When planning perennials for your container garden, match cultural requirements to the locale. Some do better in bright sunny spots; others prefer all-day shade, while many flourish somewhere between the two.
Flowering
Gaura "Siskiyou Pink": 24-30" airy, pink blooms from June to October, likes hot dry conditions.
Verbena "Homestead":trailing vine produces purple blossoms for six months, not thirsty like hybrid annual verbena and very tolerant of abuse (Zone 7)
Coreopsis "Sweet Dreams":1' to 2' tall fine-textured foliage that weaves between pink/white daisy-like flowers, blooms June to September. Likes pots because they drain well.
Gaillardia "Goblin": heat and sun-loving 12" plant, yellow and red daisy blooms from May into October.
Scabiosa "Butterfly Blue": Butterflies love this plant! Blooms May until frost, blue flowers on 15" to 18" tall long stems, rise above a neat mound of foliage.
Platycodon "sentimental Blue" (blue balloon): 6" to 8" tall mound tolerates heat and partial shade, blooms June until September.
Lavender: delightfull silver leaves, wonderful lavender scent - and it blooms! Loves full sun, blooms early summer.
Foliage
Sedum sieboldii "October Daphne": 6" tall ground cover with blue-green round succulent leaves. Plant near edge of pot to show off its fanlike form and pink flowers in fall. Very winter hardy.
Canna "Tropicana": (variegated yellow and green leaves with orange flowers) or "Australia" (deep burgundy leaves with red flowers), great big leaves for its height, best in larger pots over 12" in diameter.
Sempervivum sp. (Hens and Chicks): cute little evergreen succulents, sun or part sun, great in tiny pots or cracks and crevices because they don't need much water.
Centaurea "Colchester White": forget boring old Dusty Miller - bigger and bolder silver leaves grow 1' - 2' tall. Good for bigger containers, it overwinters in the south.
Echinacea "Magnus" (purple coneflower): 2' to 3' tall daisy like flowers bloom mid-summer.
Get Color In The Shade
Flowering
Dicentra "Luxuriant" compact 12" plant with fine ferny leaves blooms May until September, can stay in pot several years.
Oxalis crassipes (old fashioned Shamrock): compact, dainty 6" tall plant, pink flowers from May to September (Zone 7)
Oxalis triangularis (purple shamrock): dark purple leaves with a hint of pink, light pink flowers and triangular leaves, adds dark purple contrast to pot, can bring in the rhizomes if you live in Zone 7 or colder.
Fuchsia "Firecracker": larger than normal pink, white, and green variegated leaves grow to 10" to 14" in a season with coral-colored blooms all summer long. In colder climates, bring it in for the winter.
Polygonatum odoratum "Variegatum" (variegated Solomon Seal): white and green leaves on upward arching 12" - 18" stems, very easy to grow.
Foliage
Hosta: bold leaves in any infinite array of blues, whites and greens, ranges from little (6" across) to leviathan (6' across). Also grown for its lavender or white flowers. This one is effortless; it almost grows itself.
Hakonechioa (Japanese forest grass): soft flowing chartreuse leaves in a weeping form, will not overgrow the pot,
Vinca "Illumination": bright golden, trailing semi-evergreen, likes shade or part sun.
Lysimachia nummularia "Aurea" (golden creeping Charlie): low 2" tall, golden leaves drape over side of pot,
"Evergold" Carex: fountain-like white and greenleaves curl outward and down, will grow a long time in one pot.
