scorching temperatures. In this case, which perennial to choose for resistant and colorful planters? Widely used to flower low walls and rockeries, Alysse is one of the most resistant and easy to cultivate summer flowering perennials. Also called, golden basket or silver basket, it is adorned with many tiny flowers in white, yellow, pink or purple. A long-lasting plant to be adopted by all pots, Odorous Allysses is perfect for anyone with little time for maintenance. A fairly sunny space, a well-drained soil and the color screen is guaranteed!

Perennial plants blooming all year round: Geranium

Not to be confused with pelargonium, perennial geranium does as well in beds as in pots. Rustic, easy to grow and widespread in France, this annual plant forms 30 to 45 cm high mounds of spreading foliage, which is topped from the beginning of May until September with flowers of various colors (pink, red, blue, white, mauve, lilac, black, etc.). After its initial flowering, the geranium continues to produce a fair amount of sweet flowers during the cold months. Its leaves turn red or purple in autumn. To encourage another bountiful flock, consider mowing a third of the plants after the first flowers have wilted.

Perennial plants blooming in winter: Camellia

In winter, your pots and planters should not look gray! Many are the perennials that thrive in the cold and bloom even when snow is falling heavily on the patio. And camellias are a good example. Thanks to their magical blooming, these perennials brighten up every corner of your patio or balcony. Pink, white or red, its flowers are particularly charming during the summer season, but can bloom from fall to spring. Popularized in France by the Empress Josephine at the time, the camellia prefers a mild and humid climate. However, it is intended to be very resistant to temperatures down to minus 10 ° C. To take advantage of its winter flowering, choose a shaded or semi-shaded location and avoid too sunny areas. Also remember to mulch to protect your pots from bad weather and cold. Water when needed. Outside the frost period, prune and remove the faded flowers.

Perennial plants in shade and semi-shade pots: the Heart Flower

Rest assured ! Far from being a disadvantage, the shady corners of a garden or a north-facing terrace can be decorated with a good number of perennials which do very well in the shelter of the sun. So, after the Alysse which is not afraid of the heat, we put the focus on the flower of the heart which does not support the solar rays very well and rather prefers the planters in the shade. Growing just to knee height, this climbing perennialproduces clusters of heart-shaped pink flowers throughout the summer season. With its fern and attractive foliage, it creates a beautiful display for the flowers. Suitable for moderately cold climates, it requires moist soil and a partially shaded location. The trick to enjoying a long and lasting flowering: remember to cut the faded flowers quite regularly.

Hardy climbing perennials – the delicate Campanula

Another idea to add to the full sun planter this spring-summer is the delicate bellflower. Campanulas are among the romantic and rustic flowering perennials that we have the great pleasure to present to you. Easy to maintain, the flowers of the bellflower adorn pots and planters from May to September, depending on the species chosen. Ideal for a chic country-style exterior, the perennial climbing plant with blue, white or red flowers is also well suited to growing as a ground cover., border and rockery. It goes very well with asters, roses, speedwells and drooping geraniums, and prefers a sunny or semi-shaded location, sheltered from strong winds. It can be planted on the terrace, balcony and garden as well as inside the house. Finally, all types of soil are suitable for bellflower, except:

the bellflower with bouquet which appreciates a fresh and calcareous ground
the Carpathian bellflower which prefers dry and drained soil
the pyramidal bellflower which loves stony soil.

Summer flowering perennials without any maintenance: Echinacea

The charm of a terrace or a flowered balcony is undeniable. ! However, gardening is not your cup of tea. Fortunately, there are perennials in pots that just need to be admired. This is particularly the case with purple echinacea. Still called “the white swan”, Echinacea is the pledge of a successful perennial gardener. She enjoys a magnificent long flowering from July to September, even in too dry and hot conditions. For novices, it will be difficult to distinguish echinacea from daisy and gaillardium, but on careful observation one can differentiate the cone-shaped discs that appear to be made of soft spines. There are countless cultivars available for your summer pots and planters. Once your Echinacea has been planted in a rich, fresh and well-drained soil, all you have to do is admire it. Small reminder: the herbal tea made from this perennial has a favorable impact on the upper respiratory tract and the urinary tract.