7 Tall Plants for Pots Garden Designers Use to Add Height and Drama to Patios

Patios and terraces layered with potted plants at different heights look beautiful and feel naturally lush. Variety in size and scale mimics nature – and tall plants instantly add visual impact and vertical interest.

If your outside space is looking a little lackluster, or needs some extra oomph, introducing some tall plants in pots is a simple way to turn things around. It's not just about aesthetics either, some statuesque species can serve a practical purpose, too. The best plants for privacy, such as this Bonfire Patio Peach from Plant Addicts, can create a sense of seclusion and bring much needed shade to sunny areas.

To help you find the right pick for your patio, we've asked garden designers to reveal the tall plants they love to use to add drama to container gardens.

1. Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)

This Pacific Northwest native plant is a favorite of florists and gardeners alike. Its branches are beautiful in floral arrangements and its natural form provides a beautiful sculptural backdrop in containers. A pot will limit its growth compared to wild shrubs, however potted Evergreen Huckleberry can reach 3-4ft tall.

'Evergreen Huckleberry is an adaptable slow-growing shrub that grows in full sun to full shade with branching dark green foliage, so it can thrive on patios or covered porches,' explains landscaper, Brooke Addison, founder, Lark Haven Studio.

'Seasonal interest is provided by urn shaped blooms that turn into edible, glossy berries from late summer into fall.

'Both 'Cascade Jewel' and 'Cascade Sunburst' are popular varieties with new leaves appearing in red to coral tones that turn green with age.

'Maintenance is minimal, although, this shrub does respond well to pruning (no shearing) if shaping or height control is desired,' she explains.

Brooke states that a heavy pot is needed to counterbalance the height of the shrub and to prevent tipping risks.

This black concrete outdoor planter from Lowe's would make a stylish yet sturdy base for a tall plant or small tree. A terracotta planter would also be a good choice.

'It's best to size your pots to the current root ball,' says Brooke. 'If a container is too small, your plant can become root bound and the limited soil means there's less access to nutrients for your plants.

'If a container is too large, the soil may retain too much moisture and you risk drainage issues and root rot. Careful water monitoring can mitigate this if you want to start with a larger pot, but annual container size increases are a good opportunity to check the root system health as you replant the shrub.'

Having a soil moisture meter to hand (like this one from Amazon) can also help you avoid watering mistakes, by telling you just how much the container soil has dried out.

Find Evergreen Huckleberry starter plants on Amazon.

Brooke Addison

Brooke Addison is a landscape designer and founder of Lark Haven Studio. Based in Seattle, she works on projects as far as California and Florida. She holds certificates in Sustainable Landscaping, Permaculture and in Wildfire Defense for Landscape Professionals from the U.S. Green Building Council California.

2. Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata)

For summer color, architectural interest and drama, Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata) won't disappoint. This sub-tropical tender tall perennial puts on a spectacular show with its strong slender stems and colorful bracts.

It requires a minimum temperature of 60ºF in winter, so growing Red Ginger in a pot will also allow you to transport it somewhere warmer if required.

'Red Ginger is a lush evergreen perennial with showy, long-lasting red to pink bracts,' says Brooke. 'It's a stunning tropical plant that thrives in full sun to part sun and can grow to over 8ft tall.

'However, if your space needs a shorter specimen plant, consider Alpinia purpurata ‘Dwarf Red’ which grows to 3ft tall yet still makes a beautiful statement,' she adds.

If you struggle to find Red Ginger, try these Canna Lilies from Fast-Growing Trees instead. They have beautiful red blooms on sturdy stems, can grow to 30-48" tall and thrive in zones 8-10.

3. Espaliered Fruit Trees

Espaliered or fan-trained fruit trees add instant drama, charm, and structure to spaces, but they're not just for beds. This striking yet space-saving growing method can be applied to small fruit trees in pots, too. Just place them near a wall or sturdy fence and train them on a trellis.

'With a minimal footprint and maximum architectural interest, espaliered fruit trees are a great option for a dramatic display in smaller spaces,' says Brooke.

'Due to dwarf or mini-dwarf rootstocks, apple and pear trees are good options to grow in containers. As these trees are smaller, you will be to provide stake supports in addition to a trellis system for the limbs.

'Multi-grafted trees allow for self-pollination and a staggered fruit harvest. Espalier nurseries recommend a container of at least 25 gallons since repotting is difficult given the trellis system. Seasonal pruning maintenance is straightforward so you get big impact for little effort.'

Other fruits, such as this Olympian fig tree from Nature Hill's are popular espaliered across a wall too. This fig is suitable for zones 6-10 and requires full sun to partial shade.

