Best Plants to Grow in Large Planters for Outdoors (Trees, Flowers, and Herbs)
Got a large outdoor planter and not sure what to put in it? You're not alone. A lot of people pick out a beautiful pot and then stand there wondering what plant actually goes inside.
The good news is that large planters work for a surprisingly wide range of plants — small trees, colorful flowers, fragrant herbs, and more. Big pots give roots plenty of room to grow, which means your plants stay healthier and look better longer.
This guide breaks everything down into simple sections so you can find the right plant for your space, no matter your experience level.
One Simple Rule Before You Start
Before picking a plant, keep this in mind: bigger pots work best for plants with bigger roots.
Large planters — 12 gallons and up — give roots room to spread. When a plant has enough space underground, it grows stronger, drinks up water more easily, and looks better above the soil too.
Deep pots (like a 27-inch tall planter) are especially great for trees, shrubs, and any plant that grows downward. Herbs and smaller flowers are more flexible — they're happy in both deep and wider shallow pots.
Now let's get into the plants.
Trees and Shrubs That Love Big Containers
Yes, you can grow trees in pots. Small and dwarf varieties do really well in large containers, and they make an incredible visual statement on a patio or in a backyard.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
This is one of the most popular plants right now, and it's easy to see why. The big, shiny leaves look bold and modern. It grows tall and upright, which pairs perfectly with a tall planter. It loves bright light and warm temps, so most people keep it outside in summer and bring it inside for winter. A lightweight but sturdy container makes that move much easier.
Olive Tree
Dwarf olive trees have a relaxed, Mediterranean look that works beautifully on patios and decks. The silvery-green leaves are delicate and pretty, and the tree stays a nice manageable size in a container. It loves full sun and doesn't need much water once it settles in — great for busy plant owners.
Japanese Maple
If you want color and drama, a Japanese maple is hard to beat. The leaves come in deep red, burgundy, or bright green, and in fall they turn fiery orange and yellow. Even in winter, the bare branches look beautiful. It likes partial shade and steady moisture, and it grows slowly enough to stay in a large pot for years.
Dwarf Citrus Tree
Lemon, lime, or orange trees in big pots are a joy. You get gorgeous dark green leaves, fragrant blossoms, and real fruit. They need plenty of sun — at least 6 to 8 hours a day. In colder climates, bring them inside before frost and they'll keep producing fruit year after year.
Boxwood
For a clean, classic look, boxwood is a go-to. It's evergreen, meaning it stays green and full all year long. You can shape it into a neat sphere or cone, or just let it grow naturally. It's low-maintenance, long-lasting, and looks polished flanking a door or along a path.
Dwarf Evergreen Shrubs
Beyond boxwood, compact junipers, dwarf arborvitae, and small spruces all work well in large pots. They give you structure and greenery year-round, especially nice in winter when everything else has died back.
Flowers That Look Amazing in Large Planters
Big containers give flowering plants the root room they need to really thrive. The result? More blooms, bigger growth, and a longer season of color.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas in containers are stunning. Those big, fluffy blooms in pink, white, blue, or purple look incredible all summer. In a large pot, they stay a bit more compact than in the ground but bloom just as beautifully. They like morning sun, afternoon shade in hot climates, and consistent watering. Keep the soil moist and they'll reward you for months.
Bird of Paradise
Want a real wow factor? Bird of paradise delivers. The large, dramatic leaves and bold orange flowers (on mature plants) make it one of the most eye-catching container plants you can buy. It loves full sun and heat. It's slow to bloom, but once it does, it's unforgettable. Bring it inside before frost in cold climates — it's just as stunning as an indoor plant through winter.
Geraniums
Geraniums are a classic outdoor container plant for a reason — they're easy, colorful, and bloom for months. Red, pink, white, and salmon varieties are all popular. They love sun, handle some drought, and ask for very little in return for a lot of color. Perfect for beginners.
Petunias
Petunias are one of the best value plants for containers. They grow fast, bloom constantly, and come in every color you can imagine. Trailing varieties spill beautifully over the edges of a large pot. Pair them with a taller centerpiece plant for a full, lush look all summer.
Dahlias
Dahlias have become super popular lately, and for good reason. The flowers are enormous and come in rich sunset colors — orange, red, yellow, deep purple. They bloom from mid-summer through the first frost, giving you a long season of color. They love full sun and regular watering.
Lantana
Lantana is tough, heat-loving, and produces clusters of tiny flowers in yellow, orange, red, and pink all at once. It blooms all summer with almost no fuss, handles drought well, and butterflies absolutely love it. If you have a hot, sunny spot and want color without a lot of work, lantana is your plant.
Ornamental Grasses
Grasses might not seem flashy, but they add something no flower can — movement. When the breeze hits a large pot of purple fountain grass or blue fescue, the effect is alive and dynamic in a way that stays interesting all season. They're also very low maintenance and handle heat and drought like champs.
Herbs That Thrive in Large Outdoor Planters
Herbs are incredibly satisfying to grow in containers. A large planter gives them plenty of room to spread out and produce heavily, and having them right on your patio means fresh ingredients are always close by.
Basil
Basil grows fast and produces abundantly in a large pot with full sun. Plant a few together for a constant supply all summer. Use it fresh in pasta, on pizza, in salads — it's endlessly useful and incredibly easy to grow.
