9 Best Plants for Colorful Containers

Florists’ chrysanthemum is a go-to staple for cool-season color.

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Heuchera comes in a wide variety of colors, and many will keep their interesting leaves all winter long. We love them for being colorful shade-tolerant troopers, but their lasting power as a perennial comes from their flexibility in Western gardens -- they make a great container plant, they're a natural in rock gardens, and heucheras look especially fetching when grouped en masse in different colors and leaf shapes. Sunset garden editors have lots of ideas of plants to pair with heuchera for a modern twist, such as plum-leaved 'Stormy Seas' heuchera with blue fescue and variegated Magilla perilla.  

Nemesia brings cheer (and fragrance) through the cooler months.

Plant snapdragon in a pot for instant impact.

More: How to grow snapdragon

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Calendula comes in shades of apricot, cream, and soft yellow.

Flowering kale (and cabbage, too) has interesting rosettes that really pop in containers.

More: How to grow flowering kale and cabbage

White cyclamen are stunning and provide the ultimate classic winter look.

More: How to grow white cyclamen

Johnny Jump-Ups have undeniable cheer and are perfectly suited for pots.

More: How to grow Johnny Jump-Up

Sword-like leaves of libertia give a pop of gold and thrive in containers.

More: How to grow libertia