The Best Pot and Plant Combinations for Outdoor Spaces

Choosing the right outdoor pots and plants can completely change the look of a garden, patio, pool area, balcony or front entrance. A well-chosen pot becomes part of the architecture of the space, while the right plant adds height, colour, texture and movement.

The challenge is choosing the right combination.

Should a tall pot have a tall plant? What looks good in a wide bowl? Which plants work best in large outdoor pots? Should you use matching pots or mix different shapes? And how do you arrange several pots together without making the space look cluttered?

At The Nurso, we specialise in bringing pots and plants together. With one of the largest and best ranges of pots and plants, Nurso makes it easy to choose the pot, find the right plant and create a combination that suits your outdoor space.

Whether you're looking for large outdoor pots, lightweight pots, statement planters, troughs, garden pots, indoor pots or outdoor plants, the secret is understanding proportion, shape, colour and how the plant will grow.

Here are some of the best pot and plant combinations for creating an outdoor space that looks professionally styled.

Why the Right Pot and Plant Combination Matters

It is easy to look at a beautiful pot and a beautiful plant separately and assume they will look good together.

That isn't always the case.

A plant can look too small in an oversized pot. A large plant can overwhelm a narrow planter. A pot can disappear underneath dense foliage, while a plant with a beautiful trunk can lose its impact if the pot is too tall.

The best combinations create balance between the plant and the container.

Think about four things:

Height – How tall will the plant become compared with the pot?

Width – Will the foliage balance the width of the planter?

Shape – Does the form of the plant complement or contrast with the pot?

Colour – Does the foliage work with the colour and finish of the pot?

When these elements work together, even a relatively simple plant can become an impressive feature.

1. Olive Trees + Large Round Pots

Few combinations suit modern outdoor spaces as well as an olive tree in a large round pot.

Olive trees have an architectural appearance with their textured trunks, fine foliage and soft grey-green colouring. Because the foliage is relatively light and open, the shape of the pot remains visible rather than disappearing underneath the plant.

Large round pots, egg pots and wide cylindrical planters all work particularly well.

This combination suits:

Front entrances
Courtyards
Patios
Balconies
Pool areas
Mediterranean-style gardens
Modern homes
Outdoor entertaining areas

For a contemporary look, consider a simple pot in white, charcoal, grey or another neutral finish.

For a warmer Mediterranean look, choose a textured or earthy finish.

If you're positioning two olive trees on either side of an entrance, use matching pots to create symmetry.

For a more relaxed courtyard, use one large olive tree as the main feature and arrange smaller pots around it.

The combination works because the olive provides height while the large pot gives the plant enough visual weight at ground level.

2. Cordylines + Tall Pots

If you want colour and height, Cordylines and tall outdoor pots are an excellent combination.

Cordylines have strong upright foliage and are available in a wide range of colours, including green, burgundy, red, pink and variegated forms.

Their vertical growth makes them particularly well suited to tall pots.

A tall pot continues the vertical line of the plant, creating a strong architectural feature without taking up a huge amount of floor space.

This makes Cordylines in tall planters particularly useful for:

Front entrances
Narrow patios
Balconies
Pool areas
Courtyards
Along walls
Outdoor entertaining spaces

For maximum impact, choose a pot colour that contrasts with the foliage.

A deep burgundy or red Cordyline can look striking in a white, light grey or stone-coloured pot.

Green foliage can look particularly strong in charcoal or black planters.

You can also place three Cordyline pots together using different pot heights to create a layered arrangement.

3. Bird of Paradise + Large Statement Pots

Bird of Paradise is one of the best plants for large outdoor pots.

Its broad, upright foliage creates instant tropical impact and works beautifully with simple contemporary planters.

Strelitzia reginae is useful when you want a more manageable feature plant, while larger Strelitzia varieties can create a much more dramatic statement where there is sufficient space.

Because Bird of Paradise already has large architectural foliage, the pot doesn't need to be complicated.

Simple shapes often work best.

Consider:

Large egg pots
Cylinders
Large round planters
Wide contemporary pots

The result can be particularly effective around pools, patios and outdoor entertaining spaces.

One large Bird of Paradise in a substantial pot can often create more impact than several small plants in small containers.

4. Large Tropical Plants + Oversized Pots

If you have a large outdoor area, don't be afraid to use oversized pots.

