9 Best Red, White, and Blue Flowers for a Showstopping Patriotic Container
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with these combinations.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, it’s time to show off with a gorgeous patriotic display. Even if you don’t have space in garden beds, you can create a showstopping container with these lovely red, white, and blue flowers. Pollinators love them, too.
To get started, find a location for your planter. Then choose plants that can handle the sun exposure: Full sun means plants need six or more hours of direct sunlight, while part sun is about half that. Shade means no direct sun, or only a tiny bit of morning sun. Don’t try to cheat because sun lovers will not bloom well in shade, while shade plants will fry in direct sunlight.
Also, don’t skimp on container size. You’ll want at least a 12-inch-wide pot or hanging basket, but bigger is even better! I prefer containers that are 20 or more inches across so I can include at least three to five plants for instant impact. You also can choose to do three containers, with each one featuring a single color. Or include the planter as part of the arrangement—for example, plant white and red flowers in a deep blue ceramic pot to fit your theme.
Remember that in the heat, containers can dry out fast. Plastic holds moisture better than more porous materials such as terra-cotta or coco mat liners. You’ll need to water those containers more often because water evaporates more quickly through these types of pots. To ensure the blooms keep coming all season long, you’ll also need to fertilize regularly because nutrients leach out of containers quickly.
Finally, consider your composition. Follow the rule to include a filler plant that takes up space in the pot, a spiller plant that tumbles dramatically over the edges of the container, and a thriller that brings the “wow” factor to the planter.
Calibrachoa
These plants look like miniature petunias, but they’re actually an entirely different plant. They’ll bloom all summer long without deadheading and need full sun. Their cascading habit looks amazing in window boxes or hanging baskets. Look for single or double blooms, in shades of red, purple-blue, white, and bicolors.
Plant these varieties: Superbells Double Ruby, Superbells Cherry Red, Superbells Red, Cabaret Bright White, Uno Double Dark Blue, Uno Double Red
Sweet Alyssum
This charming low-growing annual is covered with tiny white, sweet-smelling flowers that both you and pollinators will love. It lasts well into fall and creates a beautiful white spiller for any container, window box, or hanging basket.
Plant these varieties: Snow Princess, White Knight
Verbena
Long-blooming verbena has everything you need: heat tolerance, a spreading habit to tumble out of containers, and gorgeous, intensely colored flowers. You won’t have to deadhead it either! Hardy new types bloom all summer long in full sun and come in deep, saturated shades of red and purple-blue or bicolor varieties.
Plant these varieties: Firehouse Violet Vortex, Firehouse Red, Firehouse Peppermint, Superbena Sparkling Amethyst, Superbena Whiteout
Coleus
Coleus provide plenty of drama with their upright form and striking deep red coloration. These plants can add height to large containers. There are many varieties and sizes available, so read the plant tag so you know how tall it will be at maturity. Most new varieties can take sun or shade.
Plant these varieties: Volcanica Redhead, Wizard Velvet Red, ColorBlaze Rediculous
Impatiens
Impatiens are an old favorite, with good reason. They bloom for months on end in deep, intense colors. Look for new varieties, such as Beacon, which resist powdery mildew. These plants are ideal for shade conditions and come in an array of colors, including pure white.
Plant these varieties: Beacon Red, Beacon White, Beacon Blue Pearl, Rockapulco Red, Soprano White, Soprano Red
Torenia
Fill containers for shade locations with these flowers that have a trailing or mounding habit. Available in deep blue or white, they make a great addition to containers. Bonus: Hummingbirds love them.
Plant these varieties: Catalina Grape-o-licious, Catalina Midnight Blue, Summer Wave Large Blue
Petunia
You can’t go wrong with these hardy sun-loving plants that tumble effortlessly over the edges of containers. Some varieties have a more mounding form, but they all add season-long color.
Look for varieties that keep blooming without deadheading, such as Wave petunias, which you’ll find in red, white, and various shades of blue, purple, and marbled colors.
Plant these varieties: Easy Wave White, Easy Wave Lavender Sky Blue, Easy Wave Burgundy Star, Supertunia Black Cherry, Supertunia Blue Tiara, Supertunia Latte
Dusty Miller
This old favorite is more silvery than white, but it adds the needed contrast to red and blue flowers. It tends to work well when placed in the center of arrangements. It prefers full sun but can take a little shade.
Plant these varieties: Angel Wings, Silver Bullet, Silverdust
Agapanthus
This old-fashioned plant has tall spikes with clusters of flowers that explode in a fireworks-style display of color. They’re ideal for providing height to the center of large containers and are available in both pure white and striking deep blue varieties. These plants, which prefer part sun, are perennial in warm climates or are treated as annuals in colder climates.
Plant these varieties: EverWhite, Little Blue Fountain
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