Are you looking to spruce up your patio or porch? Well, many different plants can easily add interest to your outdoor living space. Flowering plants draw people in with their colorful blossoms and large greenery, such as ferns, bushes, and shrubs. They look great and are easy to take care of!
Here are 10 of the best patio plants that add interest to your outdoor space.
1. Mandevilla
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This beautiful flower will look great on your patio, out front or in the back of your home. Keep in mind that mandevilla does require a trellis to grow to its full potential. It likes full sun or partial shade, and soil that is moist and not acidic.
These wonderful patio plants bloom all season long, from June until the first frost, with little care. And, you can bring them in for winter in cold climates. Take note that mandevilles are a little messy indoors since it will drop leaves and flowers.
2. Fan Flowers
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Fan flowers, or Scaevola, are named as such because their flowers look like tiny little fans. These flowers are strong and long-lasting and will bloom from early summer right up to frost, provided they get enough light, water, and heat.
Cold summers where daytime temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit may cause the plants to stop blooming for a while but they can be brought back with a little love and attention.
Fan flowers prefer well-drained soil that is moist, but never too wet, so keep them away from puddling areas or slopes in your garden. The level grounded patio would be perfect!
3. Cuphea
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Cuphea will add interest to your patio garden, and attract the interest of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The plant also looks very interesting, with its tube-like flowers that come in red, orange, purple, white, bright yellow, and neon pink.
Cuphea will start to bloom in the late spring and will keep blooming until the fall or first frost. This plant prefers a well-drained soil of loam, chalk, and sand within a neutral, acidic, or alkaline pH balance. They thrive in an area where they will get full sun or part shade.
Cuphea needs a lot of room to grow because they get so lush, so they are ideal for big patios.
4. Marigolds
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Marigolds are bright and they thrive on little to no attention. Marigolds don't mind heat or drought and will bloom at the beginning of the summer and last until the first freeze.
Their bright colors pop in planters on your patio and are hard to miss. Marigolds need to be pruned, but when you prune them they will continue to bloom. You can even keep the flowers you cut off and have a nice arrangement!
Marigolds prefer to be watered thoroughly, but let the water dry out before watering again. Your container needs a good drainage hole in the bottom. Use a good quality, lightweight potting mix and add a handful of sand. Place your marigolds in full sun or partial shade.
5. Roses
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Growing roses is well worth it if you want something that will draw people to your patio. Roses do need to be pruned as they bloom, which can be tricky because of their thorns. They also need planters that are freeze-resistant, so plastic and wood will work the best.
Roses prefer full sun or partial shade and enjoy loam soil as long as it's well-drained, deep, and full of humus (decayed organic matter).
These flowers like to be watered once a week, but if the temperature is very warm your roses will need more water or they will begin to wilt.
6. Fuchsia
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Fuchsia is a vivid red, white, and purple cascading flower that looks particularly amazing in hanging baskets.
Fuchsias will grow great in full sun or partial shade with shelter from cold winds. To ensure that your plant flowers profusely it needs fertile, moist, but well-drained soil. Fuchsia can be difficult when it comes to watering because they want to be moist at all times. If they get too dry, they will start to wilt and die off. Check your plant's soil every two to three days to make sure it is not dry.
7. Hydrangea
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Hydrangeas are lush and eye-catching with their large flowerheads and look like pom poms growing on bushes. They come in a variety of different colors and shapes including blue, purple, pink, white, and sometimes red.
Hydrangeas bloom in the spring, summer, and early fall seasons. In warmer temperatures, hydrangeas may stop blooming in the heat of summer but will rebloom in the fall.
Hydrangeas need to be watered deeply three times a week to make sure the roots are getting the water they need to keep growing. They thrive when the soil is constantly moist with good drainage. Hydrangeas love full sun or partial shade.
8. Caladium
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Caladium is the perfect plant to grow if you're looking to draw people into your patio space, due to their size and beautiful color. Its flowers bloom anytime from spring into autumn, when they are cared for properly.
Caladium thrives in hot, humid weather and prefers full to partial shade. Caladium will need to be watered frequently during warmer weather because they prefer to be moist but not soggy, so check your plants daily. The soil should be rich, and well-drained, or potting mix for containers, such as a damp mix of soil and peat.
9. Succulents
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Succulents are, by definition, full of juice, and they sure will bring interest to your patio space! They are harsh and climate-ready because they store water in their leaves and stems, which makes them easy to care for because they require very little time and attention.
Make sure to do your research on the different varieties that will thrive outdoors instead of inside.
Most succulents need partial to full sunlight. Succulents need to be grown in cactus soil or potting mix that has sand in it. Your succulents only need to be watered when their soil is completely dried out.
10. Lavender
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These hardy plants with purple-blue flowers create a sense of romantic charm to any patio space. Plus, they smell amazing so you will enjoy spending time in your garden and running your hands over these patio plants.
Lavender needs full sun and minimum potting mix - instead they prefer worm castings and lime for more benefits. Use soil that is slightly alkaline in pH.
You need to water your lavender plants once or twice a week once you have planted them so your lavender plants will bloom all summer long.
Be Creative!
With all the wonderful plants that are out there for your patio, these 10 are sure to make sure to draw eyes to your patio space. None of these options are hard to grow or maintain; they just need some water and sunlight to thrive!