by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Apr 24, 2025 | Flower Garden Basics, In-ground garden
You’re at the store this spring, and colorful flowers catch your eye. It’s natural to want to drive straight home and plant them. Bring on the curb appeal!
But hold up…
Before you plant your flowers, it’s a good idea to help them adjust to outdoor conditions first.
In garden lingo bingo, this is known as “hardening off” or “acclimating” your plants. Many flower plants have been growing inside in greenhouses. They’ve had spa-like conditions indoors. And they’re all soft and tender from these comfy conditions.
Gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions helps toughen them up to wind, sunlight and outdoor temps. For example, their cell walls grow thicker. And they can better resist the stresses of being outside.
Think of this like preparing for the start of ski & snowboard season.
Sure, you could hit the slopes without getting your legs ready. But if you haven’t been working out, your legs are going to be ON FIRE after your first day out. You may be too sore to ski or ride for the rest of the week.
If you cross-train first, your muscles will be in much better shape. You’ll have more endurance.
Cross-training your flowers gives them more toughness too.
What happens if you don’t harden off your plants?
It can be a shock for young plants.
(And shock is not what we’re going for!)
Plants that haven’t been hardened off can struggle in multiple ways, says the University of Nebraska Extension. For example, these plants:
- Are vulnerable to sunburn, windburn (moisture loss and tissue death), and dehydration from freeze damage.
- Can break or shred easily.
- Can become stunted or die.
I see sunburn on a lot of newly-planted flowers around the Denver area in the late spring. It looks like their leaves have been bleached.
You’ve paid good money for your flowers. You want healthy plants—not flowers that look like they’re struggling, right?
Here’s how to gradually harden flowers to the outdoors:
Put your flowers outside in a protected spot for a few hours. What’s a protected spot? Look for someplace that doesn’t get direct sunlight and is sheltered from the wind, like a covered porch right up next to your home.
Then, bring them back inside or into an attached garage.
Give them a little more exposure to wind and sunlight each day. Add a few hours each day. You’ll build up their endurance, so they’re ready for planting. If your flowers like sunlight, start with shade… then morning sunlight… then work your way up to afternoon sunlight. Also work them up to staying outside overnight by the end of your hardening off period.
Try to keep your flowers from getting dried out and wilting. It’s easy for flowers to get dried out in their small nursery pots. If you pick them up and they feel light in your hand, they may need water. But if you see a few leaves turning yellow and they feel heavy when you pick them up, they may be getting too much water. Slowly reduce the amount of water you give them—but not so much that they look droopy.
Keep your eye on temperatures. If temperatures are dipping down near freezing, keep your plants inside.
Don’t fertilize them. Hold off on encouraging new growth.
Worth noting: Some flowers and veggies like warmer air and ground temperatures. They won’t do well if temps drop below 50-55 degrees. If you aren’t sure what your plants prefer, just ask at the garden center.
How many days should you harden off plants?
Some agriculture extension offices say 7-10 days. Others say 5-7 days. And some say 10-14 days.
I usually go about a week for the plants I’m buying from the store.
Ways to make it easy, peasy to harden flowers:
Make your plants easy to carry. Put your plants in a laundry basket, an open Amazon box or another container, so you can quickly move them inside and outside.
Roll, baby, roll. I have a neighbor who puts her plants on a small wagon that she wheels in and out of her garage each day.
Schedule reminders or set an alarm on your phone. That way, you’ll remember to take your flowers out. More importantly, you’ll remember to bring them back inside. (An alarm can be so helpful!)
Get creative if you head to a job every day. Maybe you want to start cross-training your flowers on the weekend. Then, if you’re going to leave them out all day during the week, start with protected spots.
What kinds of flower plants should you harden off?
- Flower plants that have been growing inside. This includes annuals (the one-season-only flowers) and perennials (the flowers that come back each year). Even some of our toughest plants in the intermountain west need to adjust to outdoor conditions. If you’re buying plants at an indoor nursery, it helps to harden them off. If you see plants outside at a store and you aren’t sure when they arrived from the greenhouse, I’d err on the side of hardening them off.
