10 Trends in Container Gardening You Won’t Want to Miss This Year
With the holiday season behind us and a few more months of Winter ahead, now is the perfect time to start planning this year’s container gardens! Here, I’ve curated some of the most relevant gardening and outdoor decor trends from reputable experts, thought leaders, industry publications, and my own observations, and summed them up in ways we can apply to container gardening. I hope these Top 10 Container Gardening Trends for 2024 will inform and inspire you as you plan, plant, and enjoy!
Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. Any sales made through such links will pay a small commission to Contained Creations, at no extra cost to you.
Trend #1: Pollinator Gardening
Nearly 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. But bees, birds, butterflies, and bats face many challenges; when they can’t find the right quantity or quality of food — specifically, nectar and pollen from blooming plants within flight range — they can’t survive. (Source: “The Importance of Pollinators.” USDA.gov.) Thankfully, the pollinator gardening trend is gaining momentum, and the practice of landscaping with plants that provide food and shelter for pollinators can be applied to container gardening as well.
We’ll continue to see garden centers featuring more plants that attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, which makes it easier for us to make a difference. Try designing planters using a mix of pollinator-friendly flowers that will bloom throughout the season in your region. The more blooms, the better! I plan to include the flowers featured above in my containers this Summer here in central Virginia, Zone 7a. Bring on the birds and the bees!
Trend #2: Water-Wise Gardening
Climate change leading to drought conditions and extreme weather events has shifted gardening to be more water-conscious than ever. Container gardening will follow suit. Using drought-tolerant plants in your containers is one way to minimize your water usage AND time spent watering — reach for Yucca ‘Color Guard’, Sedum, Sempervivum, Cordyline ‘Red Star’, Marigolds, Lantana, Dorotheanthus, and Dipladenia when designing water-wise container gardens.
To help retain moisture in your pots, add a layer of mulch to any exposed potting mix when planting. Better yet, use a self-watering system. These mechanisms have become more readily available and may be built right into the pot or purchased and inserted separately. They allow you to fill a reservoir with water that is gradually released into the potting mix. While I prefer to feel the dirt in my containers and water deeply until excess is flowing out the drainage hole, I realize there is some wasted water in this process. I also realize I should be designing with more plants that aren’t quite so thirsty. Click on any of these planters and the self-watering accessories available to fit inside them:
Trend #3: Naturalistic Planting
So far, we’ve covered the more functional trends in gardening with a focus on both pollinators and water conservation. Now, let’s shift gears and look at trends in garden style and design. This year, Garden Design Magazine highlights Naturalistic Planting, in which perennials, including many natives, are layered carefully to create a loose, but harmonious landscape. Relative to other garden styles, Naturalistic Planting is “…a slightly wilder, softer aesthetic, neither manicured, nor neglected, but one that takes its cue from nature.” (Source: “Top Garden Trends for 2024.” GardenDesign.com.) Imagine a sunny yard full of native grasses and flowers, with deliberate variation in height, color, and texture and an abundance of food and shelter for wildlife. Now imagine a container garden laid out in the same way, perhaps a Red Switchgrass as Thriller, Coneflowers and Heuchera americana as Fillers, and creeping Thyme as Spiller. For more inspiration around this style of container garden, peruse the outdoor planter selection at retailer Terrain.com, because their magnificent designs and displays embrace this Naturalistic style!
To identify native plants in your area, visit the National Audubon Society’s Native Plant Database. The list it generates for you will include many large trees and shrubs, as well as perennials that put on a show at different times of the year. Look for the shortest varieties to incorporate into your container designs, and consider planting your native arrangements in your largest pots for added insulation and room to grow. Note the bloom window of your plant selections, and plan to add seasonal annuals to your designs to create continuous color and bloom power in your containers Spring through Fall.
Trend #4: Edimentals
Edible gardening has been really popular for a few years now, but there’s an elevated version of this trend called “Edimentals” as I learned in Garden Design Magazine’s “2024 Trends in Garden Design.” The term is credited to acclaimed perennial vegetable grower and published author, Stephen Barstow, and refers to plants that bring function and beauty to our gardens because they’re both edible and ornamental! From fragrant herbs, to juicy berries, leafy veggies, and vibrant citrus trees, we’ll see more of these plants incorporated into container design this year. I admit I haven’t been adventurous on this front, but every summer I combine basil, parsley, thyme, and oregano in a pot on our patio near the kitchen for easy access when cooking. Thanks to the guidance in the article from Strange’s (link at the bottom), I may attempt to grow a small citrus tree on the patio this year, then overwinter it in our sunroom. Stay tuned.
