Beautiful Bay Area Containers: Summer Recipes for Sun & Shade

summer container gardens pottery, roses, lantana, shrubsBeautiful Bay Area Containers: Seasonal Recipes for Sun & Shade

Container gardening is one of the easiest ways to add instant color and texture to your space—whether you’re sprucing up a patio, framing your entryway, or adding life to your balcony. And right now, Bay Area nurseries are stocked with stunning perennials and annuals perfect for planting.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a variety of container “recipes” for both sunny and shady spots. Each includes a Thriller (your centerpiece), Fillers (mounding plants that add volume), and Spillers (trailing plants that soften edges).

Please note that selection may vary by location.  Our knowledgeable team can also help you find alternatives to achieve a similar look.

Recipe 1: Sun-Loving & Boldsun loving bold container garden

Fiery Summer Combo – Think hot color and texture

Container Idea: Glazed ceramic pot in red, orange, or cobalt blue

  • Thriller: Cordyline ‘Red Star’ – Dramatic, upright foliage with deep burgundy tones
  • Fillers: Lantana, Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
  • Spillers: Sweet Potato Vine ‘Marguerite’, Creeping Zinnia

Recipe 2: Classic Cottage in the Sunclassic cottage sun container

Soft, romantic colors and bee-friendly blooms

Container Idea: Weathered terracotta or stone-look pot

  • Thriller: Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’ or ‘Hot Lips’
  • Fillers: Verbena, Geranium (Zonal or Ivy)
  • Spillers: Bacopa, Licorice Plant (Helichrysum)

Recipe 3: Desert Drama with a Twistdesert drama with a twist container

Unusual textures meet bold structure

Container Idea: Low-profile fiberstone bowl in matte black or charcoal gray

  • Thriller: Mangave ‘Mission to Mars’, alternatives to the Mangave include: Agave 'Blue Glow', Echeveria 'Sahara' or 'Topsy Turvy', and a Aloe hybrid 'Delta Lights' 
  • Fillers: Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, Bidens ‘Bee Happy’
  • Spillers: Trailing Nasturtium, Silver Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’

Recipe 4: Sun-Kissed Tropicssun kissed tropics container

A bold, warm palette with tropical flair

Container Idea: Glazed red or cobalt ceramic pot

  • Thriller: Phormium ‘Pink Stripe’
  • Fillers: Zinnia ‘Profusion Apricot’, Coleus ‘Campfire’
  • Spillers: Calibrachoa ‘Can-Can Orange’, Trailing Portulaca

Recipe 5: Partial Shade Perfectionpartial shade perfection container

Brighten filtered light areas with color and foliage

Container Idea: Large ceramic pot in soft green or blue hues

  • Thriller: Upright Coleus
  • Fillers: Impatiens, Upright Fuchsia
  • Spillers: Golden Creeping Jenny, Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’

Recipe 6: Shade Garden with an Edgeshade garden with an edge container

Unexpected color and moody beauty

Container Idea: Deep bronze or dark teal ceramic pot

  • Thriller: Fuchsia ‘Dark Eyes’
  • Fillers: Hardy Rex Begonia, Polka Dot Plant ‘Confetti’
  • Spillers: Golden Creeping Jenny, Ivy ‘Glacier’

Recipe 7: Deep Shade Dramadeep shade drama container garden

All about texture and bold foliage

Container Idea: Matte black or charcoal fiberstone pot

  • Thriller: Japanese Painted Fern or Black Mondo Grass
  • Fillers: Heuchera (Coral Bells), Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
  • Spillers: Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, English or Variegated Ivy

Recipe 8: Deep Shade, Wild & Mysteriousdeep shade wild and mysterious container

A moody, rare plant lover’s dream

Container Idea: Half whiskey barrel or tall matte container

  • Thriller: Bat Flower (Tacca chantrieri)
  • Fillers: Heuchera ‘Black Pearl’, Farfugium ‘Crested Leopard’
  • Spillers: Lamium ‘Purple Dragon’, Mazus reptans ‘Alba’

Tips for Container Success in the Bay Area

  • Choose the right potting mix – Ensure good drainage and use a mix formulated for containers.
  • Feed consistently – Fertilize every 2–3 weeks for lush growth and blooms.
  • Mind your microclimate – Even a sunny yard may have shadier corners—choose accordingly.
  • Water wisely – Morning is best; don’t let pots completely dry out.
  • Pinch and deadhead – Keep your containers tidy and blooming longer.

Want help picking plants or pots? Visit SummerWinds Nursery—we’ll help you create a container garden that’s as bold or beautiful as you want it to be!