- Flowers you’re planting in the mountains. According to the Colorado State University (CSU) Extension, many mountain plants are grown in nurseries below 6000 feet. These plants may not be ready for mountain conditions yet, so it helps to harden off these plants. If your flower plants have been locally grown and they’re growing outside, they’re likely hardened off already.
- New seedlings you started inside your home and are transitioning to the outdoors. These plant babies are more likely to need more time to harden up. I’d give them 10-14 days.
If your flower plants have been growing outside already, you should be good.
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by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Apr 24, 2025 | Flower Garden Basics, Gardening Tips and Tricks, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing as a new gardener…
I would say it’s worth finding pretty flower pots. They’re like a good pair of shoes or a nice piece of jewelry. They can really elevate the look of your container garden.
But how do you choose? And should you buy big or small flower pots?
Here are practical questions to consider, so you can choose the best flower pot for YOU.
As you cruise through this article, keep in mind that you don’t have to buy new flowerpots. You can find them used instead. This can be good for your wallet (and Mama Nature too).
#1: Do you want to water less often?
Look for big flower pots.
Big containers tend to dry out more slowly than small pots.
#2: Do you want to have more design options with your flowers?
Look for flower pots with bigger openings (typically, big pots).
You can fit more flowers in a big container with a wide opening, so it offers more design options. You also can plant bigger flowers.
When you see flower pots that are exploding with color (like in mountain villages or outside the mall), chances are you’re looking at larger pots of flowers.
Does this mean you can’t create a beautiful container garden with medium size or small pots?
Not at all!
If you have smaller pots and you’d like to increase your design options, one thing you can do is to group pots together. That can create a really pretty look with interesting textures and heights. It also allows you to include more flowers.
You can see an example below with medium size pots.
#3: Would you like to keep your plant roots happy, which can play a role in beautiful flowers?
Look for a bigger flower pot — one that has room for plant roots to grow.
As your flower plants leaf out and grow above the soil, their roots are growing proportionally below the surface too.
Bigger containers offer more room for plant roots to grow.
And plants that have more roots are usually happier and healthier plants.
Avoid tiny pots or very shallow pots.
They’re going to look super-cute at the garden center, but it’s best to skip them for your outdoor flowers. (Use them for your indoor houseplants instead.)
#4: Do you live someplace with blazing hot summers?
Get a big pot if your flowers are going to get afternoon sunlight.
Big flower pots allow for more soil and moisture, which can do a better job keeping the roots of your plants cool and hydrated.
#5: Do you have limited space on your balcony, patio or front porch?
Look for smaller flower pots—or tall, skinny flower pots.
They work well in small or narrow spaces.
#6: Do you want to be able to move your flower pots in bad weather?
Smaller flower pots can be easier to move.
This is something to think about if you live someplace that gets hail or fluke snowstorms. Because gardening in states like Colorado, Wyoming and Texas is an adventure, y’all!
However, a small pot can still get heavy.
Plus, there are things you can do to make big pots easy to move in hailstorms, like keeping them on “plant caddies.” Plant caddies are plant stands with wheels. Get the scoop on hailstorm protection here.
#7: Are you on a budget? Or, are you interested in reusing rather than buying new?
Then, the size will vary.
Smaller flower pots will require fewer flowers and less potting soil, which can reduce your costs.
And small, decorative pots are usually cheaper than big, decorative pots at garden centers. With that said…
You can find deals on any size container if you get creative.
For example, you don’t have to buy a new container.
- If you’re moving into a home, ask if the previous owner wants to leave any garden supplies — like flower pots. People are often transitioning to different stages of life. (This is how I scored many of my garden tools and a collection of pots!)
- You can look for flower pots at estate sales.
- Neighborhood websites like Facebook Marketplace, Next Door, Craig’s List or OfferUp can be a good source of garden supplies, including flower pots.
In the early spring, places like Costco and HomeGoods (TJ Maxx) often carry flowerpots that won’t break the bank.
And in the fall, flower pots often go on sale at garden centers and boutique-type stores.
#8: Want to make sure your flower pots have the most important feature of all?