Trend #5: Big Blooms and Softer Colors
Begonia Upright ‘Double Superba White’
Another trend in garden style that’s picking up momentum is big blooms and softer colors. Katie Tamony, Monrovia’s Chief Marketing Officer, shared her tips on a return to romance and nostalgia in the garden in VERANDA Magazine’s “6 Garden Trends That Will Be Hot in 2024, According to Experts.” She’s expecting big demand for hydrangeas, roses, peonies and other flowering shrubs boasting large flower heads in pastel shades.
Try any of these singular shrubs in your pots, but be sure they get the right light, moisture, and room for root growth and insulation. To get this big look on a smaller scale, try tuberous begonias as a Summer annual - many varieties have peony-like blooms but they flower all summer long and can be combined with other annuals and ferns for a beautiful mixed container design.
Trend #6: Warm Neutrals in Outdoor Decor
Warm Neutral Furniture + Lush Landscape
While I’m seeing small pockets of color appear in exterior decor, especially on front doors, the overall trend still looks neutral. For 2024, we’re going warmer than we’ve seen in the recent past, meaning a little less gray and a lot more cream, beige, terracotta, and wood. Neutral furniture pairs beautifully with woven accessories (pillows, baskets, rugs) and of course with nubby neutral planters…my favorite! I’m drawn to all of the textured fiberstone, aged iron, and mossy clay pots that are widely available. Let these blend harmoniously with your hardscape so the plants in your garden and containers can really stand out and provide all the color you need! Click any image to shop these looks.
There’s also a sub-trend in color schemes happening right now and it’s partially influenced by Goth Gardening. Garden Media Group’s “2024 GardenTrends Report: Eco Optimism” tells us that Goth Gardening is on the rise, including grave gardens, moonlight gardens, and dark, moody outdoor palettes. Black and charcoal are still technically “neutrals,” but they exude an entirely different mood from the lighter, warmer tones discussed above.
Take this trend to your container gardens by creating Goth Pots. Select planters with a matte charcoal finish and fill them with a mix of flowers and foliage in black and deep purple hues like Colocasia ‘Black Magic’, Black Leaf Millet, Persian Shield, Coleus ‘Dark Star’, and Sweet Potato Vine ‘Blackie’. You can even find black Violas, Pansies, and Petunias in the Fall for Halloween. Goth Pots are particularly striking with a black backdrop, like the stairs, door, and brick exterior featured in the photos below.
So if you prefer dark and moody to warm neutrals, especially when it comes to container gardening, there are plenty of containers and plants on the market for you!
Trend #7: Flowers and Decor in Pantone’s Color of the Year
It’s always fun to take a cue from Pantone and play with plants in their color of the year. Peach Fuzz is the choice for 2024 and the company describes it as “a warm, cozy shade highlighting our desire for togetherness & the feelings this creates.” Lovely, right? I’ve honestly never been an “orange girl,” but I confess I’m looking forward to more flowers and foliage featured in this approachable shade and paired with lime greens and soft lavender for a bit of contrast while still maintaining softness. And I’ve never met an aged terra cotta pot I didn’t like. If you’re ready to try some Peach Fuzz in your container gardens this year, look no further than these annual favorites:
While blue is still very prominently featured as an accent color in outdoor decor, we’re starting to see bits of peach make their way into the mix. Click any image below to shop these outdoor accessories.
Trend #8: Small Space Gardening
If you have neither the room nor the budget to start a meadow in your back yard, no worries! All you need is a small patio, deck, porch, or window sill where your pot can reside and enjoy at least an hour or two of sun each day. The practice of small space gardening is thriving thanks to the control and flexibility of using containers. You can move pots around as needed to get light, shade, or rain. You also get to control your potting mix and plants to suit your mood and conditions. From a budget perspective, investing in a few container gardens instead of a backyard overhaul is significantly more affordable.
Plus, small space gardening isn’t just for outdoors. Bring nature into your home with houseplants that not only beautify your rooms, but also help purify the air, reduce stress, and improve your sense of well being.
