Shrubs for pots: 6 varieties with colourful foliage

Nandina domestica 'Blush Pink'

Nandina domestica ‘Blush Pink’, known as heavenly bamboo, is a small shrub that is distinguished by its compact and colourful foliage. This variety features bright red young leaves that beautifully contrast with the older, green leaves tinged with gold. As the seasons pass, these red leaves gradually turn green with hints of yellow. In autumn, this foliage turns dark red with the arrival of cold weather. Another plus: ‘Blush Pink’ remains attractive year-round, including in winter, thanks to its evergreen foliage, without requiring any particular maintenance.

This heavenly bamboo gradually reaches a height and width of 70 to 80 cm, forming a spreading, dense clump. In summer, it also bears small panicles of cream-white flowers, followed by clusters of bright red, decorative fruit.

Ideal for small gardens, rockeries and pots on a terrace or balcony, this Nandina domestica ‘Blush Pink’ is particularly suited to container culture. Quite hardy, place it in shade or partial shade. For a nice pot arrangement, pair it with plants such as Heucheras for their colourful foliage or a Carex to add a fine, elegant texture.

Nandina domestica ‘Blush Pink’

Cordyline australis 'Pink Passion'

Cordyline australis ‘Pink Passion’ is an interesting variety, resembling a small palm, which stands out for its exuberant growth with long purple leaves edged in bright pink. This hardy perennial, hardy down to -5°C, initially forms a rosette of narrow leaves, and a small trunk appears at its base over time. It can reach 1 to 2 metres in height.

When mature, in summer it bears cream-white, fragrant panicles of flowers, followed by bluish-white fruits, adding to its exotic appearance. Perfect for mild climates and coastal conditions, Cordyline ‘Pink Passion’ thrives in full sun. It adapts very well to a large pot, making it easy to move from the terrace to indoors during the winter months, especially in colder regions.

Its slow growth and compact habit make it ideal for modern gardens or balconies. It can be paired with exotically styled plants, such as banana trees, proteas, cannas, and Grevilleas to enhance its tropical character.

Cordyline australis ‘Pink Passion’

Euonymus japonicus 'Paloma Blanca'

L’Euonymus japonicus ‘Paloma Blanca’, a small Japanese euonymus shrub, particularly notable for its young shoots of pure white that contrast beautifully with its mature, dark green foliage. The shoots transition from ivory white to pale green, before becoming glossy dark green. This evergreen foliage and this colour progression provide visual interest year-round.

With slow growth and its compact habit, it will reach around 50 cm in height with a 30 cm spread at maturity, making it ideal for rockeries, borders and especially in a pot on the terrace or balcony. Suitable for coastal conditions and urban gardens, ‘Paloma Blanca’ thrives particularly in sunny or part shade areas. In the ground, it tolerates ordinary soils, even calcareous ones, but remains cool and tolerates frosts down to -15°C.

For a pot display, pair it with plants such as Heuchera with coloured leaves, the foliage of a hosta and small flowering annuals such as Petunias to prolong colour.

Euonymus japonicus ‘Paloma Blanca’

Loropetalum chinense 'Ever Red'

The Loropetalum chinense ‘Ever Red’ is a beautiful ornamental shrub that is distinguished by its deep purple-violet, almost black, evergreen foliage all year round. In spring, incandescent red flowers bloom, contrasting nicely with this foliage. With a compact, spreading habit, this shrub reaches about 80 cm in height and a 1 metre spread at maturity. It is ideal for small gardens, in pots or containers on terraces.

Although hardy to -12°C once established, it prefers regions with a mild climate during the winter. The plant will therefore require winter shelter in less temperate regions. Ideally, it should enjoy a position in partial shade or light sun.

In a pot, ‘Ever Red’ pairs harmoniously with plants such as Camellias, for their winter flowering, or Hydrangeas, for their volume.

Loropetalum chinense ‘Ever Red’

Japanese spiraea 'Firelight'

Spiraea japonica ‘Firelight’ is a dwarf shrub that charms with colour-changing foliage throughout the seasons. This small shrub begins spring with shoots of brilliant orange, before turning to golden yellow, then chartreuse green in summer. In autumn, it takes coppery to bronze hues, creating a beautiful colour display in the garden, before the foliage falls.

In midsummer, it bears large corymbs of pink, melliferous flowers, which are enhanced by the chartreuse foliage. This flowering is often repeat-flowering in autumn, attracting butterflies, bees and bumblebees. With slow growth and a mature size not exceeding 75 cm in height and 1 m in width, ‘Firelight’ is perfect for growing in pots and planters, in sun or partial shade. Very hardy, tolerating down to -29°C, this shrub is ideal for all climates, except extremely hot and dry ones.

In a large pot, pair it with white, pink or mauve roses, or shrub potentillas, which will complement Spiraea’s flowering with harmonious colours.

Spiraea japonica ‘Firelight’

Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Little Flames'

Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Little Flames’ is a small evergreen shrub with a compact, bushy habit, growing to 50 cm high with a 30–40 cm spread. It is ideal for adorning borders, terraces and balconies thanks to its leaves that change colour through the seasons: copper-red in spring, green at maturity in summer, then red to purple in winter.

Its delicate flowering in May, consisting of pendulous clusters of white-cream flowers that are lightly scented, adds to its charm. Hardy to -23°C at maturity, ‘Little Flames’ prefers semi-shaded or shaded locations.

This shrub pairs well with camellias and rhododendrons to create contrasts of colour and texture, but also with nandinas for their complementary foliage or with hellebores and ferns for a shady garden. In a pot, it requires regular watering and shade during the hottest hours to protect its roots from excessive heat.

Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Little Flames’

And many more besides!

• Also discover our shrubs with golden-yellow foliage, including the Japanese Maple ‘Jordan’ for its lemon-yellow leaves, the Heather ‘Marie Helen’ with golden-yellow hues in summer, then bronze in winter. Or the little Berberis thunbergii ‘Tiny Gold’ for its pretty ball-shaped form and its bright foliage, light green with golden highlights.
• If you prefer dark, purple or black foliage shrubs, we also like the Hibiscus ‘Pink Passion’ for its deep pink flowers, the Physocarpus ‘Little Joker’ and the Berberis thunbergii ‘Ruby Star’ for its red leaves edged with yellow.
• Less bright, but also interesting, the silver-grey foliage shrubs.
• And to finish our unique foliage shrubs.