What can I plant in containers now that will give me colour for the longest time?

[WellTidy]

I am a novice gardener, I've just this year started taking an interest in my garden and getting it under control. It is coming along! I've invested in lots of evergreen shrubs for borders and I'm really heartened by how much I'm enjoying it.

Now I would like some colour in containers for the patio. I've planted some geraniums with bacopa around the edges, as I understand that if I deadhead, they will flower for a decent time. What else can I buy that will be bright (but not yellow or orange, more like white, pink or purple) and flower for as long as possible? Trying to avoid lavender as my son is fascinated by it and I'm sure he will get stung by the bees who seem equally enamoured with it.

Thank you.

[WellTidy]

I should have said that it is a sunny patio.

[Chloe1984]

Petunias are great for what you're after.

[pansydePotter]

Trailing begonias last for ages and you an use them again the following year. Trailing lobelia and trailing Ivy look lovely with white begonias.

[WellTidy]

Thank you. I will make a trip to the garden centre!

[olliegarchy99]

I like begonias in containers and large flowering fuschias.
To infill I plant trailing nasturtians - grown up a trellis sweet peas are nice too.

[pansydePotter]

I know they are not everyone choice but bedding dahlias last for ages and are trouble free. I also like waterllly dahlias. They do need regular feeding with something like tomorite.
Dahlias I like are
Blue Bayou
Que serai
Longfield gardens
Blue lagoon.

[sunnyhills]

That bacopa looks so lovely - I reckon with that and geraniums you're off to a flying start !

[WellTidy]

Thanks sunny! I genuinely have no idea what I'm doing! I'm only just learning how to dig a hole to be honest. I am going to buy a white begonia and trailing lobelia and a fuschia that isn't the normal bright pink, I think.

[sunnyhills]

Sounds like you've a great eye for design ,that sounds a lovely mix .

[BonTemps]

I love a plant called a million bells, it's a trailing plant very good in hanging baskets but equally in pots , comes in pink, white and a lovely purple colour. It flowers all summer and as the name suggests loads of them.

[WellTidy]

That's so nice of you to say, it has made my day!

[arbrighton]

Sweet peas- you can buy them started for you.

Dahlias are a bit tougher to look after long term and are a favourite for slugs/ earwigs

Pansies/ violas

[OrangeFluff]

How about a hardy Nemesia? I have one called 'Confetti' in a pot that is already starting to flower, and will continue to do so until September. I just give it a trim mid-summer to keep it a nice shape.

Or Scabiosa, mine flowers from June until September as long as I deadhead it every now and then.