Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Are perennials able to be successful in pots instead of in the ground if given a large enough pot and drainage?

Question:

Are perennials able to be successful in pots instead of in the ground if given a large enough pot and drainage?

Answer:

Thanks for your great question, Erin. Perennial plants can do very well in containers under the parameters you mentioned earlier – with adequate space and drainage. You’ll want to use an appropriate substrate (i.e. container mix) for the plant you’re growing and will need to store the container properly during the winter months to minimize root injury. This is a nice article on the topic by our neighbors at UNH.