Rosemary
Rosemary is beautiful and tough. The silvery needle-like leaves look great in any container, and the plant handles drought and heat without complaint. It pairs well with thyme and oregano in a mixed herb pot, and the flavor in cooking is far superior to dried rosemary from a jar.
Lavender
Lavender in a container is one of the most rewarding plants you can grow. It looks gorgeous, smells incredible, and practically takes care of itself in full sun with well-drained soil. Let it dry out between waterings. It blooms in waves of purple and attracts bees and butterflies throughout the season.
Mint
Mint is a container dream. In the ground it takes over everything, but in a pot that energy works in your favor — it fills the container fast and gives you endless harvests for teas, cocktails, and cooking. Keep it in its own pot for best results.
Thyme
Thyme is small, pretty, and incredibly useful. It trails slightly over the edges of a pot, produces tiny flowers that pollinators love, and handles dry conditions better than most herbs. One of the easiest herbs to grow and one of the most useful in the kitchen.
Chives
Chives are foolproof. Cut them and they grow right back. They have a mild onion flavor that works in dozens of dishes, and in a large pot a small clump fills out quickly and keeps producing all season long.
Mixed Herb Pot Idea
Try a "chef's garden" in one large planter: basil, thyme, and parsley together for a classic flavor trio. Or go Mediterranean with rosemary, lavender, and sage — beautiful, fragrant, and practical all at once.
The Perfect Planter for All of These Plants: Greenship 27-Inch Tall Square Outdoor Planter
All the plants above have one thing in common — they do best in a planter that's spacious, stable, well-drained, and tough enough for full-time outdoor use. The Greenship 27-Inch Tall Square Outdoor Planter is exactly that.
Here's why it works so well:
Strong Material That Lasts
Made from 60% recycled resin and 40% natural stone, with 1.18-inch thick walls. It's crack-proof, warp-resistant, and UV-resistant — so it handles sun, rain, heat, and cold without fading or breaking. This is a planter you buy once and use for years.
27 Inches Tall — Great for Deep-Rooted Plants
That height gives trees, shrubs, and deep-rooted plants the vertical space they need to establish strong root systems. It also elevates your plants visually, making whatever you grow look like a featured display rather than just a pot on the ground.
12.2 Gallons of Space
Plenty of room for big plants like fiddle leaf figs, hydrangeas, dahlias, bird of paradise, and dwarf citrus. More soil volume also means the soil holds moisture longer — helpful for thirsty plants.
Stays Put in the Wind
At 15.21 lbs with a tapered base (12.95" x 13.07" top, narrowing to 9.37" at the bottom), it's stable enough to resist tipping on windy patios or balconies. Still light enough to move when you want to rearrange.
Built-In Drainage
A pre-drilled drainage hole keeps water moving out so roots stay healthy. No standing water, no root rot.
Smart Removable Inner Shelf
This is a feature most planters skip entirely. The removable shelf inside reduces the amount of soil you need while still giving deep roots the depth they require. It saves money on potting mix and makes the planter easier to handle.
Looks Great Anywhere
The hand-sanded smooth finish looks polished and refined — not rough or cheap. Available in Black and WhiteStone, it fits any outdoor style from modern to classic. It also works beautifully indoors, which is great for plants that need to come inside for winter.
Bonus: it comes with a Planter Surface Touch-Up Block to fix any small scuffs and keep it looking new.
Simple Plant-to-Planter Matchups
Not sure where to start? Here are a few easy combinations:
For a bold, modern look: one fiddle leaf fig or bird of paradise in the center. Let the plant be the star.
For summer color: hydrangea as the main plant with trailing petunias spilling over the edges. Swap the petunias each season while the hydrangea stays put.
For a kitchen herb garden: basil, rosemary, thyme, and chives together in one large planter near your back door.
For year-round interest: a Japanese maple or compact evergreen shrub that looks good in every season, even winter.
For low-maintenance beauty: ornamental grass in the center with lavender around the edges. Water occasionally and enjoy.
A Few Tips to Keep Your Plants Happy
Use good potting mix — not garden soil. Garden soil gets compacted in containers and drains poorly. Quality potting mix stays loose and feeds roots properly.
Water deeply, then wait. Push a finger two inches into the soil. Still damp? Wait another day. Dry? Water until it flows out the drainage hole.
Feed your plants in spring and summer. Container soil runs low on nutrients faster than in-ground soil. A slow-release fertilizer in spring plus a liquid feed every few weeks through summer keeps plants healthy and blooming.
Move tender plants inside before frost. Citrus, fiddle leaf figs, and bird of paradise can't handle freezing temps. The lightweight resin-stone construction makes moving the Greenship planter indoors much easier than hauling a heavy ceramic or concrete pot.
Ready to Get Growing?
Large outdoor planters give you so many options — dramatic statement trees, bold colorful flowers, fresh herbs steps from your kitchen. The right planter makes all the difference in how well your plants do and how great your outdoor space looks.
The Greenship 27-inch tall square planter gives every plant on this list the room, support, and durability it needs to truly thrive.
See it here and start planning your container garden: https://greenshipgardenusa.com/products/greenship-27-inch-tall-square-outdoor-planter
Happy planting! 🌿
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