Pot gardening can be super rewarding, but not all perennials play nice in containers. Some just don’t thrive in the limited space or need more care than a pot can offer.
I’ve put together a list of 20 perennials that tend to struggle when planted in pots, so you can skip the frustration and focus on plants that truly shine.
Trust me, avoiding these will save you time and keep your container garden looking its best. Let’s get your pots filled with winners that love their cozy homes!
1. Horseradish
Ever tried containing a plant that’s basically the Houdini of the garden world? Horseradish develops aggressive, deep taproots that quickly become cramped in pots, leading to stunted growth and poor flavor development.
The roots can easily break through drainage holes or crack containers as they search for more space. Even in large containers, horseradish rarely performs well and tends to become weak and spindly compared to its garden-grown counterparts.
2. Bamboo
Running bamboo varieties are notorious escape artists in gardens, and pots don’t fare much better against their determination. The aggressive rhizomes quickly become root-bound, pushing against container walls and often breaking through.
Even dwarf varieties require enormous containers and frequent division. Without constant maintenance, bamboo will decline rapidly in pots, developing yellowed leaves and weak culms. Those seeking privacy screens should consider less aggressive alternatives.
3. Mint
Looks innocent enough, doesn’t it? Mint’s vigorous spreading habit makes it a container gardener’s nightmare. Its runners quickly circle the pot, creating a tangled mass that’s nearly impossible to properly water or feed.
The roots become so densely packed that water simply runs down the sides without penetrating the root ball. Even in spacious containers, mint rapidly declines after a season or two. The constant division required makes this seemingly easy herb surprisingly high-maintenance in pots.
4. Russian Sage
Those gorgeous purple spires come with a catch when grown in containers. Russian sage develops an extensive root system that quickly becomes constricted in pots, resulting in fewer blooms and floppy stems that can’t support themselves.
The semi-woody base needs room to expand and strengthen. Container-grown specimens rarely achieve the impressive height and fullness of their garden-planted cousins. Without sufficient root space, they’re also much more vulnerable to winter damage in cold climates.
5. Daylilies
Garden favorites for good reason, daylilies sadly lose their charm in container life. Their thick, tuberous roots quickly fill pots, demanding division every year—far more frequently than garden-planted specimens.
Without this regular maintenance, flowering dramatically decreases. The limited soil volume in containers means they’re more vulnerable to drought stress, resulting in browned leaf tips and reduced blooming. Even large pots typically provide only 2-3 years of good performance before problems arise.
6. Joe-Pye Weed
Majestic in meadows but miserable in pots, Joe-Pye weed reaches for the sky with a root system to match. These native plants can tower 5-7 feet tall but develop stunted growth and weak stems when container-bound.
The massive root system quickly outgrows even large pots, leading to constant watering needs. Without sufficient soil volume, they produce fewer of their butterfly-attracting flower clusters. The height-to-pot ratio also makes them extremely top-heavy and prone to toppling in winds.
7. Peonies
Beloved for their gorgeous blooms, peonies make for heartbreaking container specimens. These long-lived perennials need deep, undisturbed soil to develop their extensive root systems and produce those coveted flowers.
Container-grown peonies typically produce fewer blooms and smaller plants overall. They’re also extremely sensitive to planting depth—a challenge in containers where soil settles over time. Even with perfect care, potted peonies rarely match the vigor and flowering power of garden-planted ones.
8. Oriental Poppies
Those stunning silky blooms require more root space than containers typically provide. Oriental poppies develop long taproots that become stunted and deformed when confined to pots, resulting in fewer and smaller flowers.
They also go dormant in summer, leaving an empty-looking container for months. Container specimens rarely return reliably after dormancy, unlike their garden counterparts. Their specific drainage requirements are difficult to maintain in pots through changing seasons and weather conditions.
9. Butterfly Bush
While dwarf varieties exist, most butterfly bushes grow too large for practical container culture. Their extensive root systems quickly become pot-bound, resulting in stressed plants with reduced flowering and increased vulnerability to pests.
The woody structure needs room to develop properly, becoming weak and spindly in containers. The top-heavy nature of mature specimens makes them prone to toppling in wind. Without sufficient root space, they’re also much more vulnerable to winter damage in cold regions.
10. Hollyhocks
Reaching for the sky with dramatic flower spikes, hollyhocks need deep soil that pots simply can’t provide. Their substantial taproots become stunted in containers, resulting in shorter plants with fewer blooms and weaker stems prone to flopping.
