Transform any space into an all-season container garden with these outdoor plant pots.
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10 Best Outdoor Plant Pots for Your Garden
Updated on Jul. 22, 2024
Whether you’re working with a large plot of land or just a few square feet of space on your patio, balcony or rooftop, outdoor plant pots are a way to create a lush, verdant garden you can enjoy all year round.
We put together a list of the best outdoor plant pots so you can create your own leaf- or petal-filled oasis.
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Best Rustic-Style Outdoor Plant Pot
Fox Valley Traders Realistic Wood-Look Barrel Planters
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Best Self-Watering Outdoor Plant Pot
Tierra Verde Self-Watering Planter
If you sometimes forget to water your plants, the Tierra Verde self-watering planter can make sure your plants don’t suffer. How? The soil inside hovers just above a water reservoir at the base of the pot where the plant roots can stretch down and find the moisture they need.
Made of recycled rubber, this outdoor plant pot can be used during cold weather because it resists breakage, cracking or crumbling, even in freezing temperatures.
Best Hanging Outdoor Plant Pot
La Jolie Muse Hanging Flower Pots
For ivy, ferns, geraniums and other trailing plants, consider this set of two La Jolie Muse hanging flower pots. These faux marble pots are made of recycled plastic and natural stone powder, so they’re feather-light.
According to the manufacturer they’re also resistant to the sun’s harsh rays, so no fading, cracking or peeling. Hang them with the decorative, adjustable, weather-resistant triple-rope hangers (included).
Best Wall-Mount Outdoor Plant Pot
Worth Garden 36-Pocket Vertical Wall Garden Planters
Create a living canvas of blooms or herbs along the side of your house or on your fence with the Worth Garden 18-pocket vertical wall garden planters (6 sets of three). The olive green planters are made of strong yet lightweight plastic with openings that make them easy to mount with nails or screws.
The foolproof self-watering system rains down from above, allowing water to flow from top to bottom through the drainage holes in the planters. The set comes with 36 inner baskets and outer shell pockets, a hose and all the hardware you need to install it.
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Best Tabletop Outdoor Plant Pot
Barnyard Designs Herb Pot Planter Wet with Tray
Create a living centerpiece with Barnyard Designs herb pot planter set with tray. This trio of steel pots comes in eight on-trend colors with a matching tray that keeps excess water off your table. Your fresh herb centerpiece will smell as good as it looks. And for fun, you can make this tabletop plant centerpiece.
Best Outdoor Plant Pot for Railings
Dahey Hanging Flower Pots
When space is limited, go vertical with these hanging flower pots. A city dweller’s dream, each individual pot hooks onto a balcony railing, fence or post, on one, two, three or more levels.
Best Pottery Outdoor Plant Pot
Pennington Heavy Rimmed Terra Cotta Pot
We love that the Pennington heavy rimmed terra-cotta pot is made from porous, fired clay that allows roots to breathe, soil temperature to balance and moisture to regulate naturally.
Generously sized to accommodate anything from dwarf fruit trees to tall topiaries, the thick rim lets you fill the pot with soil without it spilling out over the sides. More dirt, less mess.
Best Fiberglass Outdoor Planter Pot
MPG Cast Stone Fiberglass Urn
This MPG cast stone fiberglass urn features beautiful detailing that makes an elegant statement at the entrance of your home or in the garden next to manicured hedges.
Made from a blend of natural stone, resin and fiberglass, the planter pot is light, water-tight and all-weather worthy. Choose from aged charcoal, graphite or aged white finish. Note: You’ll need to drill a drainage hole in the bottom.
Best Metal Outdoor Plant Pot
Markertable Square Metal Planter
Made from industrial, heavy-duty steel that develops a rusty patina in three to nine months, the Markertable square metal planter is a modern, minimalist piece of art for your garden. The alloy box comes assembled in three sizes: 10-, 16- and 22-in. square, with predrilled drain holes at the bottom.
Best Rustic-Style Outdoor Plant Pot
Fox Valley Traders Realistic Wood-Look Barrel Planters
The set of four weather-resistant Fox Valley Traders realistic wood-look barrel planters arrives ready for planting tomatoes, colorful petunias or a collection of cactus. Set up the four matching 8-in. high x 13-in.-dia. barrel planter together or on their own around your yard.
