The Black Thumb Guide to Gardening

How to Care for Potted Plants

Tips for keeping plants healthy; plus our favorite flowers and plants for container gardens.

By Madaline Sparks
Plants in yellow potsRichard Felber

Good Container Flowers for Sun 
Angelonia
African daisy (Arctotis)
Dahlia
Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’)
Lantana
Verbena
Zinnia
Tuberous Begonia

Good Container Flowers for Shade
Fuchsia
Impatiens
Browallia
Torenia

Good, Colorful Foliage Plants for Sun and Shade 
Caladium (shade)
Coleus (sun and shade, depending on variety)
Phormium (full sun to part shade)
Canna (full sun to part shade)
Ferns (various types, filtered sun to shade)
Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus, full sun/part shade)
Ornamental sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas, full sun/part shade)
Ornamental grass (various types, full sun)

Good Container Flowers for Sun and Shade 
Twinspur (Diascia, full sun/part shade)
Mini petunia (Calibrachoa, full sun/part shade)
Nemesia (full sun/part shade)
Scaevola (full sun/part shade)
Salvia (Salvia guaranitica, full sun/part shade)

Note: Where only one name is listed, the botanical and common names are the same.

Read More About:Home & Organizing

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