Look for flower pots with a hole.
You’ll save yourself extra steps and have happier plants.
Why do they make so many flower pots without holes? It’s weird!
Holes are important.
A flower pot without a hole is like a bathtub without a drain. It can lead to problems.
When water can freely drain from your pots, your plants will have much healthier roots. And healthy roots make a big difference in growing long-lived plants that look GOOD. Cheers to that!
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Apr 24, 2025 | Gardening Tips and Tricks
Have you ever had trouble finding the flowers you want at the store?
You aren’t alone!
Figuring out which flowers to plant and tracking them down in a garden center can get overwhelming quickly. And if even if you don’t feel overwhelmed, it can be frustrating to want a certain plant and not be able to find it.
So, if this sounds like you, please know, this is normal.
In this tip, let’s chat about how to make it easier to find the flowers you want.
What can you do if you have ideas for flowers, but you can’t find them at your garden center?
First, I’ll say that some western plants ARE hard to find.
Often, though, it can be a matter of where you’re looking for them.
The big box stores are convenient for buying flowers, no question.
But they tend to have a limited selection of flowers. Plus, they often carry plants that are better suited for other regions of the country.
Yep, let me say that again: A lot of their selection isn’t a great fit for gardens in the semi-arid, tricky soils West.
So instead, my suggestion is to look up local, independent garden centers in your area.
These are local stores that only sell plants, flowers, gardening tools and related products.
If you’ve only shopped at the big box stores for your flowers and you don’t know where to find local, independent garden center, no worries!
Search for:
“Garden center in [your town or metro area]”
“Plant nursery in [your town or metro area]”
You can call these local garden centers on the phone to ask if they have certain flowers OR you can visit in person.
These local stores are more likely to have a wider selection of flower plants that grow better in our region.
Fair warning, because these garden centers usually have a lot of plants, they can be a little intimidating on your first visit.
(Just being honest with you.)
But every time you go, you’ll get more comfortable.
And the great news is, they typically have knowledgeable staff members who can help you.
It’s 100% okay to ask questions.
When you arrive at your garden center, ask if they carry the flower you’re looking for. If they don’t have it, feel free to ask:
“Can you recommend a similar flower?”
Share what you’re trying to do.
For example, let them know if you want to attract butterflies … or if you’d like plants that deer are less likely to eat.
If the person you’re talking to doesn’t know the answer, ask if there’s someone available who may know the answer.
(There’s always a wise and scrappy gardener tucked away somewhere.)
To better help you, they may ask you a little about your garden.
Don’t worry! You don’t have to be a master gardener to have a conversation with them. They just want to help.
You may want to snap a few photos of your garden or yard on your phone before you go to the store. This makes it easier for them to picture your space and your existing flowers.
Okay, so that’s option one.
But it’s possible you may not find what you want locally because not every store carries every plant.
In that case, you have a second option.
There are online plant and seed companies too… like Zappos for flower plants.
You may be able to buy the flower plant you want online, and they’ll send it to you.
Some get shoes in the mail, others get flower plants… 🙂
Want a few examples of online garden stores?
- High Country Gardens is an example of an online garden store that specializes in flower plants for the intermountain west.
- Botanical Interests is an example of a seed company that offers many western flower seeds. They’re based in Colorado. Depending on the flower (or veggie) you want to grow, you may plant seeds in the spring, in the fall or even during the winter.
Often times, these online retailers have unusual flowers that are tricky to find in stores.
Another option: You can choose a “pre-planned garden.”
Would you like to create a beautiful, western-friendly garden WITHOUT having to figure out which flowers work best and find them in a store?
If yes, you may want to check out pre-planned flowers gardens.
They’re an awesome way to create a beautiful flower garden without all the research and hunting for plants.
And bonus, many of these flower gardens don’t need a lot of water.
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Apr 24, 2025 | Gardening Tips and Tricks, In-ground garden
Your spring flowers look as happy as kids on the first day of vacation… and then, you see the weather forecast: SNOW.
Ugh.
