I'm looking for low-maintenance plants that I can grow in planters on my patio. Ideally, these plants should be suited for outdoor conditions and not require moving indoors during the winter. Alternatively, are there any houseplants that can thrive outside in the summer but can also be brought indoors when it gets cold?
4 Answers
I've got a Jade plant that loves the porch during spring and summer, but I make sure to bring it inside when the cold sets in.
I have a variety of houseplants that do well outside in my courtyard. Just to help with suggestions, what zone are you in and how cold do winters get? Also, does your patio get full sun, partial shade, or is it mostly shaded by something like a gazebo?
For outdoor plants, you can't go wrong with coral bells (heucheras). They're super low maintenance and have survived snow and freezes for me—just plant them and forget about them, and they thrive!
I grow some native ferns and other local plants in containers on my porch year-round (zone 7a/b). In the summer, I add in tropical plants like Dracaena, croton, and begonia for some extra color.
I'm in zone 5b and my patio has full sun, but I do have a gazebo for shade.