One of the most common mistakes when styling large patios and outdoor entertaining areas is choosing pots that are simply too small for the space.

A small pot against a large wall or beside a large outdoor setting can disappear visually.

Large spaces generally need large-scale objects.

An oversized outdoor pot with a large tropical plant can provide an immediate focal point.

Depending on the position, consider plants with broad foliage and strong architectural forms.

Large tropical plants can be particularly effective against:

Rendered walls
Concrete
Glass pool fencing
Timber decking
Stone walls
Large outdoor tiles

The foliage softens the hard architectural surfaces while the pot visually anchors the plant.

5. Philodendrons + Low Wide Pots

Not every feature pot needs to be tall.

Low, wide pots and bowls can be extremely effective when paired with a plant that naturally spreads outward.

Philodendrons are a good example.

Their broad, deeply divided foliage creates a dense mass of green that can spill visually over the edge of a wide planter.

The combination works because the plant and pot share a similar horizontal proportion.

Use this style where you want greenery without blocking a view.

This can be useful:

Near pools
Beside outdoor seating
Along patios
Under windows
In courtyards
Around taller feature plants

Low bowls are also excellent for creating a second level in a group of pots.

For example, place a tall planter at the back, a medium round pot beside it and a low bowl toward the front.

The three different heights create a much more interesting composition.

6. Lomandra + Contemporary Pots

For a clean, modern and relatively low-maintenance combination, consider Lomandra in contemporary outdoor pots.

Lomandra's fine strappy foliage provides movement and texture without becoming visually complicated.

It works particularly well with simple pot shapes.

The foliage softens the hard lines of a cylinder or geometric planter, making this combination useful for contemporary architecture.

Lomandra can work particularly well around:

Modern entrances
Driveways
Patios
Pool areas
Commercial entrances
Outdoor dining areas

Using the same Lomandra in several matching pots can create an especially strong effect.

Rather than treating every pot as a separate feature, repetition makes the entire arrangement feel intentional.

7. Liriope + Low Planters and Bowls

Liriope is another excellent choice for low pots and bowls.

Its dense, arching foliage creates a soft shape that contrasts nicely against contemporary planters.

Liriope can be particularly effective when used as part of a larger arrangement.

For example:

One large pot with a feature plant
One medium pot with a Cordyline
One low bowl with Liriope

This gives you three different heights and three different foliage forms.

The key is keeping something consistent.

That might be the pot colour, pot finish or overall planting style.

8. Screening Plants + Large Trough Planters

Troughs are one of the most practical types of outdoor planter.

They can define areas, soften walls, create boundaries and hold several plants in one container.

One of their best uses is privacy screening.

A long trough planter combined with upright screening plants can create greenery in areas where planting directly into the ground isn't practical.

This can be useful for:

Balconies
Patios
Pool areas
Apartment courtyards
Restaurants
Cafés
Commercial spaces
Along fences
Between neighbouring properties

When choosing a trough for screening plants, don't focus only on appearance.

Consider the volume of the planter and how much root space the plants will require as they mature.

Large screening plants need appropriately sized containers.

9. Feature Trees + Oversized Garden Pots

A large feature tree deserves a large pot.

This is another area where people often underestimate the scale required.

If the plant has a substantial canopy, a very small pot underneath it can make the whole combination look top-heavy.

A larger planter provides visual balance.

Depending on the plant, large round pots, cylinders and substantial egg-shaped pots can all work well.

Feature trees in pots can be used to:

Frame entrances
Create focal points
Provide height in courtyards
Add greenery to paved areas
Create structure around outdoor dining areas

For the strongest effect, give the combination some breathing room.

A beautiful feature tree in a large pot doesn't necessarily need five other pots immediately beside it.

Sometimes one substantial pot is enough.

10. Tropical Plants + Textured Pots

Smooth contemporary pots aren't the only option.

Textured pots can work particularly well with tropical foliage.

The contrast between the organic leaves and a textured planter can create a more relaxed, established appearance.

This works particularly well if you're trying to create a tropical, coastal or resort-style outdoor space.

Combine textured pots with plants such as:

Cordylines
Strelitzias
Philodendrons
Alocasias
Other broad-leaf tropical plants

Rather than choosing lots of different pot finishes, select one or two complementary finishes and repeat them throughout the space.

How to Arrange Three Pots Together

Grouping three pots is one of the simplest ways to create a professionally styled outdoor area.

