Create a Potted Plant Portal on Your Patio
Plants for patios can make an outdoor space feel more inviting and welcoming. Depending on what type of plants you choose, they can carve out a tropical retreat, a formal entertaining spot, a family-friendly area, or a bird and butterfly zone. Whether your patio basks in the sun all day or functions as a shady retreat surrounded by trees, there’s a perfect bloom to refresh your open-air room. Some of the easiest potted plants do well in container gardens, while others can be planted in the ground to add an element of privacy screening around your patio. Some even look for plants to help repel mosquitoes, like lavender, marigolds, and lemongrass.
Here are the 21 best plants for a patio to make your outdoor oasis burst with greenery, color, and texture.
Croton
You may see croton plants (Codiaeum variegatum) in the houseplant section of the garden center, but they make excellent patio plants and will grow much larger with outdoor sun and rain exposure. The leathery rainbow-hued leaves thrive in full sun and only require moderate watering.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 11a-12b
Flower Color Varieties: Yellow
Light: Full, partial sun
Soil Needs: Moist, well-draining, acidic
Mature Size: 3-8 ft. tall, 3-6 ft. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Pentas
Few plants have the pollinator appeal of the free-flowering pentas plant (Pentas lanceolata). Cheerful star-shaped and nectar-rich flowers bloom in fat, colorful clusters all summer long, You may see pentas in the garden store under other common names, such as star flower, Egyptian Star Flower, or Star Cluster.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-11
Flower Color Varieties: White, pink, lavender, red
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Needs: Fertile with good drainage, mildly acidic
Mature Size: 24-36 in.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Lantana
Lantana plants (Lantana camara) have suffered a bad rap as being invasive in warm areas, but improved cultivars like “New Gold” that are fruitless reduce the plant’s ability to spread. Plants bloom continuously in warm, sunny weather, and exhibit drought resistance, especially in larger patio containers.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7a-11a
Flower Color Varieties: Mix of red, orange, yellow, blue, white, pink
Light: Full sun
Soil Needs: Well-drained, neutral pH
Mature Size: 6 ft. high and wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Coleus
There’s one very good reason to love coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides). The explosion of new cultivars on the market over the past few years means there are many leaf colors to match any garden design. Grow coleus in some sun or shade, but keep it well-watered for best growth. Deadhead flower spikes to keep plants bushy, or leave them to attract hummingbirds to the patio.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
Flower Color Varieties: Blue, white, or lavender
Light: Part to full shade
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, loose, well-drained, and slightly acidic
Mature Size: 6-36 in. tall and wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bromeliad
The strappy tropical leaves of the bromeliad (Bromeliaceae) are a fun patio accent, whether or not your plants decide to produce a bloom. Plants usually fade after blooming, but you can propagate more by repotting the pups that form around the mother plant. They’re typically grown indoors as houseplants, but they may do well in warm weather outdoors in pots.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
Flower Color Varieties: Red, green, purple, orange, yellow
Light: Bright, indirect light
Soil Needs: Fast-draining, acidic potting soil
Mature Size: Varies
Deer Resistant: Yes
Caladium
Not many patio plants will put on a great show in full shade, but caladiums (Caladium spp.) do so happily. One thing caladiums don’t like is cold weather. The bulbs will grow slowly or not at all in cool soil, and then spring to life seemingly overnight when summer temps sizzle. Average water needs and a pest-free disposition make caladiums an easy addition to the container garden.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
