Have a look at the Best Shrubs for Containers for your home and garden from the given list.
Here’s an exclusive list of the Best Shrubs for Containers that you can display on a small patio, a rooftop garden, a balcony, or a big backyard!
Have a look at the best container plants on Tumblr here
Best Shrubs for Containers
1. Flowering Maple
Botanical Name: Abutilon
USDA Zones: 8-11
It is also called “Indian Mallow” or “Flowering Maple.” Abutilon is a beautiful shrub that grows gorgeous hollyhock-like flowers.
2. Andromeda
Botanical Name: Andromeda polifolia
USDA Zones: 5-9
“Pieris Japonica” is an excellent bush for container gardens. It can grow up to 2-4 feet tall with some attention and care.
3. Anisodontea
Botanical Name: Anisodontea
USDA Zones: 9-11
This charming South African shrub grows in full sun and requires dry soil to thrive. A balcony, terrace, or patio facing south or West is perfect for this shrub.
4. Aster
Botanical Name: Aster
USDA Zones: 3-8
Aster comes in a variety of colors and blooms prolifically. It is an easy-to-grow plant that blooms in summer and fall. Both annual and perennial types are available.
5. Spotted Laurel
Botanical Name: Aucuba Japonica
USDA Zones: 7-10
Also called “Gold Dust” due to its speckled foliage, it is one of the best shrubs for containers. You can grow it for its beautiful foliage as its flowers are not as aesthetic.
6. Azalea
Botanical Name: Rhododendron
USDA Zones: 4-9
Azalea is one of the most profusely blooming flowering plants. It requires moist soil, partial sun, and acidic soil to thrive.
7. Bougainvillea
Botanical Name: Bougainvillea
USDA Zones: 9-12
This beautiful ever-blooming perennial shrub is vibrant and colorful and almost requires no care in tropical and subtropical areas. It needs full sun and dry soil to thrive.
Get the top care tips for Bougainvillea plants here
8. Brugmansia
Botanical Name: Brugmansia
USDA Zones: 9-11
Also known as Angel’s Trumpet, the flowers of this shrub smell great at night and attract pollinators. Growing it in pots is easy.
9. Butterfly Bush
Botanical Name: Buddleia
USDA Zones: 5-11
Buddleia offers abundant flowering panicles in white to red through pink to purple or blue colors. Grow a dwarf variety in a large and deep pot.
10. Boxwood
Botanical Name: Buxus
USDA Zones: 5-11
The most adaptable and easy to grow shrub, boxwood is landscapers’ favorite and one of the best shrubs for the containers.
11. Calamansi
Botanical Name: Citrus × microcarpa
USDA Zones: 9-11
It has a bushy growth and stays compact, making it best for containers. If you want fruits, ensure it gets plenty of sun exposure.
12. Bottlebrush
Botanical Name: Callistemon
USDA Zones: 8-11
A Beautiful shrub that attracts pollinators and looks exquisite in its bright red blooms, it also comes in other colors like purplish pink, lemon yellow, or white.
13. Camellia
Botanical Name: Camellia japonica
USDA Zones: 6-10a
It is a beautiful flowering shrub, but when grown in pots, it becomes demanding. Camellia requires humus-rich acidic soil and regular maintenance.
14. Cistus
Botanical Name: Cistus
USDA Zones: 8-11
Also called “Rockrose,” this evergreen Mediterranean shrub is tough and drought tolerant and thrives on neglect. It is suitable for pots and thrives in a sunny location.
15. Lemon
Botanical Name: Citrus limon
USDA Zones: 10-11
Choose the sunniest location that is sheltered from drafts. Read our guide on growing a lemon tree in a pot for more information.
16. Cotoneaster
Botanical Name: Cotoneaster
USDA Zones: 5-8
Cotoneaster is usually grown as a ground cover or in hedges in the gardens, but it can also be grown as a container plant. Choose a large container as this plant spreads a lot.
17. Daphne
Botanical Name: Daphne
USDA Zones: 4-8
Keep the plant in partial shade and water it well in the summer as it loves moist soil. For blooms, make sure it gets plenty of sunlight.
18. Silverberry
Botanical Name: Elaeagnus
USDA Zones: 2-11
If you’re searching for a tough, drought-tolerant shrub that loves to grow without maintenance, it is Elaeagnus. It is also suitable for planting in coastal areas.
