10 Plants That are Perfect For Your Front Porch

If you want to add a big splash of color to your front porch, introducing a few plants is going to be your best way of getting it. Whether you prefer the visually dramatic appeal of succulents, the merry sunshine yellow of primroses, or the low maintenance, resilient nature of ferns, you’ll find plenty of options to suit. Here, we take a look at ten front porch plants that are sure to turn heads.

1. Chrysanthemum

A variety of the daisy family, Chrysanthemums produce bright, ornamental floral displays that are sure to enhance your porch’s look. Available in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, the Chrysanthemum is easy to grow (just be sure to plant them in well prepared, fertile, sandy soil with good drainage – a mum hates wet feet) and requires little by way of ongoing maintenance.

2. Lantana

If your porch spends most of the day bathed in sunshine, the sun-loving Lantana could be its ideal companion. Low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and with extended bloom time, the lantana will add a beautiful splash of color and interest to any porch. As an added benefit, they’re also an excellent way of attracting butterflies and hummingbirds into the garden. In terms of care requirements, give newly planted Lantana’s plenty of watering; once they’re established, a once-a-week soaking and a light helping of fertilizer in spring should be all they need to stay healthy.

3. Marigold

If you’re looking for a plant that will give you a huge splash of color but require very little by way of return, meet your new best friend, the marigold. Requiring little more than the occasional deadheading and splash of water, marigolds are one of the hardiest plants around, lapping up hot, sunny exposures and even tolerating the reflected heat and light from paved surfaces. They’re also remarkably disease and pest free, and can even help repel any critters that could damage any of your other plants and shrubs.

4. Begonia

Some porches get blasted with sunlight the whole day long. Others get barely a peak. If yours falls into the second category, the begonia makes a great option. Cheerful and colorful, these low maintenance little bloomers require little more than the occasional drop of water and fertilizer to reward you with stunning flowers and plentiful foliage. Best of all, they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, going all the way from as small as six inches to a big as three feet tall, making them ideal for any space.

5. Primrose

What better way to brighten up your porch than with a display of ever-cheerful primroses? As an evergreen, primroses can sit quite happily on the patio throughout the year before exploding into a burst of sunshine color in spring. As the Garden Helper notes, care-wise, the primrose does better in cooler temperatures and with rich, humus soil. Although they like lots of sun in spring, you might need to move them to a more shaded spot during the hotter days of summer. Some of the most popular types to consider include the Japanese Primrose, a red, white or purple flowering variety that can grow up to 40 inches tall, the English Primrose, a prolific bloomer available in a huge variety of colors, the Julianna Primrose, one of the earliest bloomers, and the Moonlight Primrose, a summertime bloomer with fragrant, bell-shaped blossoms.

6. Columbine

If you want a low maintenance plant with unique, spectacular looking flowers, you’ll find it hard to beat the Columbine. With their dangling, bell-shaped blossoms, few other plants can match Columbine’s visual appeal… or it’s easy to please temperament. Providing it’s not kept too wet or exposed to full sun, it’ll require very little by way of maintenance to keep blooming.

7. Ferns

Ferns come in a wide variety of types, shapes, and sizes, making them easily adaptable to just about any size and condition. If your patio sits in the sun, the Kimberly Queen fern is a great choice. Unlike many other varieties of fern, the Kimberly Queen is tidy and compact, with long sword-shaped fronds that have an impressive swagger. As Gardenerdy notes, upkeep is minimal: water every 2-3 days to keep the soil moist but not wet, and spread around 2-3 inches of mulch around the base once every 3-4 months. If your patio is shaded, a variety like the Boston Fern might be a better choice, being easy to grow and requiring little in the way of direct sunlight to thrive.

8. Caladium

If you’ve fewer green fingers than you’d like, the Caladium could be just what you need. Once planted, it requires minimal upkeep; keep it well fertilized and moist, and that’ll about the extent of it. Although Caladiums do bloom, the real star attraction is their foliage: brilliantly colored and available in various shades of red, pink, white and green, some with deep colored veining and others with variegated streaks of color, it’s certain to provide a big burst of instant color to your patio.

9. Hosta

Give a Hosta some shade and plenty of water, and you’ll be rewarded with a fast-growing, eye-catching plant that’ll add plenty of interest to your patio. As Better Homes and Gardens notes, one of the joys of the Hosta is its variety, with types available in almost every shape, color, and size you can imagine.

10. Succulent

While most of us automatically think ‘cacti’ when we hear the word succulent, this family of plants actually come in a huge variety of types. With dramatic forms, colorful foliage, and a low maintenance appeal, they make a stunning, visually arresting addition to any patio. Thanks to their ability to thrive in environments that would be too dry for other plants, they’re a particularly wise option in warmer climes. The options are almost limitless, but some of the most popular types include Burro’s Tail, Hens-and-Chicks, Jade Plant, Aloe Vera, and Panda Plant.

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