Flower Color Varieties: Green, pink, white, red
Light: Full to partial shade
Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, slightly acidic
Mature Size: 12–30 in. tall, 12–24 in. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
New Guinea Impatiens
Downy mildew disease has turned many gardeners away from impatiens, but New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) are unaffected by this malady. Place containers of these colorful and profuse blooms in a shady part of the patio protected from the afternoon sun, and keep plants moist at all times.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-12
Flower Color Varieties: Orange, pink, red, white, purple
Light: Full or partial sun
Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, acidic
Mature Size: 12–18 in. tall, 6–9 in. wide
Deer Resistant: No
Heliotrope
What’s better, the sweet cherry-vanilla scent of heliotrope (Heliotropium), or the showy violet blossom clusters? This low-maintenance flower is a great container plant and it’s not prone to any serious diseases. The plant benefits from six hours of sun so it will need to stay watered so the soil is evenly moist but never waterlogged.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
Flower Color Varieties: White, lavender, purple
Light: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, loamy, and neutral pH
Mature Size: 1-4 ft. tall
Deer Resistant: Yes
Million Bells
Million bells (Calibrachoa) give you all of the showy tubular blooms of petunias, without the bother of the tobacco budworm that often plagues petunia blooms. Unlike petunias, million bells bloom prolifically in high temperatures and full sun. But if you live in a dry climate, revive your plants by misting them when the sun goes down. Add them to the edge of a patio urn or hanging basket, where they will cascade and trail attractively over the sides.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
Flower Color Varieties: Pink, yellow, red, violet, white, blue, magenta, bronze
Light: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining, acidic
Mature Size: 3-9 in. tall and 6-24 in. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes (mostly, but not always)
Wax Begonia
From the popular wax begonias (Begoniceae) to more complex tuberous begonias, few plants tolerate such a wide variety of growing conditions. Fleshy stems help patio begonias tolerate drought, and plants are equally happy in sun or shade, but never put them in direct harsh sunlight.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
Flower Color Varieties: White, pink, red, bicolored
Light: Full sun or part shade
Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic
Mature Size: 6-12 in.
Deer Resistant: Yes (not always, though)
Hibiscus
Jumbo blooms and neon bright colors make the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) a patio favorite. Just be sure to provide plenty of sunshine and water to keep the bold blossoms coming until fall. The tropical hibiscus is very sensitive to cold temperatures, looking its best in the 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit range, and shutting down when temps drop below 50.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-11
Flower Color Varieties: Various, including white, red, pink, yellow, orange
Light: Full sun, partial shade
Soil Needs: Well, moist-drained, neutral to acidic
Mature Size: 3-10 ft. tall and 2-8 ft. wide
Deer Resistant: No
Ornamental Pepper
Move over flowers and foliage, because the brilliant fruits of ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum) shine as brightly as any blooms on a hot summer day. Ornamental peppers are ready to grow on your patio as soon as the weather is right for growing tomatoes. Although ornamental peppers are small plants with small root balls, they grow well in large pots that don’t dry out too quickly. Plant them at the container’s edge, in front of a tall spiky plant like purple millet, and enjoy the rainbow of colors.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
Color Varieties: Varies, including red, purple, yellow, orange, black, or white
Light: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, loamy, slightly acidic
Mature Size: 6 in. to 3 ft.
