Create a display of red, white and blue flowers in time for the Fourth of July. Learn about the floral species that would add bursts of patriotic color to your yard throughout the summer. This do-it-yourself project could make your front yard look better and show off your amazing gardening skills. Read this guide for tips on how to create planters with red, white and blue flowers.
When patriotic holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day roll around, decorating with red, white and blue is a fun way to get into the spirit. An easy DIY decor idea is creating stunning flower pots and planters bursting with red, white and blue blooms. Not only is it a great way to dress up your porch, patio or entryway, but it allows you to showcase your gardening skills with these all-American colors.
Choosing Red, White and Blue Flowers
The first step to creating patriotic flower pots is picking flowers and plants in red, white and blue. Here are some top options
Red Flowers
- Geraniums – Classic red blooms perfect for pots
- Verbena – Red clusters on trailing stems
- Zinnias – Available in vivid scarlet shades
- Begonias – Wax begonias and Dragon Wing begonias
- Salvia – Red blooms on tall spikes
- Celosia – Feathery red plumes
White Flowers
- Petunias – Cascading types like Supertunia are great
- Calibrachoa – Trailing Superbells varieties in white
- Cleome – Spider flower with white blooms
- Shasta daisies – Classic white perennial
- Sweet alyssum – Fragrant annual with white flowers
- Nicotiana – White flowering tobacco
Blue Flowers
- Ageratum – Fluffy blue blooms
- Lobelia – Trailing blue flowers
- Verbena – Upright clusters of violet-blue
- Hydrangea – Limelight and other panicle hydrangeas
- Catmint – Hardy perennial with blue blooms
- Blue orchid flowers
Combining red, white, and blue flowering plants allows you to create show-stopping patriotic planters.
Picking Patriotic Pots and Containers
To display your red, white, and blue flowers, select garden pots and planters in a matching color scheme. Here are some ideas:
- Use classic red flower pots for your white and blue flowers
- Choose white containers as a backdrop for red and blue blooms
- Plant in blue ceramic or glazed pots to highlight red and white
- Use metallic pots (copper, silver, gold) for a pop of color
- Incorporate red, white and blue patterns with mosaic pots
- Paint terra cotta pots red, white and blue with spray paint
For containers on your porch or patio, look for weather-resistant materials like ceramic, resin, concrete, metal, or wood. Make sure pots have drainage holes.
Hanging baskets, window boxes, urns, buckets, and whiskey barrel planters are all great vessel choices and provide vertical surfaces to display cascading flowers.
Designing Eye-Catching Combinations
When planting your red, white, and blue pots, follow basic design principles for showstopping combos:
- Plant red, white and blue flowers in groups or drifts of 3-5 plants each
- Use plants of different heights and growth forms for interest
- Combine trailing plants with upright varieties
- Add patriotic elements like flags, stars, and ribbon
- Use red and blue blooms as bold focal points, white as base fillers
- Repeat colors in groupings across arrangements for unity
Some favorite red, white and blue pot combinations are:
- Red geraniums, white petunias, blue lobelia
- Red verbena, white calibrachoa, blue hydrangea
- Red salvia spikes, white sweet alyssum, blue verbena falls
- Red begonias, white impatiens, blue ageratum
The impact of your red, white and blue pots can be amazing when you use bold, complementary flower colors.
Caring for Patriotic Planters
Getting your patriotic pots to flourish requires following best practices for container gardening:
- Use a quality potting mix, not garden soil which can get waterlogged
- Make sure containers have drainage holes to prevent excess moisture
- Fertilize flowers every 7-14 days to nourish plants
- Water when soil is partly dry to the touch to prevent wilting
- Check daily and water when needed, especially in hot weather
- Trim back any leggy or dead growth to encourage blooms
- Refresh faded blooms by deadheading spent flowers
- Bring pots in if forecast calls for heavy rain or hail that can damage
- Move containers to optimal sun exposure for each flower type
Proper care will keep your red, white, and blue creations looking their best from Memorial Day through Labor Day celebrations.
Patriotic Theme Ideas and Accents
Once you’ve created your red, white and blue flower pots, add accents and extras to drive home the all-American theme:
- Mini flags on sticks for a star-spangled look
- Red mini star or white mini dot sprays for pops of color
- Mini Uncle Sam figurines for whimsy
- Letters spelling out USA or other patriotic words
- Red, white and blue ribbons around pots or bows
- Patriotic garden stakes or metal cut-outs
- Old Glory mini flags or banners
- Faux firecrackers coming out of arrangements
Let your creativity run wild when accessorizing your red, white, and blue pots. From whimsical to elegant, any embellishments that amp up the patriotic style are fair game.
Displaying Your Patriotic Planters
The finishing touch is determining the perfect placement for your planters:
- Line entry walkways or steps with matching pots
- Flank your front doorway with red, white and blue containers
- Create a balanced porch display using an odd number of pots
- Place at the center of a patio or on an outdoor table as a centerpiece
- Display on railings or balcony ledges for maximum visibility
- Nestle in garden beds and borders to add pops of color
- Group together for high impact or spread out singly for a scattered look
Placing your patriotic pots thoughtfully helps you maximize their visibility and decor impact.
Celebrate Holidays in Red, White, and Blue Style
With smart plant selection, creative designs, and patriotic accents, it’s simple to decorate with dazzling red, white, and blue flower pots. They make perfect decorative touches for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or Labor Day celebrations. Your guests and neighbors will be wowed by your patriotic gardening displays.
The best part is that these red, white, and blue pots deliver decor impact all summer long, not just on the holidays. The curb appeal and pride they create make them a great investment in home decor. Get your hands dirty this year creating your own unique patriotic planters that express your personal flair. Your red, white and blue flower pots will be the talk of the neighborhood!
Red, White and Blue for Entertaining
For many, the Fourth of July means a barbecue on the patio during the day and fireworks in the backyard at night. Create your own floral fireworks in time for guests to arrive. Try using a blue flowerpot brimming with a red and white floral arrangement. Bell-shaped red calibrachoa and white petunias are good choices. Add red apples in blue-and-white bowls to add to the festive decor.
Adding flower power to urns, barrels, or hanging baskets for decoration with red salvia, white begonias, and violet blue ageratums is easy. Another option is hanging baskets containing red impatiens, white petunias and blue lobelia.
Try an arrangement of red verbena, white calibrachoa and violet butterfly bush. Putting red, white, and blue delphinium flowers in a ceramic planter or old milk can makes a patriotic display of plants that come back every year.
Add more flowers to create fun and celebration-worthy planters festooned with red, white and blue. They’ll take you from July 4 and even past Labor Day.
You could also get a door basket wreath for a look that brings the fun right to your door.
Festive Pot-Ups (Red, White & Blue)
FAQ
What flower is red white and blue?
Do flower pots have to match?