Can I grow low-maintenance shrubs in containers?
Written by
Michael Sullivan
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Low-maintenance shrubs thrive in containers when matched to their USDA zone and given proper care. Dwarf juniper, boxwood, and rosemary all do extremely well in pots and provide everlasting structure, all without needing to be repotted often or complicated care. I have designed urban balconies and patios, and these kinds of shrubs have lived for 3-5 years longer than standard annuals.
Best Shrubs for Containers
- Dwarf Juniper (Zones 4-9): Tolerates dry soil; needs full sun
- Boxwood 'Winter Gem' (Zones 5-9): Thrives in partial shade; prune once yearly
- Rosemary (Zones 8-10): Fragrant, pest-resistant; water when soil surface dries
Soil & Watering
- Use well-draining mix: 60% potting soil + 30% perlite + 10% compost
- Water when top 2 inches feel dry, overwatering kills more potted shrubs than drought
- Apply slow-release fertilizer in spring; avoid late-summer feeding
Container Tips
- Terracotta pots prevent root rot better than plastic in humid zones
- Repot every 3 years or when roots circle the container's base
- Avoid metal pots in Zones 8-10; they overheat roots in direct sun
I changed out the shaded patio of a client with boxwood in glazed ceramic pots. I returned five years later and they were still going strong with quarterly trimming and yearly replenishment of compost. In contrast, a neighbor had juniper in metal troughs, and after one Texas summer of root scorch, he frantically repotted.
"USDA zones" dictate, can dictate success and failure. For example, rosemary can survive the winters in pots in Zone 8. Zone 7 plants need to come inside. One friend in Zone 6B uses rolling planters to move his dwarf juniper to his south-facing walls instead of bringing them into his garage for the cold snaps at -10°F. So, be thoughtful about zones with plant purchases.
Keep the weight in mind when designing. A 20-gallon juniper planter can weigh over 150 pounds when wet. Choose wheeled bases or lightweight fiberglass pots when developing a rooftop garden. I recently assisted a resident of a high-rise building in physically swapping out concrete planters for resin, allowing for a 40% reduction in the load on their balcony while maintaining the same visual style.
Read the full article: 10 Low Maintenance Shrubs for Effortless Landscapes
