Trailing Perennials for Containers

Planting Basics

• Visit a reputable nursery to choose your plants. While it's not difficult to start many perennials from seed, you'll get rapid results by beginning with small starter plants. Spring is commonly the time to choose plants, but you can find some perennials year-round. Make sure your pots have adequate drainage and an excellent soil mix. Because container plants can dry up more rapidly than those in the ground, water them attentively.

Outdoor Plants

• Many types of geraniums trail easily over pots and planters, and they come in pinks, reds and purples. Lobelia is popular for mixing in with groups. Other flowers to consider are candytuft, crawling petunias, weeping astilbe, alyssum, trailing twinspur and hardy fuchsias. Summer or Chinese gentian work well in containers, as do ornamental strawberries, vincas, veronica and small-leafed ivy. Jasmine and morning glory can be put into containers, but may try to climb everything in sight, so use these judiciously and offer strong support such as a trellis in a large pot.

Indoor Growing

• Ferns and philodendron are suitable for growing indoors. Some people hang lush ferns with draping fronds in bathrooms because of the high humidity, and if you have a greenhouse or sun room, these are ideal. Many of the trailing perennials that grow well outside work indoors if they get plenty of sun and moisture. If you want an indoor container plant that doesn't require too much light, try the spider plant, which drapes and produces "babies" in all directions.

Herbs

• Herbs can be grown indoors or out, in containers, and with the proper conditions. Any creeping thyme is superb, whether grown alone or with other plants or flowers. Trailing rosemary can add beauty to containers in bright sun. You can grow trailing Greek oregano in containers and experiment with marjoram and mints. After a time, the bushier herbs will lean or drape downward. Pluck or pinch herbs to use in cooking as desired, and this will make the plants more dense as well.