The key is not to choose three pots that are exactly the same size.

Instead, create a hierarchy.

Start with:

One large/tall pot

This becomes the main feature.

Add:

One medium pot

Position this slightly forward and to one side.

Finish with:

One smaller or lower pot

Place this toward the front.

From above, the three pots should form a loose triangle rather than a straight line.

This creates depth.

The same principle applies to the plants.

Use a taller architectural plant in the largest pot, a medium plant in the second and a lower or spreading plant in the third.

For example:

Tall pot + Cordyline
Medium round pot + Philodendron
Low bowl + Liriope

Or:

Large round pot + Olive Tree
Medium pot + Lomandra
Low bowl + soft grass-like planting

Should Outdoor Pots Match?

They can, but they don't have to.

There are two main approaches.

Matching Pots

Matching pots create a clean, architectural look.

This works particularly well when:

Framing an entrance
Lining a pathway
Creating symmetry
Styling a contemporary home
Using several pots along a wall

Two identical pots with identical plants on either side of a front door can look extremely effective.

Coordinated Pots

For a more relaxed look, choose different shapes and sizes while keeping the colour or finish consistent.

For example:

One tall cylinder
One rounded egg
One low bowl

All in the same finish.

This creates variation without making the arrangement feel random.

How to Choose the Right Pot Size

Pot size is one of the most important considerations when creating a successful pot and plant combination.

Don't choose purely based on the size of the plant today.

Consider how the plant will grow.

Larger plants generally need more root volume, and appropriately sized pots can also make watering and plant care easier.

Visually, think about proportion.

If a plant is very tall and wide, the pot needs enough scale to visually support it.

If you're unsure between two pot sizes, the larger option often creates the stronger landscape statement, provided it suits the plant and available space.

Before buying, measure the area where the pot will go.

Consider:

Pot diameter
Pot height
Overall plant height
Plant width
Walking space around the pot
Doorways and access
How the pot will be delivered and positioned

Best Pots for a Front Entrance

A front entrance is one of the best places to invest in a strong pot and plant combination.

The pots become part of the first impression of the home.

For a symmetrical entrance, use two matching pots and plants.

For an asymmetrical entrance, use one larger feature pot or a group of three pots.

Strong entrance combinations include:

Olive trees + large round pots
Cordylines + tall planters
Bird of Paradise + large contemporary pots
Lomandra + matching modern pots
Feature trees + oversized planters

Consider the architecture of the home when choosing the pot.

Modern homes often suit clean, simple forms, while textured finishes can soften more relaxed or tropical architecture.

Best Pots and Plants for Pool Areas

Pool areas usually benefit from plants that provide strong foliage without making the space feel cluttered.

Large pots can also introduce planting where the surrounding area is completely paved.

Consider:

Bird of Paradise in large pots
Cordylines in tall planters
Philodendrons in low wide pots
Lomandra in contemporary planters
Tropical foliage in oversized feature pots

Scale is particularly important around pools.

A large pool surrounded by expansive paving generally needs substantial pots.

One or two large planters can create considerably more impact than many small pots scattered around the area.

Best Pots for Patios and Outdoor Entertaining Areas

Patios give you more flexibility.

You can use pots to define the outdoor room.

A large plant in a pot can soften a corner. A trough can help separate one area from another. A group of three pots can create a focal point beside an outdoor lounge.

Think of pots as furniture.

They occupy space and influence how people move through the area.

Before positioning a large pot, consider sightlines and walking paths.

Avoid placing pots where people constantly need to move around them.

Instead, use corners, walls, transitions and otherwise unused spaces.

Best Pot and Plant Combinations for Balconies

Balconies usually require a slightly different approach because floor space is limited.

Tall pots can be particularly useful because they create visual impact without necessarily taking up a huge footprint.

Trough planters can also make efficient use of narrow areas.

Consider:

Tall pots + upright Cordylines
Troughs + screening plants
Medium pots + compact tropical plants
Low planters + Liriope or ornamental grasses

Also consider the weight of the complete combination and the conditions on the balcony, including wind and sun exposure.

Use Large Pots to Create a Focal Point

Every outdoor space benefits from somewhere for the eye to land.

A large statement pot is one of the easiest ways to create that focal point.

