Seemingly endless options await you when planting sun containers.

While it’s fun to experiment with new varieties, there are definitely a handful of annuals that will outperform the rest. These are my go-to annuals when I need reliable performers that will provide color from late spring, through the dog days of summer, and into the fall. They forgive me when I forget to feed them, or when I go one day too long without watering (or even worse, when I overwater).

Most importantly, they provide loads of color without much effort.

Angelonia: Perfect for Sun Containers

This upright branching annual comes in purple, white and pink. Its airy stems are lined with small flowers that remind me of Snapdragons or Orchids. Angelonia are perfect for filling a pot by themselves or as an upright element in a cottage-style mixed container. Deadheading is not required, but does clean up the appearance of the plant once it has many faded blooms. Bonus, deer tend to leave Angelonia alone.

Calibrachoa (Million Bells)

I prefer to use Million Bells in place of Petunias. They just seem to last longer and don’t get as leggy. Despite my best efforts with Petunias, they inevitably end up with 18 inch long stems with one bloom at the end of it, in other words, ugly. Million Bells, in my opinion, remain more compact and have a denser bloom habit. Like Petunias, they drape beautifully over the edge of containers and come in a zillion colors. They are well suited for mixed plantings and perfect for hanging baskets, window boxes, and pretty much any other container.

Coleus: a sun container necessity

I won’t spend long on Coleus, since I included it in my post on shade containers. However, there are many varieties that also do well in the sun. In fact, many varieties can tolerate the whole spectrum! From full shade to full sun, the hues in their leaves changing depending on the amount of light they receive. Coleus will act as an indicator plant in a container, since it droops quickly when dry, but always perks back up when given a drink. Perfect for adding a constant splash of color to any container, Coleus is definitely one of my favorites!

Sun Containers: Dichondra

This trailing plant is most often found in a silvery grey color (Silver Falls™), but also comes in a nice green (Emerald Falls™). Its round leaves cascade down the side of a container beautifully, but beware, it will root and spread if allowed to touch the ground. While green is easy to combine with other color of annual, silver can be a little tricky. I like to combine silver tones with purple and white annuals, like Angelonia, Verbena, or Salvia.

Dragon Wing™ Begonias

This is a bit redundant since I included these in my post about shade containers. Still, Dragon Wing™ Begonias never fail to impress. Perfectly suited for hanging baskets, window boxes, and most other containers, their graceful arching shape can stand alone or be combined with other annuals in a mixed planting. They come in pink and red. The glossy leaves will flush red in the sun, and they require no deadheading.

Lantana for Sun Containers

While Lantana is a shrub-like plant in warmer climates, here in Indiana it is an annual and the best, in my opinion, for attracting butterflies. There are many varieties ranging in size and sprawl, the larger of which are better to use by themselves in a container. If using Lantana in a mixed planting, make sure the other plants are large enough to compete with it or choose a smaller variety that won’t take over the container. It comes in a wide range of colors, including many with fun bicolor blooms.

Lysimachia (Golden Creeping Jenny)

This is also a bit redundant since I included this plant in my post about shade containers, but I love this chartreuse vining plant and it takes sun and shade equally well. The bright green leaves spill gracefully over the edge of any container and require nothing but water and occasional trimming to keep the stems from sprawling on the ground. Beware, if you let this plant touch the ground it will root and spread!

Verbena

Verbena and I have had a rocky relationship. However, in the end I decided to include it. Overall I’ve more good results than bad. When happy, Verbena is a perky draping plant that adds a nice low element to mixed containers. It comes in a wide variety of colors. It’s supposed to be a very tough plant, but I find it finicky when watered incorrectly, quick to shrivel when dry and prone to mildew when too wet. Also, Verbena is often listed as deer resistant, maybe the foliage is, but I’ve lost plenty of blooms to deer browsing. Despite these shortcomings, it’s strong enough of a performer in containers that I included it in my favorites.