Container Champions

Try these space-friendly plants for pretty containers.

Coralbells

Botanical name: Heuchera.

Bloom time: Late spring to summer.

Hardiness: Cold, zones 3 to 8; heat, zones 8 to 2.

Flower color: Coral, pink, white and green.

Flower shape: Light, airy panicles of tiny bell-shaped flowers.

Height: 4 to 30 inches.

Width: 5 to 24 inches.

Light needs: Shade to sun.

Planting: Sow seeds outdoors in late fall or early spring. Divide in fall.

Primrose

Botanical name: Primula.

Hardiness: Cold, zones 3 to 8; heat, zones 7 to 3.

Flower color: Almost every color.

Height: 2 to 24 inches.

Width: 8 to 24 inches.

Light needs: Partial shade.

Planting: Sow hardy types outdoors in late fall or early spring.

Begonia (right side of container)

Botanical name: Begonia.

Bloom time: Summer to fall.

Hardiness: Cold, zone 11; heat, zones 12 to 1.

Flower color: White, pink and red.

Height: 5 to 16 inches.

Width: 6 to 12 inches.

Light needs: Shade to sun.

Planting: Seeds are very small. Start indoors 12 weeks before last frost. Plant outdoors after danger of frost.

Celosia

Botanical name: Celosia cristata.

Bloom time: Summer through fall.

Hardiness: Annual in most zones.

Flower color: Red, yellow, orange, gold, copper, cream and pink.

Height: 6 to 30 inches.

Width: 12 to 20 inches.

Light needs: Full sun.

Planting needs: Start seeds indoors in flats about a month before last expected frost.

Forget-Me-Not

Botanical name: Myosotis.

Bloom time: Spring to early summer.

Hardiness: Cold, zones 4 to 8; head, zones 7 to 1.

Flower color: Blue with yellow centers.

Height: 4 to 12 inches.

Width: 6 to 12 inches.

Light needs: Partial shade to full sun.

Planting: Start seeds outdoors in late summer or early fall for spring flowers.

Verbena

Botanical name: Verbena x hybrida.

Bloom time: Late spring to autumn.

Hardiness: Annual in most zones.

Flower color: Purple-blue, pink, white, yellow and red.

Height: 6 to 18 inches.