Plants on the porch liven up the space and are the perfect
transition from the garden to the indoors. Porches are often shady, though,
making the choice of plant important. Houseplants
are often perfect spring and summer low light plants, but there are other
annuals and perennials that might be suitable as covered porch plants as well.
Just be aware of their zone hardiness and be prepared to move them indoors for
winter.
Are There Porch Plants That Don’t Need Sun?
Seasonal color displays, mixed foliage, succulents and cacti – many of these will perform well as shade plants for the porch. Flowering plants will need at least a little bit of sunlight to bloom, but many foliage plants enjoy their best color in low light. Container porch plants for shade will still need regular water, as pots dry out faster than in-ground plants.
Low light plants like astilbe
make excellent porch plants for shade. Even plants like hosta,
which are usually focal
points in the landscape, can be grown in containers. Some plants, like
colorful caladium,
may not be as brightly hued in shade conditions but will still thrive.
A wonderful way to use shade plants for the porch is in a
large container. Select complementary plants with one large plant for the
center, filler smaller species, and finally some trailing edge plants. A really
impactful combo might be elephant
ear as the focal species, surrounded by coleus
as a filler and sweet
potato vine trailing plants.
Flowering Covered Porch Plants
This is where the plant selection gets tougher because most flowering plants need bright light to produce blooms. Fuchsias will still develop their ballet skirted blooms, as will begonias.
Coral bells provide a diverse color and size range as well as get delicate, little flowers. Wishbone flowers make great fillers, as do delicate rose-like impatiens. Trailing lobelia and creeping Jenny have sweet, little blooms. Other plants that produce flowers are:
Larger Plants for a Shady Porch
If you want a pair of large containers flanking the stairs
and need to have plants with big impact, there are still many species that will
perform beautifully.
Japanese
forest grass has an appealing variegated nature that is enhanced in low
light. If there is some sunlight, an elegant Japanese
maple is a wonderful focal point.
Dwarf arborvitae
has classic good looks and ease of care. Nothing says southern charm like big
hanging baskets of graceful ferns.
Surprisingly, a hydrangea
will even produce copious blooms and glorious foliage in shady conditions.
There are many plants that will be happy to share your
covered porch.
Plants on the porch liven up the space and are the perfect
transition from the garden to the indoors. Porches are often shady, though,
making the choice of plant important. Houseplants
are often perfect spring and summer low light plants, but there are other
annuals and perennials that might be suitable as covered porch plants as well.
Just be aware of their zone hardiness and be prepared to move them indoors for
winter.
Are There Porch Plants That Don’t Need Sun?
Seasonal color displays, mixed foliage, succulents and cacti – many of these will perform well as shade plants for the porch. Flowering plants will need at least a little bit of sunlight to bloom, but many foliage plants enjoy their best color in low light. Container porch plants for shade will still need regular water, as pots dry out faster than in-ground plants.
Low light plants like astilbe
make excellent porch plants for shade. Even plants like hosta,
which are usually focal
points in the landscape, can be grown in containers. Some plants, like
colorful caladium,
may not be as brightly hued in shade conditions but will still thrive.
A wonderful way to use shade plants for the porch is in a
large container. Select complementary plants with one large plant for the
center, filler smaller species, and finally some trailing edge plants. A really
impactful combo might be elephant
ear as the focal species, surrounded by coleus
as a filler and sweet
potato vine trailing plants.
Flowering Covered Porch Plants
This is where the plant selection gets tougher because most flowering plants need bright light to produce blooms. Fuchsias will still develop their ballet skirted blooms, as will begonias.
Coral bells provide a diverse color and size range as well as get delicate, little flowers. Wishbone flowers make great fillers, as do delicate rose-like impatiens. Trailing lobelia and creeping Jenny have sweet, little blooms. Other plants that produce flowers are:
Larger Plants for a Shady Porch
If you want a pair of large containers flanking the stairs
and need to have plants with big impact, there are still many species that will
perform beautifully.
Japanese
forest grass has an appealing variegated nature that is enhanced in low
light. If there is some sunlight, an elegant Japanese
maple is a wonderful focal point.
Dwarf arborvitae
has classic good looks and ease of care. Nothing says southern charm like big
hanging baskets of graceful ferns.
Surprisingly, a hydrangea
will even produce copious blooms and glorious foliage in shady conditions.
There are many plants that will be happy to share your
covered porch.