The good news is…
Spring flowering bulbs — like tulips and daffodils (pictured below) — are surprisingly resilient. Snow can be a good insulator for plants. And yes, I know we need the water.
So, if you’re wondering, “Will snow kill spring flowers, like tulips?”, the good news is it’s extremely unlikely.
(Phew, right?)
The bad news is…
Heavy spring snows can make a mess of tulips and daffodils that have started flowering.
Depending on how much snow you get, it can weigh down, smoosh or break your flowers, ending your pretty blooms for this year.
Temperatures can be an issue too
Cold temperatures (like a hard freeze) can ruin the blooms on some spring flowers, including the buds that haven’t quite opened yet.
I want my flower blooms to last as long as they can
That’s why I prefer to protect some of my spring flowers that are blooming — or are just about to bloom.
When my tulips or daffodils are blooming and there’s more than a dusting of snow in the forecast, I choose to cover them with tall buckets, empty flowerpots, frost tents, etc.
I do this so they don’t get crushed by the snow.
That way, I still have flower blooms when the snow is over.
I keep my eye on the low temperatures too
Some spring flowers are more sensitive than others to freezing temperatures.
In my garden, allium and tulips tend to be the most sensitive. You can see an example of allium below.
I’ve had enough flower buds (the blooms that haven’t opened yet) get dinged by hard freezes in the spring that I like to protect them.
When I see nighttime temperatures dipping and dancing into the mid-20s (or below) in the forecast, I’ll cover my allium and tulips — focusing on the ones that are blooming and the ones that have flower buds.
I’ve never gotten a freeze or hard frost that’s killed my spring plants. Rather, I just don’t get flower blooms that year. I have to wait until next year.
So, when I’m covering my spring flowers, I’m trying to protect that season’s blooms.
Do you have to cover your spring flowers when snow is coming?
Nope! Depending on your snowfall and how naturally protected your flowers are, they may be just fine. It’s all a matter of how proactive you want to be.
I don’t worry about my tulips when they’re just leaves
If my tulips are coming up and they only have leaves (but no buds or blooms yet), I don’t cover them.
Personally, I also don’t worry about the early spring bloomers, like crocuses below. Those lil’ dudes are tough!
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Apr 24, 2025 | Flower Garden Basics, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
So, you’re dashing into Costco, and what grabs your eye?
Colorful, happy flowers just waiting for you to give them a new home, like a litter of fluffy puppies. Eeek!
You can’t help but walk over and take a closer look. After a long, drab winter, the flowers look so colorful and ALIVE.
But …
Is now even a good time to buy and plant flowers for your summer garden??
When IS a good time?
Those cute, lil’ flowers continue to stare up at you with their puppy dog eyes, and your doubts melt away.
You think, “Screw it, I’m buying them. Who cares about timing anyway?”
So, about that…
If you buy your summer flowers too early, you’ll have to protect your plant babies. Many of them don’t like frosts, snow or chilly temps.
If you don’t protect them, they can struggle and may even die.
(Not exactly the summer vibe you’re going for, right?)
In this tip, you’ll get the scoop on 3 misconceptions about when to buy and plant summer flowers.
You’ll discover how to:
- Be a smarter shopper
- Create less work for yourself
- Get your flower season off to an awesome start (yesss!)
To keep things simple, I’m going to focus on “annuals.”
Annuals are the extroverts at the party.
They’re the showy flowers you often see for sale as you dash into the grocery store. Annuals give you pretty color for one growing season, but then they’re done. They’re popular flowers for flowerpots. You can plant them in the ground too.
Misconception 1:
As soon as you start seeing colorful flowers at the store, you’re in the clear to plant them.
Imagine, for a moment, that you have friends visiting from San Diego.
It’s 50 degrees outside. You’re debating whether to wear shorts… and your friends want to put on parkas.
Many of your summer flowers are like your warm-blooded friends.
These flowers don’t like frosts AT ALL.
And many struggle in chilly temps. They want it to be at least 50 degrees outside — including temperatures at night. There’s a saying that these flowers like to have “warm feet.” They need warm soil to grow.