19. Escallonia
Botanical Name: Escallonia
USDA Zones: 8-10
A beautiful, decorative, and fragrant foliage plant with small tube-shaped flowers that come in white, pink, or red colors. Keep it in partial sun in warmer zones and under full sun in cooler zones.
20. Forsythia
Botanical Name: Forsythia
USDA Zones: 4-9
Grow dwarf forsythia varieties in containers. They are not fussy about soil types but require a well-draining medium. Keep this fragrant plant in a location that receives plenty of sunlight.
21. Fuchsia
Botanical Name: Fuchsia
USDA Zones: 6-11
From summer to fall, fuchsia decorates the gardens, patios, balconies, and interiors thanks to its beautiful bell-shaped flowers that come in vibrant colors.
22. Wintergreen
Botanical Name: Gaultheria procumbens
USDA Zones: 3-8
This is a low-growing American shrub that spreads by runners. It grows in acidic soil in a location that is cool and moist. Its foliage releases a mint-like fragrance when crushed.
23. Gardenia
Botanical Name: Gardenia jasminoides
USDA Zones: 8-11
One of the most fragrant flowers, gardenia requires regular maintenance. You can read our guide on growing gardenia trees in a pot here.
24. Gaura
Botanical Name: Gaura
USDA Zones: 5-9
It is also called “Bee Blossom,” “Wandflower” and “Whirling Butterflies” because it attracts butterflies, and they hover over it like a cloud and whirl around it!
25. Pomegranate
Botanical Name: Punica granatum
USDA Zones: 9-11
Probably the most suitable fruit tree or shrub for the containers. You should give it a try, even on a balcony. Read our article on growing pomegranates in a pot.
26. Gooseberry
Botanical Name: Phyllanthus emblica
USDA Zones: 3-10
There are only a few fruits that you can cultivate in the container without any difficulty, and gooseberry is one of them. This shrub is relatively easy to grow.
27. Hebe
Botanical Name: Hebe
USDA Zones: 6-10
This small, prolific shrub grows up to 1 m tall. Growing hebe in a container is easy. It is an excellent shrub for urban container gardens. Flowering occurs in summer for many species.
28. Hibiscus
Botanical Name: Hibiscus
USDA Zones: 5-11
Hibiscus is the most popular flowering shrub. Growing hibiscus in a pot is not difficult. It has one of the most abundant flowers that come in a variety of colors and patterns.
Here‘s how you can grow Hibiscus indoors
29. Hydrangea
Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
USDA Zones: 3-11
With clusters of colorful flowers and big, dramatic leaves, hydrangea is a stunning addition to any container garden. Plant it in a large pot and provide regular watering.
Learn the steps of growing Hydrangeas in the water here
30. Holly
Botanical Name: Ilex
USDA Zones: 5-9
Growing holly in containers requires care. It is better to choose a dwarf variety for a container garden.
31. Lantana
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
USDA Zones: 10-11
This perennial evergreen shrub is one of the easiest to grow plants in a tropical climate. It thrives on neglect and blooms tirelessly throughout the year.
Learn about growing Lantana here
32. Laurel Bay Leaf
Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis
USDA Zones: 8-11
One of the best shrubs you can grow in containers is bay laurel. It is also possible to grow this herb as a houseplant. Read our complete growing guide for more information.
Get the best care tips of Laurel Bay Leaves Shrub here
33. Laurustinus
Botanical Name: Viburnum Tinus
USDA Zones: 7-11
Viburnum grows well in containers. Its compact and bushy foliage makes it an excellent hedging plant. Its beautiful pinkish-white flowers are mildly fragrant and appear in winter.
34. Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula
USDA Zones: 5-9
Lavenders are easy to grow, and including them in your plant collection will ensure you have a fragrant home and garden! Provide it with plenty of sunlight.
Learn how to grow Lavender in pots here
35. Lilacs
Botanical Name: Syringa
USDA Zones: 4-9
If you love fragrance, you will love lilacs. Growing lilacs in containers are possible with care. Choose a more compact and dwarf variety and a deep pot.
36. Magnolia
Botanical Name: Magnolia
USDA Zones: 6-10
Magnolias grow slowly, which means you can have one in the pot for a long time. But the best way to grow magnolia in a container is to buy its dwarf shrub variety.
37. Crepe Myrtle
Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia
USDA Zones: 7-10
The beautiful, vibrant, and colorful Crepe myrtle flowers bloom in abundance with proper care. Dwarf, shrub-like varieties are suitable for containers.
