Large Container Planting Ideas for Commercial Properties (and How to Maintain Them)

When it comes to decorative planters to enhance your commercial property, think big.

Really big.

Supersize containers — large enough to hold trees — make an instant, impressive impact when used in the landscaping of hotels, office buildings, shopping plazas, and other commercial sites.

But how big should they be? What are the best plants for large outdoor planters? And how do you maintain them?

Let’s dive into smart ideas for large planters that bring beauty and function to your property.

Why Use Large Planters in Commercial Landscaping?

Many commercial property owners skimp on planters. They either don't use enough to make an impact, or their planters are too small to be noticed.

Extra large planters are especially useful for sites that don’t have much green space. They become an instant focal point. They break up the monotony of a large flat wall. They can hide eye sores.

They create privacy. An HOA might use large container plants to screen a swimming pool. A restaurant might use them to make an outdoor patio more private.

Mostly, large containers of beautiful plants grab attention. They show visitors and customers that you care enough about the aesthetics of your property to make passersby exclaim, “Wow.”

How Large Outdoor Planters Add Visual Impact

People notice big pots with impressive plantings.

If your property includes tall buildings or multi-story structures, small planters simply get lost in the visual landscape. They might as well not be there.

Large outdoor planters hold their own. They create vertical interest, scale appropriately with your architecture, and offer a professional, polished look.

How large is large? Think 2 feet wide by 2 feet tall on the small end — or go even bigger, with pots 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.

The Best Spots For Large Pots

There are plenty of strategic spots where a large planter adds function as well as beauty:

• Entrances: Your entrance is automatically a focal point. Enhance it even more by flanking it with large planters. Everybody who walks in or out your door will notice a spectacular container of blooms and grasses or a statement-making tree.
• Signage: Draw attention to your property’s signage by placing a spectacular large planter near it.
  
• Public walkways and plazas: Break up typically bare areas and attract the attention of passers-by with huge, impressive pots.
  
  

Choosing Decorative Containers That Make a Statement

A beautiful container is like a piece of art — and it should be selected as carefully as the plants inside.

There’s a large-scale pot for every architectural style:

• Tall, modern cylinders pack a sleek, contemporary punch.
• Oversize urns bring elegance and formality.
• Bright colors add personality.
• Geometric shapes make a bold statement.

Pair the right container with the right placement, and you’ve elevated your property’s curb appeal with just one element.

What to Plant in Large Outdoor Planters

Here’s where the fun begins. So many possibilities!

The larger the pot, the more plants you can fit in. That means more opportunity for drama. Here are just some ideas for large container planting:

Best Summer Plants for Large Containers

Warm-weather containers are all about lush foliage, texture, and bold structure.

Consider tropical or exotic plants that thrive in containers:

• Banana trees (Ensete maurelii, Basjoo)
• White bird of paradise
• Alocasia
• Variegated ginger
• Palms like Majesty, Adonidia, Robellini, or King Sago

Accent with ornamental grasses like Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ or ‘Fireworks’ for movement and color contrast.

Fall & Winter Planting Ideas for Large Planters

Cooler seasons don’t mean you have to sacrifice style. These centerpieces hold their own:

• Emerald Green arborvitae
• Green Giant arborvitae
• Blue Point juniper
• Boxwood or holly

Want something even lower maintenance? Tuck in dramatic red or yellow twig dogwood stems for winter interest — no watering required.

Top Trees That Thrive in Large Containers

Yes, you can plant trees in large containers — just choose varieties that thrive in confined root spaces.

Great options include:

• Smaller crape myrtles
• Flowering cherry or crabapple trees
• Japanese maples
• Clumping bamboo

These trees offer year-round structure, seasonal interest, and scale beautifully with oversized containers.

How to Water and Maintain Large Container Plantings

Once you install these impressive containers, don’t forget one essential element: regular watering.

Even large containers dry out quickly — often faster than in-ground flower beds, especially in the summer heat.

If you’re not hiring a landscape maintenance company to keep up with watering, these plantings may struggle.

On large commercial sites, we often install irrigation lines up through the bottom of the planter, providing automatic watering and minimizing labor.

Seasonal Solutions For Large Container Planters

In the DC-area climate, one set of plants won’t carry your containers through the year. That’s why we often treat seasonal planters like rotating displays.

For example:

• A summer pot might feature a towering palm surrounded by tropical flowers.
• Come fall, we replace it with an evergreen tree as the centerpiece, surrounded by autumn flowers, kale, and ornamental cabbage.
• In winter, we might swap flowers for seasonal greenery or decorative branches.

Another great approach: install a small ornamental tree as the permanent focal point, then rotate seasonal plants around it for fresh looks year-round.

Preventing Drainage Issues in Large Planters

Fertilizer-soaked water can stain concrete once it drains out of the bottom of large pots. And it does need to drain — otherwise roots become water-logged and plants die.

One creative solution — cut round holes in the concrete beneath each pot and fill the hole with stones. The water drains down through the stones. No more stains.

Trust Level Green With Your Large Container Plantings

Few things make a bigger first impression than large-scale containers filled with attention-getting plants.

They’re bold. They’re beautiful. And they show your commitment to a clean, attractive, and inviting property.

At Level Green Landscaping, we specialize in commercial landscaping for properties in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia — and large container plantings are one of our favorite ways to boost curb appeal fast.

We’ll help you choose the right containers, pick showstopping plants, install irrigation if needed, and maintain them all year long.

Call us at 202-544-0968 or request a free consultation online.

We’d love to help your property go big — beautifully.