Tall Plants for Pots in a Sunny, Wet region
Tall plants make a daring statement on other sunny locations, and wet conditions needn’t prevent you from growing something attractive. Use heavy containers to help block strong winds from blowing them above, and ensure that the containers have drainage holes. Grow 1 plant per container or mix and match plants to provide long seasons of interest.
Big Bamboos
Bamboos are among the most graceful moisture-loving tall crops, and container growing stops running bamboos from propagating. “Golden Goddess” bamboo (Bambusa multiplex “Golden Goddess”) rises in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, and thrives in a container. Named because of its golden canes, “Golden Goddess” grows 6 to 10 feet tall and broad and supplies a impressive night time effect when lit. Dwarf greenstripe bamboo (Pleioblastus viridistriatus) rises 18 to 30 inches tall and spreads indefinitely. Hardy in USDA zones 7 through 11, dwarf greenstripe bamboo’s yellow and green striped young leaves mature to green. In warm climates, this bamboo is evergreen.
Soaring Shrubs
Shrubs are dependable long-term plants for containers, and several tall varieties favor wet states. Providing several seasons of interest, Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa “Jealousy”) rises in USDA zones 7 through 11. Its pale yellow-green leaf grows maroon highlights in late summer and autumn, and its showy, white, late summer blooms are followed by dark purple berries. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall and two to three feet broad, Himalayan honeysuckle tolerates heat and wet soil. “DebRon’s Black Cherry” fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrida “DebRon’s Black Cherry,” USDA zones 8 through 9) comprises maroon and purple-black flowers late spring through early autumn, followed by purple-black berries. A sun-loving, hummingbird magnet, “DebRon’s Black Cherry” rises 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
Lofty Perennials
Tall perennials provide a flowering backdrop to container displays at a sunny, wet area. “Miss Manners” obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana “Miss Manners,” USDA zones 4 through 9) rises 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide, and also bears pure white blooms on dark, glossy green-leaved stems throughout summer. “Shortwood” garden phlox (Phlox paniculata “Shortwood”), that rises in USDA zones 4 through 8, features fragrant pink summer flowers with dark pink eyes on clumps 4 feet tall and 20 to 24 inches wide. The two perennials grow well in containers and also thrive in moist dirt.
Tall-Growing Bulbs
Bulbs suit container growing, in which they are not swamped by other plants, and several varieties include tall, imposing leaves and stalks. Elephant ears “Black Magic” (Colocasia esculenta “Black Magic,” USDA zones 8 through 10) is known because of its big, heart-shaped, purplish-black leaves. Growing 3 to 6 ft tall and wide, this plant can be dangerous, and growing it in a container keeps it from spreading. Day lily “Autumn Minaret” (Hemerocallis “Autumn Minaret”) grows in clumps 5 to 6 ft tall and two to three feet wide. In summertime orange-yellow flowers appear above its sword-shaped leaves. “Autumn Minaret” is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9 and tolerates a variety of growing conditions.