Looking for something different to grow in pots? Three plant experts recommend their favourite plants for beautiful summer displays.

By Veronica Peerless

Published: Thursday, 11 May 2023 at 12:00 am

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Talk of patio plants can conjure images of gaudily coloured, over-fertilised blooms, but many annuals, biennials and even house plants can offer sensational summer displays.

Here, three experts – Coralie Thomas, assistant head gardener at Great Dixter, Sarah Raven, gardener, cook and writer and Steve Edney, garden consultant and nurseryman, recommend their favourite patio plants, which should keep your garden looking good all summer.

Use their recommended plants to to fill patio pots or even to fill gaps in borders, from early summer into autumn.

21 of the best patio plants to grow

Erigeron karvinskianus

We love using this first-year flowering perennial in lines of pots or en masse in a window box with Dianthus barbatus ‘Green Trick’. Self-seeds and is brilliant for pollinators. Height and spread: 30cm x 1m. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Petunia x atkinsiana Tidal Wave Silver

Part of the Tidal Wave Series available in purples, pinks and red. It’s quick and easy to germinate from seed, flowers from May until frosts, is a climber or a trailer, and beautiful cut for the vase. Height and spread: 30cm x 90cm. RHS H2. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Pelargonium ‘Shrubland Rose’

Flowers all summer – and until Christmas if brought inside. It’s drought tolerant, and blooms away with only occasional deadheading. Take cuttings in autumn or spring – they root easily. Height and spread: 90cm x 45cm. USDA 9b-11. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Nemesia Boysenberry (Fairy Kisses Series)

A favourite for early summer alongside Nemesia ‘Lady Lisa’. Has a sweet fruity scent and, if brought under cover, may flower through the winter. Easy to propagate. We store the mother plants frost-free from one year to the next. Height and spread: 25cm x 15cm. RHS H3. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Thunbergia alata ‘African Sunset’

An easy annual climber to grow from seed, which you can collect for sowing the following year. Climbs up over an arch or frame or tumbles from a window box. Flowers long and late, and is an excellent source of forage for pollinators. Height and spread: 1.8m x 90cm. RHS H2. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Dahlia Bishop’s Children (mixed)

Easy to grow from seed, and looks fabulous lining a path with Verbena rigida (see below). Butterflies and bees feast on the pollen and nectar and, once in seed, goldfinches also have a field day. Height and spread: 90cm x 75cm. RHS H3. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Read more: Sarah Raven picks her seven favourite dahlias.

Heliotropium arborescens ‘Reva’

A tender shrub that’s easy from cuttings. Great for hot spots and the water-conscious gardener. Its scent is a must for a container or bed near a seat, window or door. Give it plenty of sun to bring out the best fragrance from the flowers. Height and spread: 30cm x 45cm. Recommended by Steve Edney

Oxalis triangularis ‘Atropurpurea’

An excellent ground cover plant, with deep-purple foliage and soft-pink flowers. I’ve been using it outside for 15 years, but in winter I always bring some corms inside to enjoy on a windowsill, just in case. Height and spread: 20cm x 30cm. USDA 7a-10b. Recommended by Steve Edney

Monstera deliciosa

Ever thought of giving your house plants a summer holiday? I use this dramatic plant in a shady container display for the summer months. Just bring it inside before it gets too cold. Height and spread: 1.5m x 50cm. Recommended by Steve Edney

Coleus argentatus

One of best plants for foliage. Its soft, silky, silvery leaves make it incredibly useful for ‘filling’ around your colour scheme. A robust plant (for a tender perennial), it will even grow in shade. Height and spread: 60cm x 60cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10a-11. Recommended by Steve Edney

Dahlia ‘Wishes n Dreams’

Described as a dwarf bedding dahlia. The dark leaves contrast with magenta to sugar-pink flowers. Just as at home in a container as in a flower border. Single flowers are great for pollinating insects, and this flowers from July to the first frosts. Height and spread: 70cm x 30cm. RHS H3. Recommended by Steve Edney

Verbena rigida

I’m always looking for fillers to go among my shrubby containers. Occasionally, one of the fillers steals the show and this verbena is one of those plants, weaving itself into the tightest spots and still putting on a display. Surprisingly hardy. Height and spread: 60cm x 40cm. RHS H3, USDA 9a-10b. Recommended by Steve Edney

Dianthus ‘Amazon Neon Purple’

Vibrant pink flowerheads and long stems make this dianthus great for bedding combinations. Seeds sown in February to March will produce some of the most robust plants, but this seed strain has been bred to always flower in its first year. Height and spread: 60cm x 45cm. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 4a-8b. Recommended by Coralie Thomas

Salvia microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’

One of a trio of salvias we plant under roses and which help keep our roses fungus-free. Flowers for months. Propagate from cuttings in late summer or early autumn. Height and spread: 90cm x 90cm. RHS H4. Recommended by Sarah RavenCosmos bipinnatus

‘Apricotta’

A relatively vigorous, new cosmos with pink-tinged flowers that are a fun colour to play around with. Sow in May to plant out in June to take over from autumn-sown hardy annuals. Height and spread: 90cm x 45cm. RHS H3, USDA 2a-11. Recommended by Coralie Thomas

Discover the best cosmos to grow.

Pelargonium ‘Frank Headley’

The relatively compact white-and-green variegated foliage is clean and bright, and the simple peachy-pink flowers continue all summer long. Propagate it from cuttings taken in late summer or keep plants in a frost-free spot over the winter. Height and spread: 45cm x 30cm. AGM. RHS H1C. Recommended by Coralie Thomas

Syncarpha vestita ‘Pierrot’

Previously known as Helipterum roseum ‘Pierrot’, this is a quick-growing annual best sown March to April to flower from May to July. The crisp, white flowers stay remarkably fresh even on the hottest days. Height and spread: 45cm x 60cm. RHS H1C. Recommended by Coralie Thomas

Salvia vitifolia

An unusual tuberous salvia with velvety green foliage and incandescent blue flowers later in the summer. Can be grown from seed, cuttings, or overwintered tubers. It often comes back after a mild winter – but it is late to emerge. Height and spread: 1.8m x 1m. Recommended by Coralie Thomas

Petunia exserta

Scrambles up its companions on wiry stems and is topped with long, tubular, hazy red flowers with golden centres. Can be sown successively throughout the summer. Height and spread: 40cm x 25cm. Recommended by Coralie Thomas

Browallia americana

A useful, late-season annual that can be sown mid to late summer, and still make a decent plant. The airy blue flowers mix well, but the plant can become deceptively large and swamp other plants. When it gets to this point, cutting back a few stems seems to keep it in check. Self-seeds. Height and spread: 1m x 60m. USDA 9a-10b. Recommended by Sarah Raven

Pelargonium reniforme

Slender leaf stalks with circular, cupped leaves emerge from short stems, forming a low mound. Perfect for places with high light and heat levels. I have overwintered our plant in a cold greenhouse in -7°C with no problems. Offers cerise flowers from July to October. Height and spread: 40cm x 25cm. Recommended by Steve Edney

Receive a 20 per cent discount on all plants (excluding sale or other promotions) on sale at www.sarahraven.com until May 2023. Enter code GI202023 at the checkout.

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