These are some I have used in planters on the deck.
The petals or blooms drop easily and stain, some are impossible to scrub up and leave a stain.
I love them but dont use them often.
Angelonia
Begonia
Fuchsia
Portulaca

Salvia is another. I love having them on the deck to lure the hummingbirds up close, but they sure are messy.

Karen

Is that the annual salvia ? I dont think I ever used it.
Guess I will avoid the temptation.

I've found the hummingbirds like both annual and perennial salvias. They really seem to like coral nymph, and they usually reseed reliably for me. The perennial ones are messy, but I don't remember ever having the annual ones on the deck- only in garden beds.

Karen

I had a perennial in a planter. Mystic Blue Spires. I dont recall it being messy but I dont recall much from 4 years ago.
I was on a Salvia thread and the discussion was about them being fragile over winter. I considered myself lucky when it came back the next year. I transplanted it to the garden but it lasted only 3 more seasons.
This is it planted in a 16 inch planter. 2010



In the garden ,last seen in 2012

Pretty.

Karen

I do not recall the calibrachoas from years past as being messy.DD usually buys them but this year they will feature heavily on the deck.
I hope they dont let me down.
I also remember the begonias as trouble, ( all types )

And geraniums! Very messy, but showy,

Probably anything that blooms & drops petals would make this kind of "mess." Stick to decorative foliage for deck pots?

How is it going on the deck this year?