Yep, these tender flowers like sandals weather. Frosts, chilly temps and cold soils can stunt your flowers, so your flowers don’t grow. (It’s like the poor lil’ dudes are in shock!) Or worse, your new flowers may die.
Instead of using when you see flowers at the store as your signal to start planting, it’s more helpful to consider:
- When are your chances for frost really low?
- When are your temperatures consistently above 50 degrees?
If you buy your summer flowers early, it’s okay! But hold off on planting them. And be ready to protect your flowers from the cold for a while. (Translation: You’ll have a bit more work.)
Misconception 2:
The flowers in your summer pots can grow as long as temperatures are 32 degrees or warmer.
Let me start out by saying, there are some flowers that don’t mind cooler temperatures. Pansies are an awesome example. These cold-hardy flowers are like your relatives from Minnesota. A lil’ cold doesn’t phase them!
If you live someplace with hot summers, these flowers can be awesome for your spring and fall flowerpots because they can handle chilly temps and light frosts — and they don’t like heat.
And if you live someplace with cooler summers and chances for frosts (like in mountain towns), these flowers can be a great choice.
But as I mentioned in Misconception #1, your summer flowers are usually happier with warm air and warm soil.
If you aren’t sure whether a flower prefers warm or cool temperatures, I’d err on the side of caution.
For your summer flowers, 50 degrees can be a more helpful guideline than 32 degrees.
Are you working on your garden lingo? “Tender annuals” are your flowers that prefer warm air and warm soil to grow. “Half-hardy annuals” are usually okay in cooler temps, but typically not frost. “Hardy annuals” are very resistant to chilly temps and can usually tolerate a little frost. They don’t like hot weather.
Misconception 3:
Mother’s Day is the perfect day to buy and plant flowers.
You’ll hear this one A LOT.
I heard it where I grew up in the Midwest, and I hear it where I live in Colorado.
Mother’s Day is the day the squirrels come dancing out of trees, and a chorus of robins starts singing, and gardeners emerge from hibernation like hungry bears. 🙂 I get it. It’s hard to resist planting when we’ve all been cooped up for so long!!
I’m sure there are some places where Mother’s Day works as a reliable planting date. And there may be years when Mother’s Day works where you live too.
But there are a few tricky things about using Mother’s Day as a gardening guideline:
- One, the date for Mother’s Day changes every year, from early-May to mid-May.
- Two, it really depends on your weather, which can be unpredictable in the Intermountain West. In recent years in Colorado, for example, we’ve been getting chilly blasts later and later in the spring. Denver has gotten snow on or after Mother’s Day in 7 of the last 14 years!!
You may be thinking, “But, Ann, I heard Mother’s Day at the store.”
Yep, that happens.
Keep in mind that stores have a pony in the race. If you get flowers on Mother’s Day, those flowers happen to die and you have to buy new flowers, they come out ahead.
The bottom line?
While it depends on where you live, Mother’s Day is often a touch early for planting summer flowers in many parts of the Intermountain West — including much of the Front Range of Colorado.
Rather than using Mother’s Day as your planting guide, it’s more helpful to plant your summer flowers when:
- Your chances for frost are really low
- Your temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees
For example, in the Front Range of Colorado, this is often late May.
Can you buy your summer flowers by Mother’s Day?
Absolutely!
Just keep in mind that you’ll need to protect your plant babies if we get chilly temps, frosts, freezes or snow.
It’s going to take a little more effort.
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Apr 24, 2025 | Flower Garden Basics, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
Wondering how to get started with flowerpot gardening?
Pop in your ear buds, find a comfy spot and listen to this 30-minute episode of the @liveblissedout podcast!
I was honored to be a guest and chat about flowerpot gardening in Colorado, Utah and the West. Click the blue play button below to listen.
In this flower gardening podcast, you’ll discover:
- How to feel more confident growing flowers — even if you’ve struggled or you’ve never grown a flower before
- What to think about when choosing flowers for pots, so your flowers live longer
- How to INSTANTLY make your flowerpots prettier
- How to know how many flowers to buy, so you don’t waste money
- Where to buy flowers if you like unique flower blooms (beyond the home improvement stores)
- And more!