Trend #9: Going Vertical
Majesty Palm and Red Abyssinian Banana centerpieces provide height
Make the most out of precious floor space by taking your plants vertical and drawing your eye upward. This year’s trend reports from both Garden Media Group and JBD Concepts highlight the hype around vertical gardening. We’ll continue to see more hanging and wall-mounted planters this year, and TRAILING PLANTS are all the rage! The higher your planter, the more space you’ll have for spilling plants to appear to hang in mid-air. For indoor trailers, try Pothos, Philodendron, English Ivy, and succulent String of Pearls. In outdoor planters, reach for Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, Creeping Jenny, Sweet Potato Vine, and Scaevola to spill out of hanging baskets and window boxes.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I like to go vertical — even when my pots are sitting on the ground — by using tall tropicals in Summer. For super tall container garden centerpieces that take your pots to new heights, try a Bird of Paradise, Majesty Palm, or Basjoo Banana Tree.
Trend #10: Buying Plants Online
Plant breeders and growers have begun to master the service of packaging and shipping plants direct to consumers. If you lack time to shop in person, don’t have access to well-stocked garden centers, or simply can’t find a certain plant you know will thrive in your landscape, containers, or interior, try ordering online. Some of these companies will ship directly to your home, others will ship to an affiliated garden center near you, or simply send you an email when the plant you want has been restocked at a retailer in your area. You don’t have to be Gen Z to enjoy the convenience of digital access to plants.
Keep in mind that not all plants are available to all areas, and these companies won’t ship anything until crops are ready and weather in your region is safe for the plants. So it may take some patience. In most cases, you’ll pay a premium for the convenience factor versus shopping in person. But it might be worth the satisfaction of finding exactly what you want to complete your spectacular container garden designs. While I haven’t worked with all of these businesses, I have received product from Plants By Mail, Proven Winners, and Monrovia. All three experiences far exceeded expectations! Click on the bold green text below to go straight to each company’s website.
Plants By Mail ships a wide range of plants, including young shrubs and perennials ideal for container gardens. They feature many varieties from the Southern Living Plant Collection, including many in the 2.5 quart size which is perfect for tucking into container gardens.
Ship My Plants ships a wide range of plants, planters, and gardening gear.
Proven Winners ships select plants and assorted gardening tools and supplies.
Fernlea Flowers Ltd. does not ship directly to you, but they make it easy to find their beautiful tropical plants through several search tools on their website. You can find retailers that carry the plants you want and even sign up for a “Free Shipment Alert” when the plants you’ve expressed interest in arrive at your local retailers. This is how I know when to shop for my go-to Dipladenia in 4” pots!
Monrovia does not ship directly to you, but you can pre-order plants from the company months in advance. When the weather is right, your order will be shipped to the garden center of your choice for pickup. For the holiday season in 2023, Monrovia launched their Holiday Gift Shop that DID ship a wide variety of their beautiful houseplants, perennials, and evergreens direct to consumers. Hopefully, we’ll see that again in 2024!
Please remember that these are simply trends that show us where the industry is moving. There’s no need to do a massive overhaul of your landscape, outdoor living spaces, and container gardens…unless you want to! But I do hope you’ll find some inspiration in this list and experiment in 2024, whether it’s investing in some new pots, trying a different mix of plants, or adding a hanging planter to your home office. If you’d like to dig deeper into these topics, I’ve linked my sources below. As always, I welcome your comments and input on this article and I’d love to hear what you have planned for your containers this Spring!
All the best,
Steph
Contained Creations LLC
Sources:
“The Importance of Pollinators.” U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sweet, Rebecca. “2024 Trends in Garden Design.” Garden Design Magazine.
Native Plant Database. National Audubon Society.
“Growing Citrus in RVA.” Strange’s, 2023.
Sansone, Arricca Elin. “6 Garden Trends That Will Be Hot in 2024, According to Experts.” VERANDA Magazine, 2023.
“2024 Garden Trends Report: Eco Optimism.” Garden Media Group, 2023.
“Colorful Pollinator Container Garden Ideas.” Monrovia.
“9 Awesome Container Gardening Trends 2024 That You Should Not Miss.” JBD Concepts, 2023.
Retailers to watch:
Terrain, Arhaus, Rejuvenation, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Williams Sonoma, Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware, Serena & Lily, Ballard Designs, West Elm, and Joss & Main.