The pot can be positioned:

At the end of a pathway
Against a blank wall
Beside a pool
At an entrance
In the corner of a courtyard
Beside an outdoor lounge
At the end of a garden bed

Choose a plant with enough presence to match the pot.

The larger the surrounding space, the more important scale becomes.

Use Repetition for a Professional Look

One of the simplest landscaping techniques is repetition.

Instead of buying five completely different pots and five completely different plants, repeat one or two combinations.

For example, use the same large pot and plant at both ends of a patio.

Or repeat the same planter along a long wall.

Or use three identical troughs containing the same plants.

Repetition creates rhythm and makes a landscape look planned rather than accumulated.

Don't Be Afraid of Large Pots

People often underestimate how large an outdoor pot needs to be.

A pot that looks enormous inside a nursery can look surprisingly small once it is placed beside a house, swimming pool or large outdoor setting.

Measure your space before shopping.

If possible, mark out the diameter of the proposed pot on the ground.

This will give you a much better idea of the scale.

Large outdoor pots can create impact with fewer individual items, which can actually make the overall space feel less cluttered.

Choose the Plant and Pot Together

Ideally, don't buy the pot and then start thinking about the plant weeks later.

Choose them together.

The plant influences the required pot size, shape and position.

The pot influences how the plant will look within the overall landscape.

This is one of the advantages of shopping somewhere that has a large selection of both.

At The Nurso, you can explore one of the largest and best ranges of pots and plants, making it easier to compare different combinations and find something that works for your space.

Rather than imagining what a plant might look like in a particular planter, you can consider the entire combination.

Why Shop for Pots and Plants at The Nurso?

Finding the right outdoor pot is much easier when you can also find the right plant.

The Nurso offers one of the largest and best ranges of pots and plants, with options for everything from small courtyard projects through to large residential and commercial landscapes.

Whether you're searching for large outdoor pots, garden pots, lightweight pots, feature pots, trough planters, modern pots, tropical plants, ornamental grasses, Cordylines, Strelitzias, screening plants or feature trees, Nurso gives you the opportunity to create the complete look in one place.

This is particularly useful when you're trying to judge scale.

Seeing different plants and pot sizes makes it much easier to understand whether a combination will work in your garden.

How to Make Outdoor Pots Look Expensive

You don't necessarily need complicated planting to create an impressive result.

In fact, simplicity often looks better.

Start with a substantial pot.

Choose one strong plant.

Give the combination enough space.

Then repeat the same colour, plant or pot finish elsewhere in the landscape.

Avoid filling every empty area with another pot.

Negative space is important.

A large statement pot with a beautiful plant can have considerably more impact when it isn't surrounded by lots of smaller, unrelated pots.

Our Favourite Pot and Plant Combination Ideas

If you're not sure where to begin, consider these combinations:

Modern entrance: Large round pot + Olive Tree

Tropical entrance: Tall pot + Cordyline

Poolside statement: Oversized pot + Bird of Paradise

Low poolside planting: Wide bowl + Philodendron

Contemporary courtyard: Modern pot + Lomandra

Privacy: Large trough + screening plants

Tropical courtyard: Textured pot + Cordyline or Strelitzia

Modern patio: Group of three pots + architectural, medium and low plants

Mediterranean-style garden: Large neutral pot + Olive Tree

Soft contemporary garden: Large feature pot + ornamental grasses

These combinations are starting points rather than strict rules. The best combination depends on the size, sunlight, style and conditions of your particular outdoor space.

Find the Perfect Pots and Plants for Your Outdoor Space

The right combination of outdoor pots and plants can turn an empty patio, entrance, balcony or pool area into a finished landscape.

Start by thinking about scale.

Choose pots that are large enough for the space. Match the plant to the shape and proportion of the planter. Use different heights when grouping pots together, and repeat colours, shapes or plants to create consistency.

Most importantly, don't treat the pot and plant as separate decisions.

The best outdoor spaces are created when the two are considered together.

With one of the largest and best ranges of pots and plants, The Nurso is the place to explore combinations for modern gardens, tropical outdoor spaces, pool areas, courtyards, entrances, balconies and larger landscaping projects.

Whether you're looking for large garden pots, outdoor planters, lightweight pots, trough planters, statement pots, outdoor plants, tropical plants, screening plants or feature trees, you can find the pieces you need to create a complete outdoor look.

Visit The Nurso and find the perfect pot and plant combination for your outdoor space.