Paint colors, countertops, and lighting are essential to a home’s aesthetic, but another way to decorate your home is through plants. These living decorations can take your pretty design to the next level. Not to mention they are a joy to grow and care for no matter your skill level. A front porch is your home’s first impression, and adding a few plants is the perfect way to make it more welcoming! So let’s talk about a few options for shady or sunny porches.
Shade Plants to Grow in a Pot
If your porch is shady most of the day, these are the best plants to grow in a pot.
Lamium Lamium is also known as deadnettle, but despite its aggressive name, this is a lovely plant that produces light purple blooms and is often grown as a ground cover. You can grow it alone in a pot or with another taller plant to create a pretty plant design.
Brunnera
Brunnera plants also go by “Jack Frost,” and its silvery heart-shaped leaves make it easy to see why. They are deer and rabbit resistant, so you won’t have to worry about those pests eating this plant like a potted snack. They aren’t blooming plants, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for something that won’t invite a bunch of bees to your front porch.
Boston Ferns
These plants are often put in sunny spots and are dead before the heat of summer. Ferns are a shade and moisture-loving variety of plants, and the popular Boston ferns are no exception. So if your porch is shady most of the day, you’ll likely be able to grow happy and healthy ferns.
Primrose
You will not be bored with the abundant varieties that primrose offers. It’s one of the most popular flowering plants for early spring since they are one of the first things to bring a pop of color after a long and gray winter.
Loropentalum
Another deer-resistant plant, the loropentalum, is ideal for tall or hanging pots since it grows in a vining pattern. Its purple leaves are almost pink when they first appear but fade to a deep purple when fully mature. You could also plant this around a taller plant in a pot to create a layered piece.
Bright Sun Loving Plants to Grow in a Pot
At first, it might seem impossible to keep a plant alive when your porch is blasted with sun all day long. However, plenty of plants will thrive in sunny and hot conditions.
Zahara Zinnia
You’ll get bright and brilliant blooms all season long with Zahara zinnias! They are drought-tolerant, so you don’t have to panic if you forget to water them for a few days, and they look charming in a container. Their bright colors will greet everyone who approaches your door!
Diamond Frost Euphorbia
Are you missing the white dust of a morning winter frost? The diamond frost euphorbia looks just like a frostbitten plant, but it loves sunny spots and grows fantastically in pots! They grow in a little bush and will bloom their little white flowers all season long.
Summer Snapdragon
If you have a porch that gets blasted with heat all day long, it might be hard to find a flowering plant that can handle it. The summer snapdragon can! They come in shades of purple, pink, and white and will welcome butterflies to your porch.
Succulents and Cacti
Who doesn’t love a good succulent or cactus? These plants, of course, love the sun and the heat and will thrive on your hot and sunny porch. Grab a few varieties at your local garden center and pot them up as a group or snatch a giant cactus on its own. They are unique and easy to care for, but don’t forget that they will eventually need water!
Edible Plants to Grow in a Pot
Growing flowers and leafy plants are a great way to add color and interest to your porch and front entrance, but why not kill two birds with one stone and grow edible plants? You can grow your own little herb garden right on your porch and in pots, so you always have fresh and homegrown herbs ready when you need them. And at the end of the season, you can pick all the leaves you haven’t used and dry them out to make your own dried herbs! You could even get these stunning pots from Williams Sonoma for an elegant herb garden you’re neighbors will be envious of.
Rosemary is an evergreen that will survive the winter and come back in the spring. It also has a lovely and potent aroma. Mint is invasive, and it can quickly take over a garden bed if not kept in check. Because of this, many gardeners recommend growing mint in containers anyway! Now you’ll always have fresh mint for your summer drinks. Thyme, cilantro, and oregano are easy to grow, and they are always best when fresh!
Lavender isn’t always thought of as an edible plant, but you can easily use it for teas! You can also cut the blooms and bring them indoors for aromatherapy in bathrooms or bedrooms!
There’s something here for everyone, and no matter how skilled of a gardener you are, you can find a beginner-friendly plant that will grow within your conditions. So take some time to research the plant, find out what it likes, and enjoy the process of caring for it while it brings a splash of color to your front porch.
