Low Maintenance Patio Plants For Containers: 12 Easiest Potted Plants For Terraces, Patios & Decks

Outdoor patio plants are a great way to enhance your outdoor space, whether you have a full garden or just a small area. If they’re easy to grow and low-maintenance, all the better. Some of the easiest potted plants for patios, decks, terraces and courtyards are also some of the loveliest, with a delightful variety in texture and tone.

Whether you’re after vibrant clusters of color or lush leaves, there are plenty of options for pots and planters that can create instant calm and interest while you relax and take in the spectacle. Here are some of the best plants for container gardening on patios. This roundup includes options for full sun, partial sun, and even shade.

Planning Patio Plants for Sun and Shade

Before selecting outdoor patio plants, think carefully about location – both in terms of space available, and in terms of available light and warmth. The amount of sunlight your patio receives is a key factor in determining whether you opt for sun-loving patio ideas or plants that are better able to handle shade. Observe the space over the course of a sunny day to see where you get sun, and for how long. This will determine the plants you choose and where you place them.

If your patio gets sun in the morning but shade in the afternoon, for example, you can choose a plant that only needs three to four hours of sun per day. There are plenty of plants that appreciate afternoon shade. You can even use larger, full-sun plants to filter sunlight for plants that prefer some shade. Follow the suggestions below for the best container gardening options for both sun and shady patio spots.

Shade-Tolerant Container Plants for Patios

No plants really love shade, but some tolerate it and do better with at least some shade. Certain plants are susceptible to leaf scorch during very hot days and will appreciate some dappled or filtered afternoon shade. Others, like the plants below, will flourish with limited sunshine and will make great shade containers for patios.

1. Hostas

Hostas are among the easiest potted plants to grow as long as you choose the right size. If growing hostas in pots, avoid the large varieties and stick with smaller hostas for the shady areas of your patio. Good options for pots and tubs include duo-toned ‘Funky Mouse’ and ‘Cameo’, ripple-edged ‘Lakeside Down Sized’ and stunning teal ‘Blue Mouse Ears’.

Shade-loving hosta plants come back year after year, even in containers. Don’t be worried if plants go back to compost level in the fall as dormancy kicks in. They will return in spring as long as emerging leaves are not damaged by extreme frosts.

2. Ferns

Most ferns thrive even in deep shade and love moist soil. As with hostas, choose ferns to match the size of your space and containers. Hard shield and soft shield ferns both fit into a patio environment effortlessly, flourishing where conditions might seem a muted and underwhelming.

Other great fern varieties for pots include the feathery lady fern, the structured leatherwood fern from the Gardening Know How Shop, or the glossy, rippled bird’s nest fern. Make sure ferns are kept well watered but housed in pots with excellent drainage. Also, move indoors ahead of the very coldest months.

3. Impatiens

This classic annual for shade is very easy to grow in a container and will reward you with abundant flowers. Pinch stems early and often for fuller, denser growth. These compact shade-lovers, also known affectionately as ‘Busy Lizzies’, have fleshy stems and are drought resistant, hence why they are such easy pot flowers to grow.

Impatiens works well in container combinations with colorful foliage plants like coleus, plus astilbe, hosta, and ferns. If you are growing impatiens in multiples, or in tandem with other plants, just bear in mind that they have a mounding habit which benefits from good spacing. Choose generous containers with good drainage.

4. Coleus

Many coleus varieties make easy outdoor potted plants for shady areas of a patio. The likes of ‘Wizard Scarlet’ and ‘Black Dragon’ present with dramatic dual leaf color contrasts. Some breeds like ‘Wicked Witch’ develop unusual rippled foliage edges that create a ruffled appearance. Meanwhile, coleus varieties like ‘Kong’ command attention with their enormous leaves.

Whether your tastes run to the subtle and moody (like chocolate burgundy ‘Vino’, or the bold and vivacious (like bright lime-green ‘Wasabi’), a coleus container combo makes a gorgeous focal feature. Just be sure to grow coleus varieties together that are bred specifically to flourish in shade (a few prefer more sunshine). Also, pinch off flowers as they appear to keep the focus on those mega-colorful leaves.

Plants for Partially Sunny Patio Spots

Shade can be tricky, but if you want to add ornamental interest to patios that aren’t sun traps, it is definitely possible. You’ll find plenty of easy pot flowers to grow in partial shade. These options just need about four hours of direct sunlight per day.

