8 Best Flowering Container Garden Plants for Sunny Areas

Million Bells (Calibrachoa hybrid)

Million bells comes in many spectacular colors and look great in almost any container garden. The prolific blossoms attract hummingbirds and butterflies and will grow strong all summer with regular feeding. These plants do not need deadheading, but they do need consistent watering and good drainage. Million bells will grow well in almost any container.

• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Keep evenly moist
• Color Varieties: White, yellow, orange, peach, red, and many shades of pink and purple; single, double, or ruffled blooms

Verbena (Family Verbenaceae)

Verbena is a great container garden plant for the sun because it will flower all summer long and even into the fall. As a bonus, verbenas are great for attracting butterflies. These profuse bloomers are extremely forgiving and come in a wide range of colors. They are drought tolerant and only need an average amount of water. They do need good drainage and, like most flowering annuals, verbenas need to be fed every couple of weeks. Regular deadheading of faded blooms will keep your plants looking good and will encourage more blooms.

• Light: Full sun
• Water: Evenly moist; avoid waterlogging
• Color Varieties: White, yellow, orange, peach, red, blue, pink, purple, violet, lavender, and bi-colors

Cape Daisy (Osteospermum)

Cape daisy is cheerful, forgiving (they are hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit), and come in a variety of handsome colors. Though the tags might say no deadheading is necessary, the plants certainly will look better if you deadhead faded blooms. If you fertilize your cape daisy plant regularly and make sure it has good drainage, it will last well into fall. If it starts getting leggy, cut it back.

• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Water: Medium; avoid water logging
• Color varieties: Shades of pink, purple, blue, yellow, orange, or pure white; many have a darker-colored contrasting eye

Browallia (Browallia speciosa)

This flowering plant has wonderful blossoms with a velvety texture, rich blue color, and contrasting center. Browallia, or bush violet, goes well with almost anything and its height, 12 to 14 inches, is great for use in the middle of a mixed container garden. Browallia is not fussy at all but needs protection from too much hot sun. Good drainage is important. With regular feeding, this profuse bloomer will go strong all summer long.

• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Water: Water regularly; keep well-drained
• Color Varieties: Deep blue, purple, or white

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Pentas really stand out in container gardens. The clusters of star-shaped flowers are large and spectacular. Pentas, also called Egyptian star flowers, attract butterflies and hummingbirds, which love the dark pink and red varieties. They do not need much care and will thrive, once established, even through heat and drought. With regular feeding, good soil, and good drainage, your pentas should bloom until fall.

• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Water regularly but keep well-drained
• Color Varieties: Pink, purple, white, and red

Petunias (Petunia x hybrida)

Petunias are easy to find, inexpensive, and come in a vast assortment of colors and sizes. Even better, newer varieties of petunias self-deadhead, which is great because deadheading petunias can take forever. They love lots of sun but do not love too much heat. Depending on your climate and average temperatures, you may need to give them some midday shade.

• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Moist but well-drained soil
• Color Varieties: Any color ranging from white to black including bi-color; blooms can be single, double, or ruffled

Pansies and Violas (Viola spp.)

Pansies and violas are closely related annuals. Cool weather lovers, they will fade and become leggy when it gets too warm. Pinching off spent flower stalks will help violas and pansies to bloom continuously. Choose seedlings that are stocky and healthy, and avoid any that are wilted or dry. Pansies are sold in six packs, small pots or flats, and they might be root-bound. Make sure to tease apart the roots before you plant them. Pansies and violas are also rather easy to grow from seeds. You can start them indoors about 10 to 12 weeks before outdoor planting time.

• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Moist but not soggy, well-drained soil
• Color Varieties: Any solid, bi-color or tri-color ranging from pure white to black; many have contrasting dark patches; combinations of yellow, blue, violet, and purple are very common colors

Cineraria (Pericallis × hybrida)

Cineraria is a perennial that's grown as a springtime annual in most areas. Available in many vibrant colors, Cineraria can flower for several weeks if conditions are cool enough, between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are growing Cineraria in a container, choose a large pot with plenty of good, moisture-retaining potting soil and locate the pot in partial shade. Like most heavy-flowering plants, Cinerama should be deadheaded and fertilized regularly.

This mounding plant can be planted on its own or with a spiller plant, like creeping Jenny or sutera.

• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Keep moist but not soggy
• Color Varieties: Cobalt blue, magenta, and many shades of pink and purple often having contrasting white centers