The Best Plants for a Patio

Patios are more attractive with plants.

A patio is an extension of a home into the outdoors. It's usually a hard-surfaced area used for cooking, dining and relaxing outside in nice weather. Dream patios are paved with bricks or tiles in beautiful designs, furnished with stylish patio furniture in wicker or cast iron and decked out with gorgeous flowering plants. Patio styles and designs vary widely according to taste and budget, and they almost always include plants and flowers. The best plants for a patio are those that are suited to the light and growing conditions on the patio as well as container growing.

Coleus

Coleus is an attractive and colorful foliage plant with multicolored leaves that can be ruffled. Leaves come in a variety of colors, usually with a different color trim or variegated bi-color. Colors include white, pink, yellow, cream, burgundy, deep purple and green. They are easy to grow from seed or from cuttings. They will grow in full sun but do best in partial shade.

Canna Lilies

Canna lilies are tropical plants that grow from a bulb. They have attractive green leaves that range from green to bronze to purple and come either solid or striped, with pretty ruffled flowers on tall stalks. Canna lilies range in size from two to five feet tall and flower in colors ranging from yellows, pinks and peaches to oranges and reds. They need full sun, so they are suited to a patio that is not under or near large trees.

Geraniums

Geraniums are grown for their pretty flower clusters that come in pink, red, white and salmon. The have round scalloped leaves and tall flower stalks. They are brightly colored flowers that make a beautiful display. Geraniums are popular hanging basket flowers that can be hung from gardening hooks or planted in large decorative patio plant containers.

Caladiums

Caladiums are interesting and colorful foliage plants with large, arrow-head shaped leaves. They grow from tubers and are very easy to care for, growing from six inches to thirty inches tall. Different varieties have white, pink, red or green leaves. Caladiums grow in partial shade to full sun and require regular watering. The tubers can be stored over the winter to replant again in the spring.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the perfect patio plant for a sunny location. They can be grown upside down in special hanging containers, on a trellis or planted in the ground around a patio. Tomatoes provide pretty foliage with yellow flowers and then produce edible fruit. Tomatoes require frequent watering and fertilizing.

Grapes

Grapes are a vining fruit that grows nicely on or around the patio area. They need strong support and full sun. Grapes grow well on a post and rail fence or arbor. Grapes have large leaves and long vines. Different types of grapes grow better in different geographic locations, so plant the right variety of grapes for your area.

References

• "Easy Container Gardens"; Pamela Crawford; 2008
• "McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers"; Rose Marie Nichols McGee and Maggie Stuckey; 2002
• "Container Gardening: 250 Design Ideas & Step-by-Step Techniques"; Fine Gardening; 2009