Can Perennial Plants Survive in a Pot Planter That is Not in the Ground?

Annuals live for just one growing season, making them ideal for container planting. Using perennials in containers works also, but overwintering presents some difficulty. Options vary, depending on your location and the particular perennial in question.

Problem

• Perennials normally overwinter in the ground, where their roots stay warm in the soil. Exposure increases in containers, with roots surrounded by less soil and, thus, more likely to sustain cold damage.

Hardiness

• The hardiness of a perennial indicates its ability to survive in cold winter temperatures. For perennials hardy only to your growing zone and no further, containers likely overexpose them to the elements. On the other hand, if you live in a southern location and plant a perennial hardy to colder areas, it may survive the winter, even in a container.

Solution

• Since most perennials will not survive in a pot over the winter, consider bringing them indoors or planting them in the ground, still in the pot, in the fall. Dig them up again in the spring and place the plant, still in the first container, in a larger decorative pot. Alternatively, some people choose to use perennials as annuals in containers, simply throwing them away in the fall.