Best Plants for Deck Planters: 8 Stunning Picks for Homeowners
Posted by Jason Wyrwicz on May 28th 2024
Deck planters allow you to transform your outdoor space into an oasis of natural beauty. When paired with the right plants, they add color and fragrance to your space, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you are looking to beautify your deck or incorporate nature into your patio, selecting the right plants for your deck planters is crucial.
Below, you will find some of the best plants for deck planters designed to beautify your deck, making it more enjoyable and visually appealing. Check them out!
8 Best Plants for Deck Planters
Here are some of the best plants to include in your deck planters:
1. Caladium
Are you looking to brighten up your deck? Caladium is the plant for you!
The tropical plant features heart-shaped leaves that come in red, white, pink, and green hues, making it the perfect plant for your deck. Thanks to its low upkeep requirement, caladium is ideal for homeowners with little gardening experience.
It adapts well to different planting methods, meaning it can be planted in baskets, containers, or even in the ground. Unfortunately, the plant thrives better in humid regions, so it may not be the ideal option for individuals living in dry environments.
2. Lavender
If you love relaxing outside on those chilly evenings, you’d appreciate lavender.
Lavender is a lovely plant to have around. Though small, its beautiful colored purple flowers can add charm to your deck, improving its visual appeal.
What about its scent? Lavender’s sweet and calming scent is commonly admired.
It can transform your deck or patio into a soothing oasis, making it the perfect relaxation spot for you and your family. Lavender is a low-maintenance plant and a sun lover, meaning it requires little watering and direct sunlight. It’s a popular pick to grow in deck, garden, or porch planters.
3. Bamboo
Are you looking for something unique for your deck? Bamboo is a good pick!
Though flowerless, bamboo has patterns and textures that can add natural comfort to your deck. It also has dense foliage that can beautify your deck and provide privacy from passersby or neighbors.
Bamboo is a low-maintenance plant, so it’s perfect for beginners looking for something to grow in their patio planters. However, it requires pruning so it doesn’t spread like weed.
4. Creeping Jenny
As its name suggests, the creeping jenny is a wandering plant—and one of the best plants for deck planters. It’s perfect for homeowners looking to switch things up or add color to their space with little effort.
Unlike the typical upright plants, the creeping jenny has a cascading growth habit that adds a touch of greenery to decks, increasing their visual appeal. Plus, it’s regarded as every homeowner’s dream due to its minimal care requirement and its ability to flourish during colder months.
The creeping jenny’s versatility makes it a good option for your deck, as it can thrive in sun and partial shade.
5. Hibiscus
Hibiscus is another excellent option for deck planters.
It has charming and large bright flowers that add beauty to any outdoor space. Whether you intend to use it as a backdrop for your patio or grow it in your outdoor planters at the entrance, hibiscus can transform your space into a tropical paradise.
Moreover, it's a low-maintenance plant that requires less upkeep, making it ideal for busy homeowners. When placed on your deck, hibiscus can create a relaxing atmosphere, giving off vacation vibes.
6. Roses
Do you want to create an inviting and captivating deck? Rose is exactly what you need!
Everyone loves roses. It has a beautiful bloom and soothing scent, making it an excellent option for your deck. Plus, it is versatile—meaning it can be paired with other flowers to create visually appealing foliage.
Rose comes in different attractive colors. This allows you to create a personalized design for your deck based on your preference and style. Because it's a high-maintenance plant, rose isn't a suitable option for homeowners with zero gardening experience.
7. Croton
Croton is an attractive plant that adds a touch of color to patios and decks. Though commonly grown as houseplants in indoor planters, crotons work well for different deck designs. It comes in rainbow-like leaves that add beauty to your space even without flowering.
Croton doesn’t need much upkeep---this makes growing it easy. It prefers direct sun or partial shade and can be grown in containers or planters and placed on your balcony, decks, or patios. Ensure it is planted in well-drained soil to promote healthy root growth.
8. Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the best plants for deck planters, thanks to their ability to light up a space. They have an eye-catching leaf pattern capable of drawing admirers to your home, boosting your curb appeal.
Aside from its striking beauty, marigold is a low-maintenance plant. The yellow-blooming flower doesn’t require much upkeep to bloom. Plus, it comes in shades of orange, yellow, and gold, making it the ideal choice for homeowners looking to illuminate their space. To make sure they thrive, grow your marigolds in areas of abundant sunlight.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Plants for Your Deck
Here are 5 important factors to consider when choosing the best plants for deck planters:
Size and Growth Potential
The size of the plants you choose for your deck planters is crucial.
Pick a plant with a huge growth potential, and you may overwhelm your deck with too large planters. On the flip side, if you select a plant with low growth potential, you may not achieve the visual impact you desire.
It’s important to strike a balance. Choose a plant with decent growth potential—one capable of providing adequate visual impact without making your space look like the Amazon Rainforest.
Sunlight Exposure
Sunlight makes plants appear robust, lush, and beautiful. So, ensure you factor in sunlight exposure when choosing the best plants for deck planters.
While some plants need lots of sunlight to grow, others require a minimum dose to thrive. Determine the amount of sunlight your deck receives and keep it in mind when selecting plants for your deck planters.
Design of Your Deck
What is the design of your deck? Is it an attached, wraparound, multi-level, or a freestanding deck?
Whatever it is, make sure you select plants that complement its design and color scheme. This helps improve the overall aesthetics of your outdoor space.
Maintenance Needs
Before choosing a plant for your deck planters, think about your gardening experience. If you aren’t an experienced gardener, you may want to go for low-maintenance plants that require little care and can be grown in simple balcony planters. However, if you have significant experience, you can choose from an array of high-maintenance plants.
Climate
Climate is another factor to consider before choosing the best plants for deck planters. Select plants that thrive well in your region’s weather conditions, temperature, and humidity to ensure they stay healthy in the long run.
Choose the Best Plants for Deck Planters
Beautifying your deck with deck planters involves more than selecting a variety of eye-catching flowers. Make sure you consider the sunlight exposure of your deck, maintenance requirements, climate, and growth potential of the chosen plant. You should also position each planter strategically to improve the aesthetic appeal of your deck.
In our online store, you will find lots of products, including deck planters made of fiberglass or fiberstone, available in various sizes and shapes. Browse through our offer and find the best deck planters for your chosen plants!
FAQ
1. What potted plants are suitable for my deck?
The best-potted plants for your deck depend on two factors: the amount of sun your deck receives and your commitment to providing the required upkeep for the plants. Begonias and angelica are good options for pots or railing planters.
Many plants lack deep roots, making it easy to grow them in pots. Plants like boxwoods, hydrangeas, and hibiscus have deep roots; hence, growing them in pots isn't advisable.
2. What plants can thrive outside throughout the year?
Finding plants that can thrive outside throughout the year isn’t hard, especially if you live in places that lack cold winters. Begonia, lobelia, and angelonia are common examples. These plants do well in mild cold conditions but will wither in frigid climates.
If you live in colder regions, boxwoods and creeping jenny are good options, as they can handle even extremely cold weather.
3. Can I place potted plants on my deck?
Placing potted plants on your deck is basically a good idea. However, there are a few things to consider. Does your garden decking require you to manage water runoff? How often do you need to clean up after the plants you choose shed their flowers, twigs, or leaves?
Provided you can take care of these little issues, placing potted plants on your deck can help boost your curb appeal, improving the overall aesthetics of your outdoor space.
