Best Container Plants for Full Sun

CALIBRACHOA

Zones: 9-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding spreading habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide, up to 30 inches long

One of the most versatile plants for containers, with flowers that come in an endless range of colors and patterns. Color coordinate with a ceramic pot and combine as a “spiller” with a foliage “filler” such as silver artemisia or golden licorice plant, and a “thriller” such as angelonia or small ornamental grass. Learn more about growing calibrachoa.

Pictured: Superbells® Pomegrante Punch™ calibrachoa from Proven Winners.

CONEFLOWER

Zones:

3-9, depending on the variety

Exposure:

Full sun

Habit:

Height/Spread:

Varies, 2 to 5 feet tall, 1-1/2 to 2 feet wide

With daisy-like blooms in bold colors and a sturdy upright habit, coneflowers bring native charm to large containers. They’re drought-tolerant and beloved by bees, butterflies, and birds alike. Learn more about growing coneflower.

Pictured: Summersong™ Firefinch™ coneflower from Proven Winners.

DAHLIA

Zones:

8-11

Exposure:

Full sun

Habit:

Height/Spread:

1 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Among the most popular summer flowers, with thousands of varieties in a wide array of bloom colors and forms. Most often grown in the ground; however, dahlias are also easy to grow in containers. Use as a stand-alone accent or combine with other late-season plants. Learn more about growing dahlias.

Pictured: Virtuoso® Rad Raz™ dahlia from Proven Winners.

DIANTHUS

Zones: 3-9, depending on variety
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding, spreading, or upright habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 36 inches tall and 4 to 24 inches wide

This easy-care annual or perennial lends cottage-style appeal with scented flowers in nearly every color imaginable, from white to nearly black. Place a container near a patio, deck, or entryway where the scent can be enjoyed up close. Combine with coral bells, geraniums, artemisia, or miniature roses. Learn more about growing dianthus.

Pictured: Fruit Punch® ‘Classic Coral’ dianthus from Proven Winners.

EUPHORBIA DIAMOND FROST®

Zones: 10-11, treated as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Sun to partial sun
Habit: Mounding habit
Height/Spread: 12 to 18 inches tall and wide

Clouds of airy white flowers bloom throughout much of the growing season. This versatile annual can be integrated into any style garden. Plant as a “filler” element in a container in combination with trailing creeping Jenny or sweet potato vine and add a taller accent such as purple fountain grass or ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia.

Pictured: Diamond Frost® euphorbia from Proven Winners.

GERANIUM, PELARGONIUM

Zones: 9-12
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding, upright, or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 36 inches tall, 6 to 24 inches wide, trailing 12 to 36 inches long

Geraniums come in a range of flower colors and forms, including zonal and trailing ivy. The scented foliage can be green, gold, variegated, or patterned. Suited to hanging baskets and window boxes, combine with “spillers” such as trailing vinca or silver dichondra, and “fillers” such as sweet alyssum or annual lobelia. Learn more about growing geraniums.

Pictured: Boldly® Dark Red geranium from Proven Winners.

GOMPHRENA

Zones: 9-11, usually grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding habit
Height/Spread: 6 inches to 4 feet tall, depending on variety

Globe-shaped blooms in vivid pinks, purples, and whites make gomphrena a cheerful addition to container gardens. It’s heat-tolerant, long-blooming, and holds its shape well in mixed plantings. Learn more about growing gomphrena.

Pictured: Truffula™ Pink gomphrena from Proven Winners.

LANTANA

Zones: 9-11, grown as an annual in most zones
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding, spreading, or upright habit
Height/Spread: 4 to 36 inches tall and 4 to 24 inches wide

This easy-care annual or perennial lends cottage-style appeal with scented flowers in nearly every color imaginable, from white to nearly black. Place a container near a patio, deck or entryway where the scent can be enjoyed up close. Combine with coral bells, geraniums, artemisia, or miniature roses. Learn more about growing lantana in containers.

Pictured: Luscious® Citrus Blend™ lantana from Proven Winners.