4. Japanese Maple (Acer)

Acers, also known as Japanese maple trees, are spectacular specimens, supplying drama throughout the seasons. Some maples may require covering in winter in the colder regions, however these eye-catching ornamental trees can be relied upon for their impressive foliage from spring to fall – and even into winter, where it's warmer.

'If you’ve got the space and want instant drama and height, a Japanese maple tree is an excellent option and one of my go-to’s for container gardens,' says New York-based landscaper, Kat Aul Cervoni, founder, Staghorn Living.

Kat recommends both 'Bloodgood', a beautiful upright cultivar with deep red and bronze leaves and 'Sango Kaku', which has gorgeous chartreuse leaves and bright coral red bark

'The latter is a standout in winter,' says Kat. 'They’re both extremely tough and their smaller root system means they can handle life in a container much better than other trees.

'The minimum container size I would recommend is 24” diameter, Ultimately the size of planter you get will depend on how large the tree is when you purchase it, but choose something sturdy.

'I like underplanting these maples with low ornamental grasses for added movement and texture without detracting from the trees.'

This Bloodgood Japanese Maple from Plant Addicts is deciduous so will lose its beautiful red leaves in winter, however its attractive silver-gray bark still provides interest.

Kat Aul Cervoni

Landscape designer, Katherine "Kat" Aul Cervoni is the founder and principal of Staghorn Living. Kat creates outdoor spaces that become natural extensions of a home’s interior. A member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, she also mentors young plant enthusiasts and upcoming designers.

5. Hydrangea paniculata

Loved for their big beautiful, pom-pom flowerheads, growing Hydrangeas has had a resurgence. And with so many types to choose, these striking shrubs aren't just for beds and borders.

Hydrangea paniculata, with its cone-shaped panicles, is a species that's perfectly suited to pots and will make a spectacular display on patios, courtyards and other small spaces.

'For a tall shrub that can handle container life, delivers a mega dose of blooms with a lengthy bloom time and requires little maintenance, go for a Hydrangea paniculata,' says Kat.

'Its clean green foliage in spring gives way to blooms that emerge in mid-summer and last well into the fall. Even the dried flowers give good winter interest.

'Use a container of at least 20” diameter for these fast-growing shrubs. If space is limited or you don’t want too much height, go for a dwarf variety like 'Bobo' or 'Little Lime' which max out at 3-4ft high.'

Although a dwarf variety, this Little Lime Hydrangea paniculata from Fast-Growing Trees can reach 5ft and is suitable for containers. It will gow well in zones 3-9 and is cold hardy down to -30°F.

You can also grow a hydrangea tree (like this 'Vanilla Strawberry' hydrangea tree from Fast Growing Trees), which is one of the most eye-catching forms for Hydrangea paniculata.

Shop Beautiful Containers

6. Giant Hyssop (Agastache)

Due to its striking flower spikes, Giant Hyssop, aka Agastache is another tall plant often favored for standing out in flower beds. However, this horticultural head-turner is also suitable for container gardens.

'I love Agastache 'Blue Fortune' for a long-blooming perennial with excellent verticality,' says Kat. 'It's also great for mixed container planting.

'This perennial needs full sun to thrive. Although with its height can be a bit leggy and even bare towards its base, so it’s best if mixed with a good filler – like an ornamental grass (think Pennisetum 'Little Bunny' or Stipa tenuissima) and a generous frothy spiller like supertunia, million bells, or even Geranium 'Rozanne' for another perennial.'

Another striking color is this Royal Raspberry Anise Hyssop from Plant Addicts, which has deep pink blooms that pollinators adore.

7. Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)

There are numerous attractive ornamental grasses that can be relied upon to create height, movement and visual impact.

Gardeners don't always consider them for containers, often choosing to use them for privacy along fence lines. However, they're a great choice for pots, especially when you want to create seclusion around a seating or dining area. A go-to ornamental grass for Kat is Calamagrostis.

'Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' is a gorgeous perfectly upright, narrow ornamental grass and the darling of many landscape designers,' says Kat.

'It gives excellent verticality – up to 4ft tall and perfectly upright – is extremely tough and reliable and stays well behaved. It doesn’t take over or collapse easily.

'I think it’s fun to pair it in pots with something with a bigger bloom, like rudbeckia plus a plant with a larger leaf like Heuchera 'Autumn Bride' for an eye-catching display.'

This Karl Foerester Feather Reed Grass from Plant Addicts has beautiful feathery flower spikes that will last until fall. It suits zones 6-11 and can grow up to 4-6ft

What to Shop

These tall plants are designer favorites for pots, and with good care will add impact and vertical interest to any outdoor space. Just ensure they are suitable for your region or US Hardiness zone and enjoy the spectacle and seclusion they bring. And don't forget to shop our collection of beautiful pots for tall plants to pair with them.

If you love inspiring garden ideas, outdoor advice, and the latest news, why not sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox?