How to Choose Plants for a Patio

People often purchase patio plants by choosing the first plant they find appealing, attractive or one with pretty blossoms. This might work occasionally, but in most circumstances, you will not get a plant that lives and thrives on your patio. Patio plants should be purchased based on sun and shade requirements, purpose and available space. Learn how to choose plants for a patio.

1. Sun and Shade Requirements

Just as every plant has different sun and shade requirements, every patio provides a variety of shade and sun. Covered patios for instance, block the hot sun overhead all day. However, in most cases at least three sides of a covered patio allow morning or afternoon sunshine onto the patio. Many people have uncovered patios with no protection from the sun at all. In either example, placing a sun loving plant on a shady patio does not work and putting a shade plant in full sun can kill the plant. Read plant labels and research plants for sun and shade requirements before purchasing.

2. Plant Purposes

If you only want one or two patio plants than you probably do not need to worry about how plants can be used on a patio or do you? Patio plants not only add an aesthetic appeal and decor, they can also serve a function. Before buying plants for the patio, determine if the plant could or should serve a purpose. Climbing vines with blossoms for example; vines look great, provide shade and help to cool the patio. Flowering shrubs, patio trees and flowers on a patio all provide beauty, create an atmosphere and a pleasant place for relaxing. Climbing roses attached to trellises not only look good, but also provide a privacy screen or block an unsightly view.

3. Available Space

Many patios are small and you need to be careful about what plant varieties you select and make sure they don't grow too large. Check plant labels for the height and width of mature plants before choosing. Measure available space on your patio before purchasing plants. Consider climbing plants and those that grow vertically rather than horizontally.