The Live Blissed Out podcast is an educational variety show focusing on how you can achieve happiness through awareness and taking action. I loved being a guest.
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by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Mar 7, 2025 | Gardening Tips and Tricks, In-ground garden
Spring flowers are starting to pop from the ground like eager party guests who want to be the first to arrive… even as Mama Nature sends us a few more snowstorms in Colorado. (Good times.)
As we ride the weather roller coaster between winter and spring, it’s a good time to ask:
Would you like your garden to look more beautiful next winter?
I’m talking about a winter garden that has neighbors stopping to admire your landscape… or simply a garden that makes your heart sing every time you look outside.
If yes, spring is the time to act.
Many of the plants that add interest to winter gardens are best planted in April, May and June.
Yep, the months when the last thing you want to think about is winter!!
Here are two examples:
Ornamental grasses
Ornamental grasses are showy landscape grasses that can add a big “wow” factor to winter gardens (and fall gardens too). Their feathery plumes and seed heads glow in the winter light. These grasses dance in the wind, adding a soothing whispering sound to gardens.
The irony is the best time to plant many ornamental grasses is when you crave color: spring!
“Warm season” ornamental grasses (the grasses that grow during sandals weather) are best planted in the late spring and early summer. This is when they’ve actively started growing, but well before you see their seed heads. Not to mention, the weather usually isn’t too hot yet.
Pro tip: This is when grasses may look a little “meh” at the garden center. They won’t have their showy plumes yet, but don’t let that deter you. Buy them in the late spring, so you can create winter interest later in the year.
Evergreen shrubs
The same timing is true with evergreen shrubs—woody plants that keep most of their needles or leaves during the winter.
Spring is the ideal time to plant evergreen shrubs in western states like Colorado. That way, they have all summer to settle in before you find yourself reaching for mittens again.
(Typically, you can plant evergreen shrubs in the early fall too, but with fall planting, evergreens are more at risk for not surviving the winter.)
With spring approaching…
Now’s a good time to think about what you may want to plant, so your garden shines next winter.
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by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Flower Garden Basics, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
If you’re wondering, “Why should I plant flower pots this summer?”, here are 8 reasons to dig into this awesome hobby this year.
#1: Planting flowers reduces stress and makes you feel better.
Studies show that getting out in nature calms us and makes us feel better. DRAMATICALLY better. It actually has an effect on our brains. When we’re out in nature, our brains produce fewer stress hormones, and our positive emotions skyrocket. (Source: Health Magazine, “The Happiness Handbook,” March 2020.)
I love the idea that we’re not only creating beauty on our back decks, but we’re creating it in our brains too, don’t you?
#2: Flower pots are a great way to try gardening to see if you like it.
Flower pots give you a chance to try gardening without a huge commitment. Before you turn into a weekend warrior and dig up your front yard with grand plans of a Martha Stewart Living landscape, start with growing flowers in pots. They’re a great way to try flower gardening to see if you enjoy it. If you reach the end of the summer and it wasn’t your thing, no harm, no foul.
#3: Helloooooo, curb appeal! Flower pots are an easy way to make your outdoor spaces look GOOD.
You put so much care into the inside of your home. Why not put a little love into your front porch or back deck too? Planting flower pots can make your outdoor space as welcoming as your family room. You’ll LOVE stepping outside into your own beautiful escape.
#4: You can get big results in just one summer.
Planting an in-ground garden takes time, effort and investment. It can take perennials (the flowers that come back every year) up to 3 years to reach their full size — and even longer for shrubs and trees!
But growing flowers in pots? You can go from baby flowers to gorgeous, overflowing pots that have your neighbors saying “wow” in just one summer.
#5: Planting flower pots helps you get in touch with nature.
“I didn’t realize how out of touch with nature I was.”
It’s something I hear over and over again from budding gardeners when they reflect on what surprised them most about flower gardening. Growing flowers is therapeutic. There’s something grounding about putting your hands in the dirt and reconnecting with the earth.
#6: You want your quality time at home to be fun.