A Walmart.com five-star reviewer, KMplace, loves the wine-themed aesthetic, writing: “Just what I was looking for!”
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Best Value Outdoor Planter Pot
Better Homes & Gardens Pottery 8
This beautiful ceramic planter will look just as good on a side table as it will on a patio. While somewhat hefty thanks to its ceramic construction, the pot sports a ridged exterior and dimensional glaze that makes it look handmade — in other words, no one would ever know you got it at Walmart for under $15. The 8-inch pot, which also comes in a 6-inch version, is the perfect medium size for a bundle of herbs or a smaller plant, and the built-in saucer is a convenient addition.
What to Look for When Buying Outdoor Plant Pots
We asked Blythe Yost, CEO and co-founder of the online landscape design company Tilly, to share her thoughts about what homeowners should consider when choosing outdoor plant pots for their space. Here’s what she recommends:
- Materials: Yost really likes fiberglass for its lightweight and durability in most climates. Terra-cotta pots break down if left out in the cold, so if you purchase clay pots, she suggests storing them during cold winters. As for wood planter pots, Yost says they generally need some kind of liner (plastic or metal) to hold up against moisture.
- Size: Consider height and width because some plants have longer roots and need depth. Yost says too shallow a pot can make soil dry out fast, while “super deep ones” aren’t great for most annuals and perennials. She adds that the closer the pot is to a cube shape, the better it is for soil capacity.
- Drainage: “Planters MUST have holes to prevent root rot,” Yost says. “Never rely on a layer of gravel, because root rot is real!” Pro tip: If you live above others, put trays beneath your pots to prevent runoff.
- Self-watering: “Self-watering pots still need to be filled up periodically, but they are hugely helpful for busy plant lovers,” Yost says.
- Plant types: According to Yost, it’s important to consider the shapes of plants and their growing habits when creating a multiple-layer planter pot. Whether you’re planting succulents, short-stemmed annuals, trailing ivy or shrubs/trees (or a combination thereof), the plants you pick will affect your pot choice.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’m a lifestyle writer and reviews expert specializing in gardening and landscaping. I’ve written for The Telegraph, Fodor’s, Italy Magazine, Reader’s Digest and more, covering everything from the best stand-up weed pullers to lawn aerators.
To help me search for the best outdoor planters, I consulted Blythe Yost for her expertise in landscaping and passion for plants and the outdoors. Yost has a degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University and founded three landscape design companies: Tilly, Yost Design and Hudson House & Garden.
How We Found the Best Outdoor Plant Pots
While there are virtually unlimited plant pots to choose from online, finding long-lasting, quality pots that can survive the elements outdoors is a little more challenging. I started by examining the offerings at major retailers, like Amazon and Home Depot, for materials, size, drainage and style. Customer reviews helped me to narrow my list to only the best outdoor plant pots for different budgets, aesthetics, spaces, plant sizes and more.
FAQs
Where should I buy outdoor plant pots?
While you’re likely to find exactly what you need online from retailers like Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon, you can also shop local by visiting your local plant nursery, which is likely to have a large selection of indoor/outdoor planters. Basically, anywhere you can shop for plants will also be a good place to look for pots. Thrift stores and garage sales are also great opportunities for finding pots that will last and saving a bit of cash simultaneously.
Are plastic or ceramic pots better for plants?
Ceramic and plastic are both common materials used in plant pots. While plastic is more affordable, it’s less likely to last a lifetime than ceramic. Some ceramics, like terracotta, help absorb excess moisture, but they won’t survive winter weather as well as plastic ones.
Do terracotta pots prevent root rot?
Because terracotta pots are more porous, they may help absorb some of the excess water in a plant, which can help avoid root rot. However, terracotta pots are not a foolproof solution. You still need to ensure that your pot has drainage holes and that you aren’t overwatering.
Should all outdoor pots have drainage holes?
Yes! Using an outdoor pot without drainage holes may cause your plants to develop root rot, one of the more common causes of dead plants. While using the proper soil mix or opting for a terracotta pot may help, your plant needs drainage for a long time.
