Have you been looking for indoor plants that thrive in shallow pots? Wide, shallow pots can be easier to handle than deep containers and they come in a variety of stylish options for both indoor and outdoor use. What is considered “shallow” isn’t universal, so we’ll stick to plants that can tolerate a pot depth of 6 to 12 inches.
We’ll look at specific plants and their care in more detail below. Basically, any plant with a shallow root system can do well in a shallow pot. This often means small plants, but it can also be a taller plant like the snake plant because, despite its size, it doesn’t need a lot of root space.
1. Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
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Despite their height, snake plants do well in shallow pots. They can grow very large and will need to be repotted to continue to grow, but they don’t need deep pots for their roots. This means you can get creative with the pots you use for your snake plants.
2. Pinstripe plant (Calathea ornata)
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This is another great option that works in shallow pots but also grows bigger and fuller on top. It’s tropical by nature but does well in most average home climates.
It gets its nickname from the beautiful green leaves with white pinstripes. The unique leaves can give a fun pop of pattern to your home.
3. Aloe vera (Aloe spp.)
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A classic plant, known for its healing properties, aloe doesn’t need a deep root system either. You can keep aloe vera happy in more shallow pots.
It’ll do best in a pot that is deeper than one you’d use for bonsai or other succulents. But you have some leeway here and they don’t need giant pots. You can experiment and see where it thrives best.
4. Lavender (Lavandula)
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Another nice plant that works well in shallow pots is lavender. While it’s traditionally an outdoor plant, it can thrive indoors as well.
The flowers are very fragrant and can turn a deep shade of purple that looks beautiful. The ideal pot is 12-16 inches but when they are first growing, you can get by with a more shallow pot. They can equally brighten up a corner of the yard or bedroom in the right pot.
5. Petunias (Petunia × atkinsiana)
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The bright and beautiful blooms of petunias make them a popular choice for doorsteps (and beyond) for many reasons. But what you might not know is that they are also great for shallow pots.
The best pot depth depends on the variety but around 6-18 inches usually works well.
6. Pansies (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)
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Another flower on the list because it doesn’t have a deep root system. Pansies are also colorful, easy to care for, and can do well in shallow pots.
They’re perfect for seasonal gardens and you have a lot of flexibility when you plant them in containers and can move them around when the weather requires it.
7. Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
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The Panda plant is a succulent that is easy to grow and looks great amidst other succulents or in the middle of other green plants. It has thick leaves, like most succulents, that store water and this means they are low maintenance thanks to minimal watering needs (bonus!).
8. Roseum plant (Sedum spurium)
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This is a fast-growing plant that does well in shallow pots and makes a great indoor plant. It’s very easy to care for, has nice, bright scalloped green leaves, and is quite hardy. They are often used outdoors as a ground cover because, despite their dainty appearance, they are not delicate and can do very well in outdoor conditions.
9. Blossfeldia (Blossfeldia liluputana)
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This is a type of cactus. In fact, it’s known as the smallest cactus, so it shouldn’t surprise you that it does well in a shallow pot. They like some shade, good airflow, and moderate watering. They need less water in the winter months and make a cute addition to any indoor space.
10. Little warty’s (Gasteria)
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It’s a funny name for a cute little succulent. Little Wartys are easy to care for, look cute, and do well in small and shallow pots. It has thick, stiff, dark green leaves with white spots that sometimes look like warts. It does well in low lights and it’s so low maintenance, that nearly anyone can care for it.
11. Pebble plants (Lithops)
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Lithops refers to the family of succulents that have a stone-like appearance. That’s also why they are often called pebble plants. They do well in shallow pots and dishes and are very easy to care for. Much of the plant is actually under the soil and they have no true stem, making them unique to other plants on this list. They are small and rarely get more than 2.5cm.
12. Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
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The Zebra plant is a tropical plant originally from Brazil. It’s a flowering succulent with green leaves with white zebra-like stripes. They do well in small pots and have shallow roots. They are easy to care for but like high humidity. Be careful not to overwater.
13. Pincushion cactus (Mammillaria)
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The pincushion cactus gets its name because it looks like a sewing pincushion. It has funnel-shaped flowers that can be red, pink, white, green, and various shades. It’s easy to care for if you don’t overwater and it’s very low maintenance. As with most cacti, does well in shallow pots.
14. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
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Prayer plants are beautiful, unique plants that get their name from the oval-shaped leaves that move into what looks like a praying position in the evenings. They prefer indirect sunlight but can also tolerate shade.
15. Flame violet (Episcia)
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A small plant with a beautiful big personality is the flame violet. While they do well in shallow pots, they do need a wide pot because the roots spread quickly and need lots of room to grow. They’re beautiful to look at and enjoy slightly moist soil and bright, indirect light.
Now that you have this great list of plants that do well in shallow pots, let’s take a look at some other things you can grow indoors in these pots.
16. Rosemary
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Certain herbs also do well in shallow pots. Rosemary is a fragrant herb that is often used in perfumes, aromatherapy, and even in cooking. It’s important to have drainage but a pot of around 6-8 inches deep will work just fine for rosemary.
17. Mint
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Another great herb to keep around is mint. This popular herb includes spearmint and peppermint, and (you guessed it) it does well in shallow pots. It needs about 10-12 inches to thrive. If you go more shallow than that, the roots may grow out of the drainage holes and the plant will not grow as well.
18. Basil
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Another great herb for shallow pots is basil. Like rosemary, this one is part of the mint family. It makes a great addition to lots of recipes and it’s easy to grow. This is a handy herb to have around your kitchen. While it does well in a shallow pot, you will need a wider pot to give it room to spread out.
Learn more about growing basil.
Have Fun with a Variety of Shapes and Sizes
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With this information, you can begin choosing the right pots for your indoor and outdoor spaces. Perhaps you already have some of these plants, or maybe you have the containers and you’re just looking for the right plants to put in them. Remember that the size of the plant or flower itself is not always a good indicator of its root size or the space needed for roots. You can’t determine the best pot size based on the part of the plant that is above the soil. It’s all about that root action!
All of the plants on this list do well in shallow pots, but it’s certainly not an exhaustive list, so feel free to explore more.
