Your containers don’t have to fade with the summer heat. August in Connecticut is the perfect time to refresh your pots with plants that can handle sun, humidity, and late-season color. These picks are tough, beautiful, and made to shine when other blooms start to fizzle.
With the right combos, your containers can stay vibrant straight into fall—without a ton of maintenance.
1. Blazing Star Liatris
Tall purple spikes of the Blazing Star create dramatic vertical interest in any container. Native to North America, these pollinator magnets thrive in Connecticut’s August heat without complaint.
Plant them in the center of large containers and surround with lower-growing companions. Their drought tolerance means less watering for you during busy summer days, and butterflies absolutely adore them!
2. Russian Sage
Wispy clouds of lavender-blue flowers make Russian Sage a dreamy addition to August containers. The silvery foliage stays attractive even when it’s not blooming, adding texture throughout the season.
Incredibly heat resistant, it handles Connecticut’s occasional August dry spells like a champ. Pair with yellow or orange flowers for a stunning color combination that will have neighbors asking for your gardening secrets.
3. Black-Eyed Susan
Cheerful golden flowers with dark centers bring instant sunshine to any container arrangement. Black-Eyed Susans start blooming in midsummer and keep going strong through August and beyond in Connecticut.
Their wildflower charm works in both casual and formal container designs. Give them full sun and they’ll reward you with non-stop blooms that attract butterflies and make excellent cut flowers for indoor bouquets.
4. Purple Fountain Grass
Burgundy-colored plumes dance above arching foliage, creating movement in container gardens even on still August days. The rich purple-red color intensifies as Connecticut nights grow cooler toward the end of summer.
Use as a dramatic centerpiece in large containers. The feathery seed heads catch morning dew, creating a magical sparkling effect. Though not winter-hardy in Connecticut, it’s worth replanting each year for its spectacular late-summer show.
5. Verbena Bonariensis
Delicate purple flower clusters hover on tall, nearly invisible stems, creating the illusion of floating blooms. Verbena Bonariensis adds an airy, see-through quality to container arrangements that few other plants can match.
Beloved by butterflies, these flowers thrive in Connecticut’s August conditions. Their unique growth habit allows you to see through them to other plants, making them perfect for layering in container designs without blocking your view of companion plants.
6. Lantana
Multi-colored flower clusters change hues as they age, creating a kaleidoscope effect in your containers. Often sporting yellow, orange, pink, and red all on the same plant, lantana brings non-stop color to Connecticut’s August gardens.
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant, it performs better as summer temperatures rise. Hummingbirds and butterflies flock to these nectar-rich blooms, turning your container garden into a wildlife hub during the height of summer pollinator season.
7. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Succulent green broccoli-like flower heads transform to pink and then copper as August progresses into fall. This color-changing show makes Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ perfect for bridging summer and autumn in Connecticut container gardens.
Virtually indestructible, these drought-proof plants thrive on neglect. Their sturdy stems rarely need staking, and the flowers last for weeks, eventually drying in place to provide winter interest long after other container plants have faded.
8. Sweet Potato Vine
Cascading lime-green or purple foliage spills dramatically over container edges, adding lush tropical vibes to Connecticut patios. The heart-shaped leaves grow quickly, filling empty spaces and softening container arrangements.
Unlike many foliage plants, sweet potato vine maintains its vigor throughout August’s heat. Pair purple varieties with silver plants for sophisticated contrast, or lime varieties with bright flowers for eye-popping combinations that keep their good looks until frost.
9. Calibrachoa Mini-Petunia
Hundreds of small petunia-like flowers cover these plants from stem to tip, creating balls of color that brighten any Connecticut container garden. Available in virtually every color imaginable, they bloom continuously without deadheading.
More heat and humidity tolerant than their petunia cousins, calibrachoa power through August without missing a beat. Their trailing habit makes them perfect for hanging baskets or container edges where they can spill over the sides in colorful cascades.
10. Angelonia
Sometimes called ‘summer snapdragon,’ angelonia produces spikes of purple, pink, or white flowers that keep blooming through Connecticut’s hottest August days. Unlike many flowering plants, heat actually improves their performance.
Remarkably low-maintenance, they rarely need deadheading to keep flowering. Their upright growth habit makes them excellent container companions for trailing plants. Even better, deer and rabbits typically leave them alone, making them perfect for gardens where wildlife visits.
