Growing plants in pots and containers is a great way to liven up a dull, paved space. However, it can be hard to keep up with watering and feeding requirements, especially if they’re growing in a sunny spot. Luckily, there are many low maintenance outdoor potted plants that look good all year round. These have naturally adapted to hot, dry conditions and will look great while also saving you time and effort.
It’s usually easy to spot the plants that need less looking after. You might find them growing in cracks in walls or paving, where it’s unlikely that they get a lot of water and nutrients. Others have adapted to dry conditions by changing their leaf shape or type to reduce evaporation – look for plants with tiny hairs on their leaves, leaves with spines, aromatic or silvery leaves, or fleshy, succulent or really small leaves. These drought resistant plants all thrive in baking, parched conditions, perfect for a low-maintenance container display.
It’s worth choosing plants that also require very little feeding or pruning. Good examples include the slow-growing evergreen shrub Cistus purpureus, or short-lived perennial Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’. Alternatively, herbaceous perennials such as some types of agapanthus will die back in autumn and grow again in spring, leaving you with very little to do.
Browse our list of low-maintenance outdoor potted plants, below.
Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican fleabane, Erigeron karvinskianus, has small, daisy-like flowers from late-spring to summer and looks lovely creeping down the sides of stone steps or tucked in wall crevices, where it self-seeds. It’s perfect for growing in a terracotta pot as it not only looks good but is also drought-tolerant. Its pretty flowers will spill over the sides.
Height x Spread: 30cm x 60cm
Stachys byzantina
The leaves of lamb’s ear, Stachys byzantina, are covered in fine, silvery hairs to reduce evaporation, making it extremely drought tolerant. It’s perfect for planting around a central focal point in a large pot, or with other drought-tolerant plants. Pink flowers appear from midsummer, but its evergreen leaves look good all year round.
H x S: 20cm x 45cm
Cistus
Hailing from the rocky areas of the Mediterranean, cistus is used to surviving without water and is therefore perfect for growing in a large container of free-draining compost and forgetting about. Pair with other Mediterranean shrubs such as rosemary, lavender and santolina. Flowers appear in summer but its evergreen leaves look good all year round.
H x S: 1m x 1.5m
Pelargonium
Scented-leaf pelargoniums are more drought-tolerant than those without scent, owing to the aromatic oils in their leaves, which help prevent evaporation. The flowers are usually small, but you can create an interesting foliage display by planting several varieties together. Frost tender, pelargoiniums should be brought indoors for winter.
H x S: 80cm x 80cm
Lavender
The slender, silvery and scented leaves of lavender are perfectly adapted for hot, dry conditions. Plant in a 30cm pot on its own or team with other drought-tolerant favourites. Choose a dwarf cultivar such as Lavandula angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’ (pictured). While flowers appear in summer, the foliage is evergreen and looks good all year round.
H x S: 30cm x 30cm
Agapanthus
Either evergreen or herbaceous, agapanthus flower best when their roots are a little pot-bound, so they’re ideal for growing in a pot and neglecting. They will benefit from water and food in summer, but won’t need pruning – you can deadhead spent flowers or leave them to develop seedheads. Flowers tend to be short lived, so grow them with oyther flowering plants to enhance the display.
H x S: 60cm x 45cm
Rosemary
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, is hardy down to -15°C and suffers more from winter wet than from frost. Grow in a container in full sun, making sure it has plenty of room to spread. Water initially to help it become established, and then leave, as it becomes drought tolerant when established. Spring flowers are small and blue but its evergreen foliage looks good all year round.
H x S: 1m x 1m
Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ is a short-lived woody perennial wallflower that flowers throughout the year, and is reasonably drought-tolerant. You can deadhead spent blooms and trim to size, but you don’t have to. Take summer cuttings to make new, young plants for when the parent plant dies off.
H x S: 75cm x 75cm
Sempervivum
There are hundreds of sempervivums to choose from. These hardy succulents will look pretty in a pot and require no watering or feeding. Looking good all year round, plant them in full sun in well-drained soil, preferably in a container with added horticultural grit to aid drainage. Finish with a layer of gravel.
H x S: 20cm x 30cm
Echeveria
Echeveria are attractive succulents, usually grown in Britain as house plants, but they can be grown outside in milder regions. They form an evergreen rosette of fleshy leaves but flowers may appear in summer. Perfect for a year-round display, grow in pots in well-drained compost, in a sunny position. Bring indoors in autumn to survive winter.
H x S: 20cm x 30cm
Ice plant
There are many varieties of ice plant (Hylotelephium), which bear pink flowers from late summer. Drought tolerant, water the pot until plants are established, then they can be left or waterered infrequently. Grow with other drought-tolerant plants like lavender and verbena. As the foliage dies down in winter, they are best for a summer display only.
H x S: 50cm x 50cm
Verbenas
There are several types of verbena, all with reasonable resistant to drought. Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ is perfect for growing in pots due to its compact size. Flowers appear from late summer, so grow with other plants to extend the season of interest.
H x S: 60cm x 60cm
