Patio pots and hanging baskets are so common today that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t part of every front porch, patio, and city street. Yet the traditions behind container gardening stretch back thousands of years, evolving through cultures, climates, trends, and technological innovations. What began as a practical solution for growing plants in challenging environments has become a vibrant art form—one embraced wholeheartedly by home gardeners and garden clubs alike.
This is the story of how our beloved patio pots and hanging baskets came to be.
Ancient Beginnings: When Containers Were a Necessity
The earliest forms of container gardening appear in civilizations where mobility, climate, or architecture made traditional in‑ground gardening difficult. The Egyptians grew plants in clay pots along temple courtyards; the Greeks used terracotta for growing small shrubs and herbs; and the Romans—famous for courtyard villas—used containers extensively to bring greenery into paved spaces.
The Romans even transported citrus trees in containers, rolling them indoors in winter and outdoors in summer, a clear ancestor of our modern patio‑pot practice.
In China, potted penjing landscapes—miniature scenes with trees and rocks—date back more than 1,000 years. Although more artistic than practical, these were early examples of using containers to shape and showcase plant life.
The ancient Egyptians and Greeks were familiar with the concept of elevating plants to improve air circulation and protect tender foliage. The legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon were likely terraced plantings that appeared to “float” above the ground. Hanging baskets as we know them today had not yet emerged. That innovation was centuries away.
Medieval to Renaissance Europe: Containers Come Indoors
During the Middle Ages in Europe, monasteries and manor houses used containers for herbs, medicinals, and tender plants. Wealthy households often kept potted citrus or bay laurel indoors, moving them outside in warmer weather—an echo of Roman tradition.
By the Renaissance, formal gardens flourished, and with them came a greater appreciation for decorative pots. The Italian orangerie—a dedicated building for wintering potted citrus—gave container gardening prestige. Terracotta pots became more refined, sometimes elaborately decorated.
Still, these were patio pots in spirit—containers meant to be moved seasonally—but not yet the lush seasonal planters we recognize today.
18th and 19th Centuries: The Rise of Decorative Containers
As global trade increased, so did access to exotic plants. Wealthy Europeans began cultivating palms, ferns, and flowering tropicals in movable tubs and planters. Cast‑iron urns, glazed pottery, and stone containers grew in popularity.
Meanwhile, the Victorian era—famous for extravagance in gardening—brought the first widespread enthusiasm for hanging baskets.
The Industrial Revolution introduced new materials such as wire, iron, and later coir linings, allowing gardeners to craft sturdy hanging forms. Victorians adored flamboyant displays and ornamental abundance... Cascading fuchsias, ivy geraniums, nasturtiums, and lobelias became fashionable features—not just in home gardens but balconies, conservatories, railway stations, and town squares. These early baskets were both decorative and symbolic—they showed refinement, prosperity, and a connection to nature amid rapidly expanding cities. The Victorians loved spectacle, and nothing provided dramatic flourish quite like plants suspended in air.
Early 20th Century: The Democratization of Container Gardening
By the early 1900s, mass‑produced pottery and metalwork made patio pots and hanging baskets more accessible. City living increased, and containers allowed apartment dwellers to grow plants without land. Window boxes became fashionable in cities like Paris and London, turning urban architecture into living ornamentation.
In the United States, porch culture was rising. Families spent evenings outside, and potted geraniums or ferns became emblematic of classic American front‑porch decor.
Hanging baskets frequently held Boston ferns or trailing vines—easy, reliable plants that tolerated shade under covered porches.
Mid‑Century Decline and Late‑Century Revival
The austere mid‑20th century saw a shift toward simplified landscapes. Lawns and foundation shrubs dominated suburban design. Patio pots never disappeared—they simply lacked the exuberance we expect today.
But everything changed with the container‑garden renaissance of the 1980s and 1990s.
Several cultural shifts converged:
· Urbanization: More people lived in apartments or townhomes with limited garden space.
· Discovery of Colorful Annuals: Plant breeders introduced improved annuals like petunias, impatiens, trailing verbena, and wave petunias—perfect for containers and baskets.
· The Birth of the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” Formula: Garden designers promoted artistic composition in containers, elevating them from simple porch accents to expressive design statements.
· Improvements in Basket Technology: Wire baskets gave way to long‑lasting plastic and resin forms, lightweight coir liners, and self‑watering systems, making containers easier to maintain.
· The Popularity of Outdoor Living: Decks, patios, porches, and outdoor kitchens became lifestyle staples—begging for decorative planting.
Patio pots and hanging baskets flourished anew, becoming essential components of seasonal gardening.
The Modern Era: Baskets and Pots as Portable Art
Today’s patio pots and hanging baskets reflect a blend of horticulture, artistry, and personal expression. They also play an important role in extending seasonal color.
Spring
Cool‑tolerant combinations—pansies, violas, ivy, snapdragons, stock—fill early‑season pots and baskets. Many are designed to be replaced or refreshed as warmer weather arrives.
Summer
Heat‑loving annuals dominate: petunias, geraniums, calibrachoa, lantana, coleus, begonias, and tropicals fill large patio planters and spill from hanging baskets in extravagant cascades.
Fall
Ornamental cabbage and kale, mums, ornamental peppers, heuchera, and grasses transform summer containers into autumn showcases.
Winter
In colder climates, evergreen boughs, branches, berries, and faux accents fill porch pots long after the growing season ends.
The portability of containers allows experimentation without commitment—perfect for gardeners who enjoy seasonal change.
Impact on Community and Culture
Garden clubs, municipalities, and neighborhood associations rely heavily on hanging baskets and patio pots for beautification projects. They offer:
- Instant effect in prominent areas
- Accessibility for volunteers of varying skill levels
- A rotating canvas for expressing seasonal themes
- Pollinator support, thanks to flower-rich combinations
- A welcoming aesthetic that enhances civic pride
It’s no wonder many garden clubs make container workshops, porch‑pot fundraisers, and hanging‑basket demonstrations part of their annual programming.
Why We Still Love Them
Patio pots and hanging baskets remain popular because they offer:
- Creative freedom: Gardeners can change color palettes and styles yearly.
- Adaptability: They fit patios, balconies, porches, stoops, and even fence posts.
- Accessibility: Those with limited mobility can garden without bending or digging.
- Instant beauty: No long establishment periods—just bloom power.
- Emotional impact: Containers often frame doorways, entrances, and gathering places, becoming part of personal and community identity.
Their history is a testament to the enduring human desire to bring nature closer—into courtyards, balconies, windowsills, and patios—no matter the era.
A Living Tradition
From ancient pots to Victorian fern baskets to today’s vibrant mixed containers, patio pots and hanging baskets have evolved—but their purpose has not. They still help us garden where we live, no matter how small the space. They help us express ourselves, beautify our communities, and celebrate every season.
And perhaps most importantly, they remind us of something gardeners have always known:
Where a pot can sit or a basket can hang, a garden can bloom.
North Shore Plant Club