11. Coleus
Forget flowers – coleus brings the color with spectacular foliage in shades ranging from lime green to deep burgundy, often with contrasting edges and veining. Modern varieties stay vibrant even in Connecticut’s full August sun.
Easy to grow and quick to fill out containers, coleus creates instant impact. Pinch the occasional flower spikes to keep plants bushy. For extra drama, try ‘Chocolate Mint’ with its dark leaves and green edges, perfect for adding rich color to shady container spots.
12. Ornamental Peppers
Tiny peppers in purple, red, orange, and yellow stand upright like holiday lights among glossy green foliage. These edible but spicy fruits add unexpected color and texture to Connecticut container gardens throughout August.
Compact growth makes them ideal for smaller containers or as colorful fillers in larger arrangements. Unlike many flowering plants, ornamental peppers improve with heat, producing more colorful fruits as summer progresses. Their unusual appearance always becomes a conversation starter.
13. Coreopsis
Daisy-like golden flowers with toothed petals create a sunny presence in any container arrangement. Native to North America, coreopsis has the stamina to handle Connecticut’s August conditions with minimal care.
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering all month long. Their compact size makes them perfect for container edges or mixed plantings. Butterflies love the bright blooms, bringing additional movement and life to your late summer container displays.
14. Caladium
Heart-shaped leaves in striking patterns of white, pink, red and green light up shady container spots when August heat makes flowering plants struggle. Their tropical appearance brings exotic flair to Connecticut patios and porches.
No flowers needed – the foliage itself is the star attraction. Perfect for north-facing spots or containers that receive morning sun only. The large leaves create dramatic impact even in small numbers, making them excellent specimen plants for smaller containers.
15. Blue Salvia
Spikes of intense blue flowers stand tall above aromatic foliage, creating vertical interest in August container gardens. Hummingbirds zoom in from surprising distances to visit these nectar-rich blooms.
Heat and drought tolerant, blue salvia continues performing when other plants fade in Connecticut’s late summer conditions. Their compact growth habit leaves room for companion plants. For maximum impact, plant in groups of three in larger containers.
16. Celosia
Velvety plumes or crested flowers in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows resemble flames dancing above the foliage. Celosia thrives in Connecticut’s August heat when many other flowering plants have given up.
The unusual texture adds exotic appeal to container arrangements. Both tall and dwarf varieties are available to suit any container size. The flowers hold their color for weeks and can even be dried for indoor arrangements that last through Connecticut’s winter months.
17. Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’
Clouds of tiny white flowers create a misty effect, softening container arrangements with their delicate appearance. Don’t be fooled by their dainty look – these plants are surprisingly tough in Connecticut’s August conditions.
Heat and drought tolerant, they bloom continuously without deadheading. Their airy texture pairs beautifully with plants that have bold flowers or foliage. Use as a filler in container recipes where you need something to connect and complement showier companion plants.
18. Persian Shield
Iridescent purple leaves with silvery sheen make this foliage plant a showstopper in August container gardens. The metallic quality of the leaves seems to intensify in Connecticut’s late summer light.
Growing up to 3 feet tall in containers, Persian shield makes a dramatic thriller plant. Pair with silver or chartreuse companions for maximum impact. While it can tolerate full sun with sufficient water, it performs best in containers that receive afternoon shade.
19. Cape Plumbago
Clusters of sky-blue flowers appear continuously on this shrubby plant, creating a cooling visual effect during Connecticut’s August heat. The color is uncommonly true blue, a rare find in the flower world.
Butterflies flock to the sticky blossoms that resemble tiny phlox flowers. Though not winter hardy in Connecticut, cape plumbago performs beautifully in summer containers. Its sprawling habit works well in hanging baskets or large containers where it has room to cascade.
20. Creeping Jenny
Chartreuse coin-shaped leaves on trailing stems brighten container edges with their glowing color. The low-growing habit makes creeping Jenny perfect for spilling over container sides in Connecticut’s August gardens.
Nearly indestructible, it thrives in both sun and shade. Use as a living mulch to cover soil in containers while adding bright color contrast. Unlike many ground covers, it stays well-behaved in containers without becoming invasive.