After a loooooong winter, it’s nice to spend time outside with something fun to do, right? This summer is the perfect time to try planting flowers or expanding your flower skills.
#7: It’s a fun activity to involve your loved ones and friends.
You may think of container gardening as a solo hobby. But I’m always amazed at all the fun ways to involve your honey, your kiddos or even your neighbors — from shopping for flowers, to caring for your flowers, to having neighbors stop and chat about your pretty creations. Growing flowers is a way to bring people together. Flowers are a magnet for connecting.
#8: It’s personally rewarding.
“I didn’t expect to enjoy growing flowers as much as I did. It was extremely fulfilling.”
This is another thing I consistently hear from flower lovers I work with! When your flowers look good, YOU feel good. You’ve brought this beautiful creation to life. Your effort has been worth it. And you’ll discover talents you never knew you had. It can be incredibly rewarding.
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Jun 20, 2025 | Flower Garden Basics, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
You want to add a big splash of color to your front porch or back deck this summer (“heyyy, neighbors!”), but you’re just getting the hang of flower gardening. You may find yourself with a lot of questions swirling around your brain.
This is normal!
In this week’s tip, we’re going to cover commonly asked questions, like:
- What are the best flowers to grow in containers for big, showy color?
- In your containers, should you plant flowers that come back every year or flowers that only bloom for one summer?
Then, in my next tip, we’ll dig deeper. You’ll get 4 proven questions to help you narrow down your flowers choices and choose the best flowers for YOUR flowerpots.
Watch my video below or scroll down for the article.
What are the best flowers to grow in containers for big, showy color?
If you want flowerpots that are overflowing with color — like the vibrant containers you see in mountain villages or in town centers — then you’re looking for “annuals.”
Annuals are flowers that give you lots of color all summer long, but they don’t return next year.
The word annual is confusing because of how we use it in everyday conversation.
“Hey, we’re hosting our annual barbecue.”
We usually use it to mean recurring. But in gardening, annual actually means one and done. These flowers grow for one season, and then they’re done.
If you like word games to remember these types of phrases, here’s a helpful trick:
Annual = A single season.
So, when you go to your garden center, how do you know which flowers are the annuals?
Well, there are a couple of hints.
One, you may see a section of the store where it looks like the color dial has been cranked way up. There’s just so much color! Chances are, those are your annuals.
These flowers offer you big, showy color.
What’s another hint that you might be looking at the annuals section?
If you’re at an outdoor nursery, many of the annuals (and possibly all of them) are likely going to be located in a section with a cover or a greenhouse.
Annuals often need more moisture than perennials, so they’re typically in a section where the sun isn’t shining directly on them.
And of course, you can always ask:
- “Where are the annuals?” or
- “Where can I find the best flowers to grow in containers or pots?”
People are more than happy to point you in the right direction, so you know where to go.
Annuals may be the most popular flowers for colorful containers … But they aren’t your only options.
Let’s say, for example, you want to add scent to your flowerpots.
You could include herbs in with your flowers.
Or, let’s say you want to include plants that have interesting textures.
You could grow perennials in your flowerpots, like the container below with Coral Bells and Creeping Jenny.
Perennials are flowers that return year after year, but (usually) bloom for a shorter amount of time.
Many perennials bloom for a few weeks only.
So, if you plant perennials in your containers, most of them are not going to give you that big, showy color for the entire summer.
They’ll still be pretty, though, and they should give you interesting leaves and textures.
Here’s an example of how I use perennials in my containers.
I like to plant lamium in some of my flowerpots. Lamium is a perennial.
It gives me flower blooms for some, but not all, of the summer.
I like to use lamium because its leaves are white. It’s unusual for a container garden. It’s a nice contrast with green-leafed flowers.
In the early fall, I can dig it out of my containers and plant it in the ground, so it can return next year.
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Often times, perennials grown in containers won’t survive the winter.
It can be too cold on their roots. Too cold and hard. They prefer to be in the ground to return.
So, if you want your perennials to come back next year, simply dig them out of your containers in the late summer or early fall and plant them in the ground.
If you want big, showy color in your containers, look for annuals!
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