The 12 Overall Best Plants for Containers

In this helpful, no-fluff article, we will go through the best plants for containers, planters, and pods, which we actually saw, inspected, and tested. Note: These plants may not word best for other types of gardening.

Here are the 7 best of the best container plants out of this article:

1. Peppers

2. Chard

3. Marigolds

4. Zinnia

5. Petunias

6. Tomatoes

7. Canna Lily

Peppers

We found that Peppers, which range from sweet to hot, are quite nice additions. They love the warmth and controlled conditions of raised beds and containers, making them ideal for your container garden.

• Height: 30-60 cm (1-2 ft)

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums, with their vibrant flowers and edible leaves, are superb companions in vegetable gardens and containers, but they are also helpful for keeping cats out of containers sometimes. They're easy to grow and can help repel pests, making them both beautiful and functional additions to raised beds and pots.

• Height: 30-60 cm (12-24 in) for bush types; vines can climb or trail several feet

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil; tolerates poor soil

Chard

Chard brings a robust and hearty element to your shaded hanging baskets and containers. Its large, tender leaves are edible and fit well in to vegetable gardens.

• Height: 30-60 cm (12-24 in)

• Color Varieties: Green leaves with white veins

• Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist, well-drained soil

Canna Lilies are amazing tropical plants we love, they grow well in multiple regions around the world including Japan, and boast large, banana-like leaves and vibrant flowers. Cannas are great for adding height and a burst of color to garden beds or containers.

• Growing Needs: full sun and rich, moist soil

• Height: 0.5-2.5 m (1.5-8 ft)

Canna Lily

Marigolds

These small bushes for garden beds named Marigolds are not only beautiful, but after growing them we found they also deter pests, making them beneficial companions in raised vegetable beds and containers.

• Height: 15-90 cm (6-36 in)

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

Tomatoes

After growing these countless times in our containers we found that Tomatoes are arguably the best vegetables for raised garden beds, thriving in warm conditions and full sun. They benefit greatly from the improved drainage and soil warmth that raised beds and containers provide.

• Height: 30-180 cm (1-6 ft) Growing

• Conditions: Full sun, warm soil

Zinnias

Zinnias are one of the best plants for raised flower beds, adding a splash of color with their long-lasting blooms. Easy to grow in both beds and containers, they attract pollinators to the garden.

• Height: 25-100 cm (10-40 in)

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

Lettuce or Cabbage

Lettuce and Cabbage are cool-season crops that grows quickly in raised beds and containers. Its shallow roots benefit from the soil conditions and easy access to water, making it a leafy green favorite.

• Height: 15-30 cm (6-12 in)

• Growing Conditions: Partial shade, moist, fertile soil

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are one of the best plants for outdoor raised garden beds and containers, especially when grown vertically on trellises. This method saves space and promotes healthier fruits by improving air circulation and sun exposure.

• Height: Can climb or trail, depending on support

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil

Basil

We grew Basil multiple times and saw that when maintaining plants like these you need to know that they thrive in the warmth and drainage of raised beds and pods sometimes even as thriller plants for containers. It's an essential herb for culinary gardeners, offering aromatic leaves for a variety of dishes.

• Height: 30-60 cm (12-24 in)

• Growing Needs: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil

Petunia

As one of the best flowers for raised garden beds, petunias offer vibrant blooms and robust growth in sunny spots. After seeing and inspecting them we saw that they are well-suited to containers as spiller plants.

• Height: 25-30 cm (10-12 in)

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil

Carrots

Carrots are a delightful addition to raised garden beds not just for their edible roots but also for their feathery green tops that add texture and interest. We grew carrots in containers multiple times and saw that it allows for excellent soil control.

• Height: Foliage up to 30 cm (12 in)

• Color Varieties: Orange, purple, red, yellow, white

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, deep well-drained soil

Sources

Nature and Sustainability uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies to support the facts we describe in our articles. Please read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Canna Lily: Canna (Arrowroot, Australian Canna Lily, Canna, Canna Lily, Indian Shot) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

2. Chard: Swiss Chard – Wisconsin Horticulture

3. Carrots: Carrots: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Carrots at Home | The Old Farmer's Almanac

4. Petunias: How to Grow and Care For Petunias (thespruce.com)

5. Zinnia: Zinnia | UMN Extension

6. Cabbage: extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/cabbage-in-the-garden

7. Pepper: Pepper | Culinary Uses, Medicinal Benefits & Spicy Varieties | Britannica

8. Cucumber: Cucumber - Wikipedia

9. Basil: Basil | Definition, Plant, Uses, Species, & Facts | Britannica

10. Tomatoes: Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato, Tomatoes) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

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Calin Oancea

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Calin, a gardening specialist who knows a lot about plants, has been gardening for a long time. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.