Strawberry pots aren’t just for strawberries anymore. These tiered planters are perfect for a whole lineup of unexpected plants—from herbs and succulents to blooms that spill over the edges in style.
Discover 17 surprising picks that thrive in strawberry pots and totally steal the spotlight—no berries required.
1. Colorful Succulents
Succulents love the excellent drainage strawberry pots provide! Their shallow root systems fit perfectly in the small pockets, creating a living sculpture as they spill outward.
Mix different varieties for a rainbow effect – try Echeveria, Sedum, and Haworthia together. The different shapes and colors create amazing contrast.
Water sparingly and place in bright light for best results. Most succulents only need watering when the soil feels completely dry.
2. Cheerful Pansies
Pansies bring instant cheer with their face-like blooms peeking out from every opening. Their compact growth habit makes them ideal for the small pockets of strawberry pots.
For maximum impact, choose a mix of purple, yellow, and white varieties. The color combination creates a stunning visual display throughout spring and fall seasons.
Regular deadheading keeps them blooming longer. Feed every two weeks with diluted liquid fertilizer for continuous flowers.
3. Aromatic Herbs
Herbs thrive in strawberry pots, creating your own vertical herb garden! Plant different varieties in each pocket – rosemary at the top, with thyme, oregano, and mint filling the side pockets.
Morning sun exposure works best for most culinary herbs. Position your pot where it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for the strongest flavors and aromas.
Snip regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering. The more you harvest, the more they’ll produce!
4. Trailing Lobelia
Lobelia cascades beautifully from strawberry pot openings, creating waterfalls of tiny blue, purple, or white flowers. The delicate blooms contrast wonderfully against the terracotta pot.
Summer heat can stress these plants, so position in morning sun with afternoon shade. A north-facing location often provides ideal light conditions for these delicate bloomers.
Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Lobelia will reward your care with continuous blooms from spring through fall.
5. Spiky Hens and Chicks
Hens and chicks (Sempervivum) create living sculptures with their rosette shapes. The mother plants produce babies that fill spaces beautifully, making them perfect for strawberry pot pockets.
Their drought tolerance means minimal watering – perfect for busy gardeners! The fascinating geometric patterns and subtle color variations provide year-round interest.
Use well-draining cactus soil for best results. These hardy plants survive winter outdoors in most regions, making them truly low-maintenance options.
6. Cascading Petunias
Petunias transform strawberry pots into colorful towers with their abundant blooms spilling from every opening. Wave varieties work especially well, creating living curtains of flowers.
Choose complementary colors like purple and yellow for eye-catching contrast. Self-cleaning varieties save you deadheading time while keeping the display looking fresh.
Feed regularly with bloom-boosting fertilizer to maintain flowering throughout summer. Morning watering helps prevent potential fungal issues in hot, humid weather.
7. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme creates aromatic waterfalls from strawberry pot pockets! The tiny leaves release their scent whenever you brush against them, adding sensory appeal to your garden.
Purple blooms attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies during summer months. Beyond looking pretty, this herb serves double-duty as both ornamental and culinary plant.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, creeping thyme needs minimal care. Full sun brings out the strongest fragrance and most prolific flowering.
8. Vibrant Calibrachoa
Million bells (Calibrachoa) resemble tiny petunias but require no deadheading! Their compact trailing habit makes them perfect for strawberry pot pockets, creating colorful cascades all season.
Available in nearly every color imaginable, from hot pink to copper to deep blue. Mix several colors or stick with one shade for different visual effects.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. A slow-release fertilizer at planting time keeps them blooming continuously without much additional care.
9. Cheerful Marigolds
Marigolds bring sunshine to strawberry pots with their bright orange and yellow blooms! French marigold varieties work best due to their compact size and abundant flowering.
Beyond adding color, marigolds naturally repel many garden pests. Plant them alongside herbs or vegetables to create a beautiful and functional display.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers throughout the season. Their drought tolerance makes them forgiving if you occasionally forget to water.
10. Delicate Baby’s Tears
Baby’s tears create living curtains of tiny leaves cascading from strawberry pot openings. The delicate foliage forms a soft, moss-like texture that adds wonderful contrast to other plants.
Thriving in partial shade, these plants perfect for north-facing locations. Their bright green color brings life to shady spots where other plants might struggle.
Keep consistently moist for best growth. When happy, baby’s tears grow quickly, filling spaces with their charming miniature leaves.
11. Striking Sedums
Sedums offer incredible variety for strawberry pots! From trailing varieties like burro’s tail to more upright types, their fleshy leaves store water, making them naturally drought-resistant.
Fall-blooming varieties add late-season interest with pink or red flower clusters. The succulent foliage changes color throughout the seasons, providing year-round visual appeal.
Use cactus soil mixed with regular potting mix for ideal drainage. These tough plants thrive with minimal attention – perfect for busy gardeners!
12. Fragrant Alyssum
Sweet alyssum creates clouds of tiny honey-scented flowers that spill beautifully from strawberry pot openings. The delicate blooms attract beneficial insects like hover flies that help control garden pests.
Available in white, purple, or pink, these plants bloom continuously from spring through fall. Cooler weather intensifies both flower production and fragrance.
Trim back if plants become leggy in summer heat. A light haircut encourages fresh growth and renewed flowering, keeping your display looking its best.
13. Practical Lettuce
Leaf lettuce grows beautifully in strawberry pot pockets, creating an edible display! Mix red and green varieties for visual interest while providing fresh salad ingredients right outside your door.
Harvest outer leaves while leaving the center intact for continuous production. This “cut and come again” approach provides multiple harvests from the same plants.
Position in morning sun with afternoon shade in hot climates. Regular watering keeps leaves tender and prevents bitter flavor that can develop under stress.
14. Whimsical Polka Dot Plant
Polka dot plants add splashes of pink-spotted foliage to strawberry pots! Their compact size fits perfectly in the small pockets, creating eye-catching color without flowers.
Partial shade locations bring out the brightest leaf colors. Direct sun can fade the distinctive spots that give this plant its charm and character.
Pinch growing tips regularly to encourage bushier growth. With proper care, polka dot plants maintain their compact form and vibrant spotted pattern year-round.
15. Versatile Spider Plants
Spider plants make excellent strawberry pot residents! The arching variegated leaves cascade gracefully from openings, while baby plantlets dangle on long stems, adding movement and interest.
Incredibly forgiving of neglect, these plants thrive with minimal attention. Their air-purifying abilities make them perfect for indoor growing.
Bright indirect light produces the strongest variegation patterns. Spider plants prefer to dry slightly between waterings, making them perfect low-maintenance options.
16. Striking String of Pearls
String of pearls creates living beaded curtains from strawberry pot openings! The round bead-like leaves on trailing stems create conversation-starting displays unlike any other plant.
Bright indirect light brings out the distinctive pearl shape. Too little light causes stretched growth while direct sun can burn the delicate pearls.
Allow soil to dry completely between waterings. These succulents store moisture in their round leaves, making them naturally drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.
17. Cascading Dichondra
Silver falls dichondra creates metallic waterfalls from strawberry pot openings! The tiny round silver leaves reflect light beautifully, adding sparkle to container displays.
Growing up to 3-4 feet long, the trailing stems create dramatic vertical interest. The silvery color complements virtually any other plant you pair it with.
Drought-tolerant once established, dichondra requires minimal care. Use well-draining soil and allow to dry slightly between waterings for best results.