Perennial Pots

[MirandaMarple]

Hello.

What are the best perennial plants/flowers (with some colour) for large pots? All in mostly sunny spots.

Thank you.

Small evergreen shrubs are good for larger pots - I've got pieris, hebe, also herbs inc Rosemary, bay and sage.

Perennials tend to die back in winter of course so either you want to be able to move pots around or mix with bulbs etc.
I've got pots of lilies and one of agapanthus I move around.

Hydrangeas look good, but do need some shade. Azaleas, but require ericaceous soil. Roses, and Dahlias are also good in pots, but the Dahlias will die down in winter.

If you're using perennials which will die back in the winter (and they're often more showy in flower than shrubs which keep going through winter) you'll need something to give all year round interest.

A sedge/grass is good for over winter, for example a bronze Carex comans, the very delicate Stipa tenuissima, or a blue Festuca, and they fill the gaps nicely in summer.

RHS in their gardens bulk out winter pots by sticking in twigs with coloured bark, eg dogwood or willow.

You can add spring bulbs. They'll die back in time for the summer growth of the perennials to take over.

Roses or hydrangeas would be my choice.