What to Plant in Tall Outdoor Pots

On a patio or balcony, tall planters play the same starring role that ornamental grasses do in the flower garden or trees in the broader landscape. They provide vertical accents and bring height and scale to the space. By tall pots, we mean containers with a narrow footprint and a tall slim silhouette, which come in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes to complement your garden style.

The magic of tall pots lies in the way they can be used in the garden, because they play a role that few other pot shapes can. Their tall narrow look makes them perfect for flanking an entrance, lining a walkway or creating a potted screen and their vertical design highlights statement plants. They also bring a sense of scale to a patio or courtyard, making the space feel bigger and layered with interest.

Benefits of using tall pots outdoors

• Create the illusion of more space, by drawing the eye upward
• Save space because they have minimal floor presence
• Provide ample root space for larger growing plants
• Larger soil volume = less watering
• Reduce attack from some pests and disease, because the plants are kept off the ground
• Screen areas without planting into the ground

Best plant types for tall outdoor pots     

Tall, Slim Trees for Vertical Impact

Tall pots lend themselves to a particular style of planting.  Cylinder or column planters often work well with tall slim plants, which complement the silhouette. Try     growing dwarf olives trees, with fine grey foliage and a slender form that complements the sleek elongated container design.  Or you might like to grow dwarf citrus which are both decorative and edible and bring a Mediterranean vibe to your space. 

Evergreen Plants for Screening and Privacy

If you’re using tall pots for screening, choose a  large stable planter. Plant a row of three to five pots with evergreen beauties like bay trees or dwarf Lilly Pillies that can be trimmed to form a potted hedge or clipped into decorative columnar shapes. Compact, bushy plants like dwarf westringias or English box also contrast beautifully with tall planters and can be pruned into formal shapes like topiary balls.

Strappy-Leaved Plants for Low-Maintenance Style

Strappy leaved plants are an easy-going choice for tall pots and containers, providing year-round colour and interest for little maintenance. Compact, clumping plants like Dianella ‘Cassa Blue’ create spiky silhouettes in tall pots, with attractive blue foliage that looks good in every season.  For greater impact look to taller growing Miscanthus, with arching foliage and fluffy flowers that dance enticingly in the slightest breeze, bringing movement to your potted garden.

Sculptural and Architectural Plants for Modern Pots

Tall pots often display clean, modern lines that complement sculptural-style planting. A crisp white cylinder planter pairs beautifully with tough dry-loving succulents. The foxtail Agave (Agave attenuata) makes the perfect architectural feature plant with dramatic rosettes of dusky blue-green foliage or enhance the long lines of the pot with columnar cacti that provide year-round interest and thrive with little water.

Trailing Plants to Soften Tall Containers

In big, vertical pots try underplanting taller shrubs with trailing plants like ground covering Rosemary, which softens tall rims or flowering bacopa, which brings a splash of colour to your design. Or make a statement with trailing plants on their own and create a tower of foliage with Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ in a white cylinder pot.    

Seasonal Colour Plants for Easy Refreshing

Where space allows, underplant tall containers with fast growing colour toppers that can be chopped and changed from season to season. It’s a quick way to refresh the look of your potted garden. Plant lipstick pink petunias or calibrachoas in bright cheery colours though the warmer months or brighten a winter's day with sunny yellow pansies. 

Consideration for Plant Selection

Match Plant Size to Pot Depth and Width

By the nature of their design, tall pots provide good depth for root space. However, the eventual height and spread of the plant, along with the depth and size of the container, should always be considered when choosing what to plant. Selecting the right balance helps ensure plants remain healthy and well supported as they mature.

Choose Plants That Suit Your Garden Conditions

Shade-loving plants will struggle in full sun and vice versa, so it’s important to select plants that will naturally thrive in the conditions your garden offers. When planning your planting, consider:

• Sun or shade exposure
• Wind protection
• Heat reflected from walls, paving, or buildings


These factors can significantly affect plant performance in tall containers.

Group Tall Pots for Visual Impact

Tall containers look particularly striking when planted in family groups, transforming blank areas into layered, eye-catching displays. Using pots in a range of sizes allows them to be arranged together for a cohesive look.

For best results:

• Position upright or taller plants in larger pots at the back
  
• Use spreading or trailing plants in smaller containers at the front
• Aim for a balanced, graduated silhouette

This approach adds depth and visual flow to patios, courtyards, and entrances.

Ensure Stability in Windy Locations

If tall pots are exposed to wind, stability becomes an important consideration. Tall, narrow containers can become top-heavy, especially when planted with larger shrubs or trees.

To improve stability:

• Choose pots with a wide, stable base
• Avoid very tall, tapered designs in exposed areas
• Add weight to the base using pebbles or similar materials that won’t impede drainage

Always factor in the added weight if you plan to move the pots or are placing them on balconies or verandas.       

Bring Height and Style to Your Outdoor Space

Tall outdoor pots are a simple yet effective way to add height, structure, and visual interest to gardens, patios, balconies, and courtyards. By choosing the right plant types, grouping containers thoughtfully, and considering factors like exposure and stability, you can create a striking potted display that looks good year-round and suits your space perfectly.

If you’re ready to put these ideas into practice, explore our range of tall outdoor pots to find styles and sizes that complement your garden design and help your plants thrive.