Which flowers are best for container gardening?

I am looking for plants/flowers that are perennial and have a lovely fragrance/colour. Something hardy that has a decent length of flower (not april to may for example, more like april to september)

Some colour combinations would be great as i really want to make the bed stand out with colour.

Which flowers are best for container gardening?
This is a somewhat difficult question because most perennials simply do not bloom for all that long and most of the ones that do are not particularly fragrant or are rather tall/large for most container plantings. Here are a few suggestions that you may want to check into. I'm in the U.S. but am referring to a couple of U.K. books. I'd still double check if I were you.



Fragrant:



Alstromeria

Freesia (half-hardy, definitely would need winter protection)

Lavender

Nicotiana (also half-hardy)

Santolina

Dianthus (pinks)

Heliotrope



Long bloomers ~ Some may be too large for your purposes.



Tall Garden Phlox (also fragrant)

Coreopsis or Heliopsis

Echinacea

Stella D'Oro and other dwarf daylilies

Winecups (Callirhoe)

Mallow

Russian Sage

Veronica

Campanula

Platycodon

Limonium

Flax

Physostegia

Salvia

Verbena



You may also want to use some perennials with colorful foliage. This is particularly effective if you are willing to use some annuals for bloom color. In fact most containers will be well served by the use of a few annuals.



Foliage:



Artemisia ( many types, silver)

Ligularia (burgundy)

Chocolate eupatorium (brown/black)

Persian shield (purple/silver, half hardy)

Persicaria ( several colors)

Sedum spectabile ( many colors of foliage, all also have lovely flowerheads late in the season)

Heuchera ( many colors)

Hosta lilies also do well in containers and have some lovely foliage but most prefer shade.



I hope this was somewhat helpful to you. I wanted to take on the challenge of your difficult question! I know I have forgotten things that might work but this should give you something to go on, at least I hope so. Good luck and enjoy!