Tall Plants For Pots In Full Sun [15 Gorgeous Ideas You Should Try!]

Tall plants are great for providing some cover. However, creating a garden full of tall plants can be challenging. You must be able to prepare for the right conditions if you want to grow the plants to the desired height.

It is critical to get the right sun exposure. Most tall plants flourish well when in full sun.

Planting is tricky when you have limited garden space or no lot. One alternative is to plant in pots or containers that have limited soil. You can place the pots on the patio or deck to add to the landscape. 

Both sun and soil are vital for plants to flourish. With the right plant, you can easily achieve delightful garden scenery. To give you some suggestions, we have gathered 15 tall plants to grow in pots under full sun.  

1. Zahara Zinnia

When under full sun, you will love the vibrant blooms of this plant. A hot-weather zinnia, it tolerates drought and has disease-resistant leaves. This type of zinnia is a mixture of colorful Zahara zinnias that will instantly add color to your garden. 

The Zahara zinnia will grow 16 to 20 inches in height and width on average. The plant grows well in containers while making a tidy bunch. 

You will need a peat-based medium on the pot's soil. Also, you must check the soil's moisture level. To help the plant grow, add some slow-release fertilizer. Then, use a water-soluble fertilizer during mid-season.  

2. Diamond Frost Euphorbia

A euphorbia hybrid, the diamond frost has tiny, airy white flowers that bloom all season. This perennial is low-maintenance while tolerating heat and drought. It can thrive in H1 or H2 climates.  The plant has little to no supplemental water requirements. 

You can grow this plant in garden beds, hanging baskets, or pots. It can grow about 12 to 18 inches and loves full sun. Deadheading is not necessary, but it needs some fertilizers regularly. It is a self-cleaning plant that is also pest, deer, and disease-resistant.

3. Mandevilla Vine

For a touch of the tropics, the Mandevilla vine adds bright blooms in shades of red, pink, or white trumpet-like flowers. The plant grows fast and is easily manageable. You can support its growth in a pot by adding a trellis. 

The vine prefers full sun, so it is best to move it inside in pots to protect it from the winter winds. After winter, you can place the pots again outside. 

Mandevilla will grow up to 20 feet in warmer areas but only around 5 feet in colder places.

To help the vine grow, add composted cow manure to a hole in the soil before planting. In the spring and fall, fertilize the plant with a good-quality granular fertilizer.

Trimming during the warmer months will help the plant produce new leaves, but do not trim too much. Moreover, when watering at intervals, allow the plant to dry. 

4. Supertunia Petunia

With its continuous blooming, a supertunia petunia is an award-winning hybrid plant you can grow in pots. The pink blooms will surely be an upgrade for your garden.

It loves to stay under 6 hours of full sun. It is also heat—and drought-tolerant and can be planted in zones 10-11.

When mature, the petunia will grow 12 to 20 inches. It needs well-drained soil and just enough water. Petunias grow well as fillers and spillers for your garden landscape.

5. Calibrachoa

This popular annual plant will have nonstop bell-shaped blooms that grow well in pots, raised beds, or hanging baskets. The flowers offer a rainbow of colors that will add to the liveliness of your garden. The average height is around 6 to 12 inches.

The calibrachoa loves to stay under the sun for 6 hours and will also tolerate partial shade. The sun is vital for the growth of abundant flowers and for maintaining the rich green leaf color.

If you are planting them in pots, choose a high-quality, all-purpose mix that will drain well. Do not forget to water the potted plants daily because they dry out fast.

6. Dianthus

The dianthus requires low maintenance and has clove-scented flowers that bloom in every color. Tall varieties, such as the Sweet William or Carnation, can grow as tall as 3 feet.

It also loves at least 6 hours of sun. If it is under partial shade for longer, it will produce fewer flowers or rot. Regular watering is a must during the hot seasons. 

7. Geraniums

True geraniums will only grow to 2 feet, but the tall variety will reach up to 4 feet.

This geranium loves a sunny location. During summer, it is a must to deadhead to have more blooms. 

You will need a climbing frame to support the growth upwards.

8. Angelonia

With their resemblance to snapdragons, most refer to the plant as the summer snapdragon. Although only averaging 1.5 feet, the angelonia makes a good addition to garden bedding. It also thrives well in pots and window boxes. Moreover, they love the full sun and well-drained soil.

9. Tall Kangaroo Paw

With an average height of 2 to 6 feet, the tall variation of the kangaroo paw is an attractive element in your garden. Some tall options you can choose from are Bush Sunset, Big Red, or Landscape Lila.

Colorful flowers bloom from spring to summer that nectar-eating birds love. That is why the plant is great to grow in decorative pots for vibrant scenery.

Position the potted plant under full sun to light shade while protecting them from strong winds.

10. Bamboo

A tall and sun-loving plant you can grow in your garden is bamboo. Potted bamboo will be at least 50 to 75% of its normal height. Also, the hardiness zone where you plant the bamboo influences its height. 

It is good to put them in large pots to control spreading varieties. Running bamboo will only grow half of its natural height of 30 feet while clumping types reach up to 10 feet only.

If you want a tall bamboo variety that grows in small containers like pots, choose P. vivax or P. dulcis, which can be as high as 20 feet.

11. Passionflower

Another tall plant you can plant in pots is the passionflower. For a mature plant, its height is around 15- 30 feet. The tall varieties include passion vine, maypop, or the wild passionflower.

You can grow the flowers in pots. By doing so, you control its rampant growth. 

Just bring them outside under a warm spot during summer. During colder months, place them indoors near a sunny window.

12. Plumbago

If you want another tall plant in your garden, choose Plumbago. Its potential height is around 6-10 feet. These tall plants are actually shrubs, but their branches are like vines.  

The plant will tolerate drought and bloom beautiful blue flowers in full sun. You also need some pruning to allow for more growth. 

Use a good potting medium, such as a soilless mix with a neutral pH when planting in pots. Give enough room for the plumbago to grow in a pot. 

Water the plant regularly and feed it with fertilizer every spring to achieve a tall height. 

13. Sky Vine

As long as you add a trellis or a place near a pergola, the sky vine has a maximum height of 30 feet. The vine grows rapidly and gives pale to violet-blue blooms.

You start sowing the seeds in a small pot, then place it in full sun with regular watering. Its growth is vigorous in sunny conditions but with some protection in the striking afternoon sun.

14. Pentas

Pentas's average height is 1-3 feet. It blooms all summer and in hot weather. Because of its landing pads, it is a good resting place for pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies.

Pentas prefers the full sun. They will quickly dry, so you will need moist and well-drained soil. Water the plant when it is dry.

15. Dahlias

Widely known as a garden favorite, dahlias are suitable for growing in pots and under full sun. They come in a variety of colors that will create the perfect garden landscape. Even in containers, the plant will grow to up to 6 feet. 

The plant loves the full sun. If potted, make sure to have enough compost to aid growth. You might want to place the pots on a terrace or a balcony.

In Summary

You have many options for tall and potted plants that love the full sun. Your garden will look amazing if you know how to take care of the chosen plants.

Read more about what to plant in these posts:

11 Great Plants for Clay Soil and Full Sun