Container-grown specimens are also more susceptible to their common nemesis, rust disease, due to stressed growing conditions. The biennial nature of many varieties means they need space to self-seed, a process that rarely succeeds in pots.
11. Goatsbeard
Looking like a supersized astilbe, goatsbeard needs far more space than containers can reasonably provide. These moisture-loving woodland plants develop extensive root systems that quickly outgrow even large pots.
Without sufficient soil volume, they struggle to maintain consistent moisture levels, resulting in leaf scorching and reduced flowering. The impressive 4-6 foot height of garden specimens becomes a stunted shadow in containers. Their preference for cool roots is nearly impossible to satisfy in pots that heat up quickly.
12. False Indigo
Those gorgeous spires of blue-purple flowers come at a price—an extensive root system that plunges deep into the soil. False indigo develops a woody taproot that becomes severely stunted in containers, resulting in smaller plants with fewer flower spikes.
The shrub-like growth habit requires more soil volume than practical for most containers. Without sufficient root development, these normally drought-tolerant plants become surprisingly thirsty in pots. The woody structure also makes them difficult to divide when they outgrow their containers.
13. Bleeding Heart
Those charming heart-shaped flowers hang from plants that need more root space than containers typically offer. Bleeding hearts develop fleshy, brittle roots that don’t take kindly to the confines of pot life.
They’re also summer dormant, leaving an empty container for months. The constant moisture fluctuations in pots stress these woodland natives, often leading to early dormancy and reduced flowering. Their preference for cool, consistent soil conditions is nearly impossible to maintain in containers.
14. Foxgloves
Those dramatic spires need more root space than pots provide to reach their full potential. Container-grown foxgloves typically produce shorter flower stalks with fewer blooms than their garden counterparts.
Many varieties are biennial, needing space to self-seed—a process that rarely succeeds in pots. Their substantial water requirements during flowering season means constant attention in containers. Without deep soil, they’re also more prone to flopping under the weight of their spectacular blooms.
15. Globe Thistle
Those architectural blue spheres sit atop plants that develop deep taproots—a poor match for container life. Globe thistles grown in pots produce fewer of their distinctive flower heads and develop weaker stems that often require staking.
The restricted root space means they need much more frequent watering than their drought-tolerant garden counterparts. Without sufficient soil volume, they’re also more vulnerable to winter damage in cold climates. Their prickly foliage makes them awkward container companions when placed near seating areas.
16. Balloon Flower
Despite their compact appearance, balloon flowers develop substantial tuberous roots that resent the confines of containers. These roots become increasingly woody with age and quickly fill pots, leading to declining performance after just a couple of seasons.
Division becomes necessary far more frequently than with garden specimens. The fleshy roots are also surprisingly brittle, making repotting a delicate operation. Without sufficient root space, flowering decreases dramatically and the normally reliable perennial may fail to return after winter.
17. Monarda
Better known as bee balm, this pollinator favorite spreads aggressively through underground runners that quickly circle container walls. The cramped root conditions lead to poor air circulation around the crown, making container specimens much more susceptible to powdery mildew.
Without room to spread naturally, flowering decreases dramatically after the first season. The constant division required makes this seemingly easy perennial surprisingly high-maintenance in pots. Their high water needs also make them demanding container specimens requiring frequent attention.
18. Coneflowers
Garden workhorses that disappoint in containers, coneflowers develop deep taproots that become stunted and unhappy when confined. Container specimens typically produce fewer of their cheerful daisy-like blooms and shorter stems than garden-planted ones.
The restricted root space means they need far more frequent watering than their drought-tolerant garden counterparts. Without sufficient soil volume, they’re also more vulnerable to winter damage in cold climates. The normally long-lived perennials often decline after just 2-3 years in pots.
19. Artemisia
Those silvery, aromatic leaves look stunning in gardens but sulk in containers. Most artemisia species spread through underground runners that quickly circle container walls, becoming severely root-bound within a single season.
The cramped conditions lead to weaker growth and decreased vigor. Without sufficient drainage, these drought-tolerant plants are also prone to root rot in containers. The woody base of perennial varieties needs more space than pots typically provide to develop properly.
20. Gas Plant
Named for the flammable oils its flowers emit on hot evenings, gas plant develops an extensive taproot system poorly suited to container life. These slow-growing perennials resent disturbance once established, making necessary container maintenance like repotting problematic.
Without deep soil, they produce fewer of their distinctive flower spikes. Their oil-containing foliage can cause skin irritation—a particular concern with container plants that put them at arm’s reach. They’re also extremely long-lived garden plants that rarely achieve their potential in pots.