5. Coral Bells

Coral bells are low-maintenance plants that appreciate some shade. Choose from a range of gorgeous foliage options. Grow plum tones and rich burgundies with varieties such as ‘Palace Purple’, ‘Obsidian’ and ‘Black Pearl’.

Alternatively, try gold-leaf beauties such as ‘Georgia Peach’, ‘Marmalade’ and ‘Bronze Wave’ Coral Bells, available in the Gardening Know How Shop. As a bonus, their dainty flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It’s wise to bring coral bells under glass over winter to protect the leaves from extremes of frost.

6. Begonias

The combination of begonia and container is a classic partnership. This annual flower adores partial shade and will need only a few hours of direct sunlight a day. As long as you grow them in containers with good drainage, their needs are few.

You can find a wide variety, from begonias with dark leaves to brighter options that spill over with cheerful flowers. Newer types include trailing foliage, unusual flower and striking leaf shapes, like dragon wing (or angel wing) begonias. Great varieties for patio pots include ‘Million Kisses’, ‘Glowing Embers’ and ‘Sahara’.

7. Periwinkle

Periwinkle is a pretty, flowering groundcover plant that makes a good ‘spiller’ element in mixed containers. As long as you grow periwinkles in pots with good drainage and regular watering, they are relatively unfussy plants that adapt well to low shade and partial shade. Generally available with purple, lavender, pink or white blooms, less periwinkle (Vinca minor) is especially well suited to part-shade patios.

8. Mint

Most herbs in containers like full sun, but mint tolerates some shade. Many mint varieties make easy plants to grow in containers. Their distinctive scents are an attractive proposition for patios, where you can enjoy the aromas at close quarters. If left to grow in a bed, mint grows vigorously, so it is actually better suited to pot life.

However, because of its vigorous nature, mint isn’t really one to mix up with other herbs – unless you feel like creating a combination mint container. Mix up conventional aromas with those of a newer breed like a chocolate or a citrus variety. You can grab some Peppermint Seeds in the Gardening Know How Shop.

Full Sun Container Plants for Patios

Many plants enjoy full sun, and a large number of flowering options are well suited to pots and planters. If you’re after low-maintenance outdoor potted plants for full sun, try these easy-going and drought-tolerant container options for color, fragrance and long seasons of interest.

9. Lavender

Lavender creates instant cool and calm as part of a patio container display. This pretty cottage garden staple is fragrant, full of movement, and a treat for visiting pollinators. There are plenty of gorgeous French and English lavenders that will thrive in pots positioned in full sun, thanks to their natural drought tolerance.

Try ‘Hidcote’, ‘Edelweiss’ and ‘Munstead’, available in the Gardening Know How Shop. Just make sure your container has excellent drainage, and don’t be tempted to overwater. Gorgeous both as standalone containers, as part of a Mediterranean feature pot with thyme and sage, or coupled with equally drought-friendly echinacea.

10. Petunias

Petunias are classic, sun-loving annuals that grow particularly well in containers. The vining types look nice in hanging baskets and windowboxes and can quickly fill a relatively quiet patio space with a kaleidoscope of color.

Choose Wave or Supertunia varieties if you’re worried about petunia care and wish to avoid deadheading maintenance. Fertilize containers and baskets every couple of weeks during the growing season to keep flowers looking at their best and growing for as long as possible.

11. Geraniums

The geranium is another outdoor container classic, thanks to its bright flowers, characteristic fragrance, and attractive leaves. These cheerful annuals are perfect as patio containers. They will survive a few missed waterings, and they keep blooming all summer long. You just need to deadhead them to encourage further flowering.

Wen growing geraniums in containers, try a bold tone like ‘Century Red’, ‘Dolce Vita’ or ‘Horizon Orange’, or grow a mix such as peppery ‘Maverick’. You can pick up ‘Maverick’ Geranium seeds in the Gardening Know How Shop for an assortment of pink, red, orange and lavender blooms. Just bring pots indoors over winter.

12. Lantana

This fast-growing perennial with its vibrant floral clusters is considered invasive in certain areas. However, it’s safe to grow lantana plants in containers and they make highly decorative displays. A patio pot is a great way to enjoy cheerful bursts of flowers that shift through a rainbow of colors as they mature. Great Lantana varieties for the heat of summer include the ‘Bandana’ series, ‘Patriot’ and ‘Luscious Grape’.

Frequently Asked Questions

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