Patios aren’t just a way to get from indoors to outdoors. They’re a part of the home, a place where we entertain guests and family, as well as read excellent books in the sun. Adding several of the greatest patio plants around to transform the area into a superb location where you want to spend some time is one of the ways to make a patio feel unique.
Plants may grow in your shady hideaway or in broad daylight. You may find a plant or two -or ten– that will make your area exactly what you want, regardless of the design, size, or exposure you get on your patio.
The 19 Best Patio Plants
1. Pentas
Few plants attract as many pollinators as the pentas plant, so if you want to invite pollinators to your patio, it’s worth a try. The flowers are bright and star-shaped, and they bloom in huge clusters. White, pink, lavender, and red are just a few of the colors available in the flowers. On mounding plants that are 18 to 24 inches tall, you can expect the blossoms to stay out all summer. Plants need a lot of light to thrive.
2. Lantana
Another excellent patio plant is the flowering beauty shown here. Although some new cultivars of Lantanas may not have the same vigorous growth, they are known for being an invasive plant in warm areas. They would be ideal in a container since they can’t get out of hand.
In warm, bright weather, Lantana plants blossom continuously. These plants need a bigger patio container to keep the aggressive roots happy, and they’re known for being drought resistant.
3. Coleus
Coleus is a common patio plant that you’ll probably come across during your search for the best. Coleus cultivars have exploded in popularity in the last ten years, with leaf colors that can match practically any style or design.
In full sunlight or shade, Coleus thrives. For optimum development, keep the plant properly watered. To maintain the plant’s appearance, make sure to deadhead the lavender flower spikes. Hummingbirds are also attracted to the spikes on the plant, so you can leave them in place to attract them.
4. Elephant Ears
Do you want to add a beachy feel to your patio? Elephant ears are large heart-shaped leaves that are impressive. The green and white variegated forms of this plant range in color from light purple to dark purple.
During cold weather, you’ll have to bring the elephant ears inside because they’re a tropical plant. As a year-round houseplant, they perform wonderfully. These plants can grow to be tall, reaching 3-5 feet in height, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room wherever you decide to put it!
5. Coreopsis
In containers and patios, Coreopsis is a tough wildflower that performs well. This plant is sometimes referred to as pot of gold or tickseed by gardeners. It also produces flowers such as red, pink, orange, and yellow in a wildflower garden. The leaves are delicate and open.
6. Croton
Croton plants are available in most houseplant sections of general shops, but they aren’t impossible to grow on your patio. Crotons are a fantastic patio plant that will grow substantially bigger than their indoor relatives when given enough sunlight and rain outdoors.
Orange, red, yellow, and other hues of rainbow-colored leaves decorate these plants. They only need moderate watering and prefer to grow in full sunlight.
7. Bromeliad
For those going for a tropical aesthetic to their décor, here’s another patio plant option. The tropical plant Bromeliad has stripey leaves in vivid colors. Even if your plant does not bloom, these can be a colorful patio addition at times.
You can repot the new growths that develop around the mother plant after bromeliad plants have bloomed. This allows you to grow a never-ending supply of bromeliad plants on your patio.
8. Caladium
Because most container plants need sunlight, growing plants in the shade may be difficult. Amaranth is a popular choice for planting caladiums because they thrive in full shade. Their leaves have green spots and are a variegated white to orange shade.
Bulbs develop slowly or not at all if put in the cold earth, and caladium plants don’t like the cold weather. This plant springs to life when the weather gets warm, and it thrives in scorching temperatures despite the fact that it requires a lot of water. Pest-free is a term used to describe the environment. As a result, it’s a fantastic addition to any container garden.
9. Flowering New Guinea Impatiens
One of the nicest-potted plants for shade is the New Guinea impatiens, which you can plant in a shady spot on your patio. This plant thrives as a houseplant and performs well in a shady outdoor environment. If you deadhead regularly, it will bloom profusely throughout the autumn months.