MARIGOLD

Zones: 9-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding or upright habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 48 inches tall and 6 to 24 inches wide

Scented marigolds are a staple of kitchen and cottage-style gardens, grown for their bright, pollinator-friendly flowers. Plant in a container with other cottage-style annuals such as red salvia, nasturtium, and calendula. Include as part of a mini herb container garden alongside basil, oregano, and thyme. Learn more about growing marigolds.

PENTAS

Zones: 10-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright mounding habit
Height/Spread: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide

These star-shaped flowers bloom nonstop in hot weather and are a favorite of butterflies. Compact and colorful, pentas thrive in sunny containers and blend well with other heat-loving annuals. Learn more about growing petunias.

Pictured: Sunstar® Pink pentas from Proven Winners.

PETUNIA

Zones: 10-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding, spreading, or trailing habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 24 inches tall, 12 to 36 inches wide, up to 36 inches long

This old-fashioned favorite has enjoyed new popularity as new hybrids in a multitude of colors and patterns have been introduced. A staple for window boxes, hanging baskets and containers, combine as a “spiller” with spiky dracaena or purple fountain grass, filling in with verbena, African daisy, or diascia. Learn more about growing petunias.

Pictured: Supertunia® Royal Velvet® petunia from Proven Winners.

PINE

Zones: 2-10
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright or spreading habit
Height/Spread: 2 to 130 feet tall and 1 1/2 to 40 feet wide

This diverse group of evergreen conifers is grown for its attractive needles, year-round appeal and carefree nature. Slow-growing dwarf forms suitable for containers include dwarf mugo pine, ‘Blue Shag’ eastern white pine, and dwarf Scots pine. Place in a container as a stand-alone accent near an entryway or combine with other seasonal plants with similar cultural needs.

SALVIA

Zones: 5-9, for most varieties; some grown as annuals
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Upright habit
Height/Spread: Varieties 1 to 6 feet tall & wide, with most averaging 2 to 3 feet

Known for its spiky flowers and long bloom time, salvia adds vertical interest and attracts pollinators in droves. Heat and drought tolerant, it's perfect for sunny pots and pairs beautifully with trailing plants. Choose smaller varieties for better fit in pots. Learn more about growing salvia plants.

Pictured: Rockin'® Fuchsia salvia from Proven Winners.

SEDUM

Zones: 3-11, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Upright, mounding, or trailing habit, depending on variety
Height/Spread: 2 feet tall and wide for upright varieties, 2 to 6 inches tall for groundcover or trailing types

Succulent leaves and starry blooms make sedum a low-maintenance standout in container gardens. Choose trailing varieties for a cascading effect, or upright types like ‘Autumn Joy’ for structure and late-season color. Learn more about growing sedum plants.

Pictured: ‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’ sweet potato vine from Proven Winners.

SWEET POTATO VINE

Zones: 9-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit: Mounding trailing habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 16 inches tall, 3 to 6 feet wide, up to 10 feet long

One of the best trailing annuals for containers, grown for its exotic-looking foliage in a variety of leaf shapes and colors. Use as a cascading accent in window boxes, hanging baskets, or containers with other warm-season annuals in complementary colors, such as coleus, petunias, purple fountain grass, or African daisy. Learn more about growing sweet potato vine.

Pictured: ‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’ sweet potato vine from Proven Winners.

VERBENA

Zones: 8-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Full to partial sun
Habit: Mounding trailing habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall, 18 to 30 inches wide

These low-growing bloomers deliver vibrant color all season long, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds with their clusters of tiny flowers. They love full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for containers in hot, sunny spots. Learn more about growing verbena.

Pictured: ‘Sweet Caroline Light Green’ sweet potato vine from Proven Winners.

ZINNIA

Zones: 9-11, grown as an annual in most regions
Exposure: Full sun
Habit: Mounding or upright habit
Height/Spread: 6 to 48 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide

Bright cheerful flowers and long bloom time make zinnias a favorite of gardeners. Place a decorative container on a sunny deck or patio with a mounding form such as ‘Profusion’ as a “filler”. Combine with an upright salvia or canna lily and a “spiller” such as trailing lobelia, calibrachoa, or sweet potato vine. Learn more about growing zinnias.