Deer Resistant: Yes
Foxtail Fern
Foxtail ferns (Asparagus aethiopicus) add a fun sculptural accent to patio containers and hanging baskets, looking like a Medusa-inspired gathering of bright green plumes. Plant this perennial evergreen in partial shade, and keep it constantly moist.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11
Flower Color Varieties: Does not flower
Light: Partial shade
Soil Needs: Well-draining, slightly acidic
Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia), also known as moneywort, is the perfect patio plant for container edging, ground covers, hanging baskets, or anywhere you want a splash of chartreuse foliage. The flowers are tiny and short-lived. The plants like constant moisture and fare better in partial sun than in stronger afternoon sun, which can bleach the leaves.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Flower Color Varieties: Yellow
Light: Full to partial sun
Soil Needs: Well-draining sandy, loamy, or clay, acid, alkaline, or neutral
Mature Size: 2-4 in. tall, 12-18 in. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Pelargonium
Also known as a zonal or regal geranium, the appearance of pelargoniums (Geraniaceae) in garden centers in late spring seems to set off a planting frenzy that coincides with Mother’s Day. If you decide to gift some tropical pelargoniums to Mom for her patio, tell her to grow them in full sun, water regularly, and feed monthly. Check out ‘Aristo Black Beauty,’ with deep purple flowers with a pink picotee edge.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-12
Flower Color Varieties: Red, purple, pink, magenta orange, salmon, white, bicolored
Light: Full light, tolerates light shade
Soil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil, slightly acidic
Mature Size: 5-36 in. tall, depending on variety
Deer Resistant: Sometimes
Cannas
Cannas (Cannaceae) command attention wherever they grow, and the taller varieties like ‘Giant Durban’ make great screening plants for the patio. Cannas are very hungry and thirsty plants, so keep them very moist and feed them with a balanced plant fertilizer to help them reach their potential.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
Flower Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, pink, cream, white; solid color or with contrasting spots
Light: Full sun
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining, acidic
Mature Size: 1.5–8 ft. tall, 1.5–6 ft. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Purple Fountain Grass
An urn full of purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) waving merrily in the breeze is one of the easiest ways to add instant texture to a bland patio setting. The plants look gorgeous as standalone specimens, but also make handsome partners with trailing plants like the sweet potato vine. Though it’s low-maintenance, keep the plant away from windy areas, and it may need staking to prevent full flopping.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-10
Flower Color Varieties: Burgundy red
Light: Full sun, partial shade
Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, neutral to acidic
Mature Size: 3–5 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Golden Bamboo
Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) is a stunning privacy plant that sometimes forgets its manners when it invades the garden with its rapidly growing rhizomes. This most popular type of bamboo grows quickly and tall, reaching around 20 feet in height. But there are even taller bamboo plants, such as black bamboo which can reach heights of 30 feet.
Smaller plants, such as heavenly bamboo grow to 7 feet and may be a better choice for patio container gardens. Another container garden alternative would be the smaller bamboo variety Pleioblastus chino ‘Variegatus,’ which grows about 4 feet tall. Use a container at least 18 inches wide and deep, and water frequently. Bamboo likes some shade in the hottest part of the day.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10
Flower Color Varieties: Rarely flowers
Light: Full sun, partial shade
Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic
Mature Size: 12–20 ft. tall, 12-25 ft. wide (clumps of canes), 1–2 in. thick (individual golden bamboo canes)
Deer Resistant: Yes (though not all of the time)
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
If you’re craving an evergreen container specimen for the patio, consider the tidy habit of the dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca), which maintains a perfect conical form without trimming or shaping. Plants are hardy to zone 2 in the ground and may survive the winter in a container in a sheltered area.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
Flower Color Varieties: Does not flower
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Needs: Well-draining, acidic
Mature Size: 6-8 ft. tall, 4-5 ft. wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Gardenia
Long cultivated for its heady fragrance, the Gardenia spp. is a Southern plant, and often grown as a houseplant, but you can also grow these delicate white flowers as a patio specimen. Gardenia roots don’t like to be disturbed, so choose a large container that will be a long-term home for this plant. Add mulch to keep roots evenly moist and prune after flowering.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
Flower Color Varieties: White, cream
Light: Full sun or partial shade
Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil, peat-based potting mix for containers
Mature Size: 5-6 ft. tall and spread
Deer Resistant: Yes
Boxwood
An elegant boxwood (Buxus) shrub, with its dense leaves that easily trim into a neat silhouette, provides an air of formality for a patio. Boxwood comes as shrubs or small trees, but your best bet for the patio would be dwarf varieties, such as “Petite Pillar,” which maintains a tidy shape in containers. Larger cultivars like “Green Tower” will also make excellent landscaping accents or screening plants.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Flower Color Varieties: Green and yellow
Light: Full, partial sun
Soil Needs: Loamy, neutral to alkaline
Mature Size: 2-8 ft. tall (varies by species)
Deer Resistant: Yes
The article is reproduced from: https://www.thespruce.com/