38. Pittosporum
Botanical Name: Pittosporum
USDA Zones: 8-10
Beautiful shrub with stunning foliage and fragrant flowers, pittosporum fills the air with orange like a fresh breeze.
39. Peony
Botanical Name: Paeonia
USDA Zones: 3-8
Stately and plump, Peony flowers are large and often fragrant, single or double petaled. You can read a useful article on growing peonies in pots here.
40. Potentilla
Botanical Name: Potentilla
USDA Zones: 2-7
A Beautiful perennial shrub that grows up to 3-5 feet tall, Potentilla starts to flower from mid to late summer and blooms till late fall.
41. Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa
USDA Zones: 3-11
Planting shrub Roses in pots is a good idea. However, they require care and regular maintenance. You can read our rose care tips for help.
Find out the most common Rose growing mistakes here
42. Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
USDA Zones: 6-9
Rosemary is a highly aromatic perennial and a useful culinary shrub. Its beautiful blue-colored flowers and silvery-green foliage also make it an ornamental plant.
Learn about growing Rosemary in pots here
43. Sedge
Botanical Name: Cyperaceae
USDA Zones: 4-10
Sedge is easy to maintain and looks great on a patio or terrace. Keep it in a sunny position in a temperate climate and under shade in the tropics.
44. Spirea
Botanical Name: Spirea
USDA Zones: 4-9
Dwarf varieties like Spirea Japonica “Nana” is ideal for growing in a container. It requires slightly moist soil to grow.
45. Japanese Skimmia
Botanical Name: Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana
USDA Zones: 7-9
Bring warmth and color to the frosty winter doorway with this hardy shrub. It offers scarlet berries. During spring, it offers creamy-white fragrant blooms.
46. Kalmia Latifolia
Botanical Name: Kalmia latifolia
USDA Zones: 5-9
This acid-loving shrub offers huge clusters of bright red flower buds which open into strong pink blooms. ‘Little Linda’ is the best choice for containers.
47. Virginia Sweet Spire
Botanical Name: Itea virginica
USDA Zones: 5-9
Native to North America, it offers long white, cream, or pale green flower tassels in June and July, around 3-6 inches in length. Grow it in a sheltered spot in partial shade.
48. Ninebark
Botanical Name: Physocarpus opulifolius
USDA Zones: 2-8
A North American native, ‘Diabolo’ is an appealing option. It displays rich purple leaves and pink blooms on arching branches during early summer.
49. Ixora
Botanical Name: Ixora coccinea
USDA Zones: 9-11
This low-maintenance shrub shows off clusters of red, pink, orange, and yellow florets that look like puffballs amidst the leathery green foliage.
Do podocarpus grow in planters? I have a wall along my driveway that I’d like some privacy. The plant would need to be in a planter.
I love the Camellia. You say they grow well in mild summers but what about the winters? We have mild summers but the winters can be cold (up to -4). Will the plants need replaced every season or will they survive the winter?
You could get away with growing a camellia in a very sheltered spot in the ground in your area but for a container plant, you would have to winter it indoors in a cool but not freezing, well-lit room. Plants in containers are less hardy than plants in the ground because their roots are exposed to sub-freezing temperatures.
Will not survive -4 temperatures
I live in Canberra where the temp. can vary up to 43C in Summer down to minus 7C in the Winter. They are thriving under deciduous trees with plenty of Autumn leaves as ground cover. They flower well in season giving Winter colour and appreciating the Winter sunshine. I use when necessary a liquid fertiliser . They have been thriving and gradually turning into a hedge of 8 bushes over the 8 years since I first planted them.
I’m looking for part shade deck container plants, and full sun large bush plants that are deer proof, any suggestions?
This is so informative, thanks for sharing! I’m looking for some shrubs to decorate my patio with and will definitely be using some of these ideas. I love the andromeda in particular. I think it would grow really well in my climate. What size of planter would you recommend? I’m notorious for not giving my plants enough space!
Thanks for your help!
I must say I’ve never heard of many of these plants! I live in a small town and in the Northwest. I thought the article was well versed but can’t see buying any soon.
What pants and shrubs are deer resistant?
I have a very small garden and not much experience with shrubs ,can you recommend anything I can start of with.
I didn’t count 44, I only counted 13…is there more somewhere else???
At the bottom of the article, you have to tap on Page 1 to get to the beginning.
I was looking for some shrubs to grow for my porch. Your article was very informative.
What plant would do best in columbia,Mississippi
Very hot in summer sometime down to 23 in winter but no snow