12 Best Plants for Your Front Porch

Your front porch is the first thing guests see when they visit your home, meaning it's in charge of setting the overall tone for your space. For this reason, you want your front porch to look its very best. And one of the easiest ways to elevate this spot is with plants. From climbing species that scale columns to varieties that thrive in containers, front porch plants are a great way to enhance curb appeal. Whether you have a fully shaded porch or one that's open to sunlight, many varieties will thrive in this space—and look great doing it.

Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms
Adrienne Roethling, garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden
Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins

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Mandevilla

A tropical plant that blooms all summer long no matter how hot it gets, mandevilla is a fantastic porch or patio plant to try if you live in the upper USDA hardiness zones. "It produces trumpet-shaped blooms primarily in red, white, or pink, though new varieties show off yellow, peach, or apricot tones," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms. It comes in two forms: a climbing vine that looks beautiful trailing up porch columns or a mounding plant that you can display in a pot.

Zones: 10 to 11
Size: 18 inches tall x 18 inches wide (depending on variety)
Growing Conditions: Full sun; well-draining soil

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Begonia

All begonias will do well in containers and can tolerate deep to bright shade, making them a great option no matter the style of porch you're working with. "Their robust stems give way to angel wing-like foliage—often green, purple, or chartreuse with clusters of pink or red blooms," says Adrienne Roethling, garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. "They bloom all summer long and will do equally well when brought indoors."

Zones: 9 to 11
Size: 18 inches tall x 12 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full shade to full sun; well-draining soil

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Heucherella Sweet Tea

This colorful plant changes its hue depending on the current weather conditions. "From golden, orange, and red to brown and bronze, this species is an explosion of color that will complement any porch," says Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins. "It blooms in late spring, and it will change its colors depending on the amount of sun exposure it receives."

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 20 inches tall x 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Part shade; moist, well-draining soil

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Lorelei Peony

Add color to your front porch with this hardy deciduous perennial, which blooms early to mid-summer. "Fun and frilly, the bright, pink-orange flowers spiral open from dark buds and mature to a beautiful light apricot orange—appearing magnificently multicolored as they transition," says Funk. The showy flowers bloom on long, strong stems that attract butterflies and are perfect for flower arrangements.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 24 inches tall x 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Part sun; moist, well-draining soil

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Farfugium

This unique plant is a show stopper on the porch—its dramatic, long-stalked leaves are a great way to add foliage to your landscape. "Most leaves are simple, rounded, and clear green," says Roethling. "Some may find varieties with white streaks or yellow spots and some leaves may possess a crinkled edge." In late summer, the stalks give way to yellow daisy-like flowers.

Zones: 7 to 10
Size: 24 inches tall x 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Part to full shade; well-draining soil

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Raven ZZ Plant

Loved for being a stylish and easy-care houseplant, the raven ZZ plant can also be displayed on a fully shaded front porch. "Its new leaves emerge from the soil a fresh and lively shade of lime green and mature to a rich purple-black color," says Hancock. "It has low water needs because it's able to store moisture in its thick, tuberous roots, so you can enjoy it without having to worry about hauling the hose around to keep it happy."

Zones: 10 to 11
Size: 12 inches tall x 8 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full shade; well-draining soil

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Caladium

Caladiums are one of the easiest plants to transition from outside to indoors. "At the end of the growing season, simply remove the leaves, unearth the bulb, and store in a dark, cool place for winter," says Roethling. "Ignore it until the following spring season and place it back outdoors when conditions are favorable." They like hot and dry conditions, so they are perfect for displaying on your porch come summer.

Zones: 9 to 10
Size: 24 inches tall x 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Part to full shade; well-draining soil

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Hosta

A shade-loving perennial ideal for a screened-in porch, hosta grows better in containers than in the ground. "Hosta is another great plant that is grown for its foliage," says Roethling. "They come in colors of green, chartreuse, [and red], and some [have] variegated margins or streaking." In summer, the plant puts on a beautiful show of purple or white trumpet-shaped flowers.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Part shade; rich, well-draining soil

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Coleus

One of the most popular plants to keep on the porch, coleus is a beginner-friendly option. "They are strictly tropical and are easy to propagate, making them manageable to carry from year to year," says Roethling. Pinch the flowers as they form, as plants left to flower may become lanky.

Zones: 10 to 11
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; normal potting soil

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Philodendron

Defined by its large, heart-shaped leaves, philodendron is easy to transition between outdoors and indoors. This means that you can grow it as a houseplant during colder months and then bring it out to your front porch once the weather warms. There are a handful of varieties available and its leaves come in green, green and gold, green and white, and chartreuse with hints of pink.

Zones: 10 to 12
Size: 30 to 70 feet tall x 6 to 10 feet wide (depending on variety)
Growing Conditions: Part shade; peat-based potting soil

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Geranium

Geraniums are a beautiful addition to a front porch, with dense, showy blooms that thrive in summer's heat. They can be found in shades of pink, red, and white. The variety that thrives as a porch plant is the pelargonium species and is usually grown as an annual. True native geraniums can be grown as a perennial in certain zones.

Zone: 3 to 9, but most commonly grown as an annual
Size: 4 to 48 inches tall x 6 to 36 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun; well-draining, quality potting soil or mix

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Petunia

Petunias are a delicate, pretty flower that thrives in containers, window boxes, and hanging planters. Dress up your front porch with a medley of colorful, bright petunias—many varieties drape gracefully over the sides of their pots, creating a whimsical effect.

Zone: 9 to 11; grown as annuals in other zones
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 4 inches to 4 feet wide, depending on the variety
Growing Conditions: Full sun; well-draining, rich potting mix or soil

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