Since impatiens are susceptible to downy mildew disease, you may be hesitant to try them. Yet, this illness has no effect on New Guinea impatiens, which alleviates one of the concerns you may have when growing this flower in your garden.
10. Heliotrope
As you relax in the sun or settle in with a good book on a chilly morning, adding aromatic plants to your patio helps to spread fragrant odors around you. Heliotrope develops violet cluster blossoms and has a pleasant vanilla fragrance.
This plant is indigenous to Peru, but it thrives in container gardens. To flourish, these plants need full sun or partial shade. Rich soil is also required by them.
11. Begonia
It’s simple to select the Begonia that matches your décor and outdoor spaces because they come in so many shapes and colors. They all have varying growing requirements because there are so many different types. Houseplants withBegonias add a colorful burst to your home. They can withstand dry spells.
12. Emerald & Gold Wintercreeper
While other varieties are compact and perfect for containers, this plant is often mistaken with a shrub. Green and gold hues prevail, with a pink tint thrown in for good measure.
These bushes develop to be two to three feet tall and up to six feet wide. As a result, you’ll need to obtain a big container. The size of your patio might be affected by these plants.
13. Million Bells
Million bells is a plant that will give you dozens of flowers if you want them. This plant has attractive tubular petunia blossoms that aren’t bothered by pests and don’t attract them. A million bells, on the other hand, flourish prolifically in high temperatures.
When containers cascade over the side, spilling downward, this plant thrives in them. Purple and pink are two of the many hues available.
14. Cosmos
With their daisy-like, colorful appearance, Cosmos may brighten anyone’s day. Tall flowers of various hues, such as pink, yellow, orange, white, and red, bloom in clusters. Cosmos can be used with plants that have silver leaves to create a more dramatic effect.
In containers, Cosmos thrives. During the growing season, dozens of blossoms will emerge, allowing you to create stunning fresh flower arrangements.
15. English Ivy
Anyone can tell the difference between English ivy and other patio plants. Its glossy, dark green leaves are ideal for setting other plants off. By taking cuttings and growing additional plants, gardeners may enhance the English ivy in their container plants.
16. Fountain Grass
For your patio, an impact plant is sometimes required, and fountain grass accomplishes that. The bushy red blooms and long stems of this grass make a stunning impression. Fountain grass can be maintained indoors all year or on a rotational basis, and it may be cultivated in garden beds or containers.
Remember that since fountain grass is a tropical grass, it must be protected against the risk of freezing. They may leave them outside for a while, but don’t leave them there permanently.
17. Clematis
Clematis varieties that thrive in pots make a great addition to containers. It works well as a trailing plant, although it can be grown as a climbing part. As one of the finest patio plants, it’s a great pick.
In regions that experience freezing temperatures, Clematis prefer a big pot to help safeguard the roots. If you have a protected location for these plants, you might be able to leave them outdoors with a thick layer of mulch.
18. Hibiscus
Hibiscus, a tropical plant with huge blooms in vivid colors, is another vibrant bloom. Without a doubt, these are one of the most beautiful and appealing patio plants you can have.
Hibiscus requires a lot of sunlight and water to maintain its vibrant flowers growing until fall, so they are tropical plants. These plants are vulnerable to cold temperatures, so be careful. Once the temperature drops below 50 degrees, they shut down quickly. Between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Hibiscus thrives best.
19. Ornamental Peppers
Ornamental peppers are the final resort for selecting optimum patio plants. Do you think having a lovely plant requires getting flowers? In the sun, the decorative peppers sparkle brightly, and they thrive in the heat of summer.
They prefer big pots that don’t dry out quickly, and they thrive in them. Peppers need frequent watering because they don’t like dry soil.
Picking the Best Patio Plants
Yet, despite the fact that some plants prefer containers or patios, these 19 prefer pots. Make certain to inspect the location you want to place your plants and choose ones that will give the amount of sunlight required. Plants that do not tolerate minimal to no shade. You may choose from a variety of patio plants to create the perfect outdoor area.