It is not good to see our porch without plants. Plants can effortlessly transform a dull space into a vibrant, inviting environment. In this article, I am sharing a list of the best porch plants for North Texas.
All the credit goes to my grandpa (85) who has been gardening since childhood.
Some of our porches receive a lot of sunlight, and some don't. We can't say a specific plant is the best for the environment. This is why I am separating the porch plants into categories, to help you decide which is best for you.
Shade-loving porch plants
Here you can find ornamental plants and flowering plants that will love to grow well on the shady porch. (Where sunlight barely reaches or no sunlight reaches directly)
| Plant Name | Type | Evergreen | Maintenance Difficulty | Flower Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosta | Ornamental | Yes | Low | Pale Lavender |
| Japanese Painted Fern | Ornamental | No | Medium | N/A |
| Impatiens | Flowering | No | Low | Pink, Red, White, Purple |
| Coral Bells (Heuchera) | Ornamental | Yes | Medium | White, Pink, Red |
| Caladium | Ornamental | No | Low | N/A |
| Begonia | Flowering | No | Low | Pink, Red, White |
| Foamflower (Tiarella) | Ornamental | Yes | Medium | White, Pink |
| Ferns (Boston Fern) | Ornamental | Yes | Medium | N/A |
| Camellia | Flowering | Yes | Medium | Pink, Red, White |
| Azalea (Evergreen Varieties) | Flowering | Yes | Medium | Pink, Red, White, Purple |
| Hellebore (Lenten Rose) | Flowering | Yes | Low | White, Pink, Purple, Green |
| Mahonia (Oregon Grape Holly) | Flowering | Yes | Low | Yellow |
| Japanese Ardisia | Flowering | Yes | Low | White, Pink |
Camellia will grow, but performing well in porch areas will be difficult. (Might not bloom as other blooming plants)
When it comes to evergreen plants, you have already cut off a lot of flowering plants from the porch plants list.
People often suggest flowering plants for full shade, but the harsh truth is they need some sort of sunlight to bloom well. You can see the blooms in the shade, but they will be less vibrant than in the sunlight they could be.
A month ago I created a list of flowering plants to grow indoors in North Texas, and it was really not an easy task to do.
Sun-loving porch plants
| Plant Name | Type | Evergreen | Maintenance Difficulty | Flower Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Flowering | Yes | Low | Purple |
| Lantana | Flowering | Yes (in mild winters) | Low | Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red |
| Rosemary | Herb/Ornamental | Yes | Low | Blue, Purple |
| Geranium | Flowering | No | Low | Red, Pink, White, Purple |
| Sedum (Stonecrop) | Succulent/Flowering | Yes | Low | Pink, Yellow, White |
| Russian Sage | Flowering | No | Low | Lavender-Blue |
| Bougainvillea | Flowering Vine | Yes (in warm climates) | Medium | Pink, Purple, Red, Orange |
| Mexican Heather (Cuphea) | Flowering | Yes | Low | Purple, Pink |
| Hibiscus | Flowering | Yes (in mild winters) | Medium | Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow |
| Euphorbia (Diamond Frost) | Flowering | Yes | Low | White |
| Salvia (Autumn Sage) | Flowering | Yes | Low | Red, Pink, Purple, White |
| Oleander | Flowering | Yes | Medium | White, Pink, Red |
| Sun Coleus | Ornamental Foliage | No | Low | Varied – Red, Pink, Green, Yellow |
From this list, I will not recommend you grow Hibiscus and Bougainvillea if you don't have enough time to maintain those. Hibiscus may attract mealybugs and Bougainvillea will need pruning again and again.
I found this while traveling.
Herbs as porch plants in North Texas
If you are fond of herbs this list is for you:
| Herb Name | Uses | Evergreen | Maintenance | Notable Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemary | Culinary, Aromatic | Yes | Low | Blue flowers, Drought-tolerant |
| Thyme | Culinary, Medicinal | Yes | Low | Fragrant, Small pink or purple flowers |
| Sage | Culinary, Medicinal | Yes | Low | Soft leaves, Purple or blue flowers |
| Mint | Culinary, Medicinal | No | Medium | Fragrant, Rapid grower |
| Chives | Culinary | No | Low | Edible flowers, Onion flavor |
| Basil | Culinary | No | Medium | Varied leaf colors, Loves warm weather |
| Oregano | Culinary, Medicinal | No (varies by species) | Low | Spreads quickly, Pink or purple flowers |
| Lemon Balm | Culinary, Aromatic | No | Medium | Lemon-scented leaves, Attracts pollinators |
| Parsley | Culinary | No (Biennial) | Medium | Curly or flat leaves, Rich in vitamins |
| Lavender | Aromatic, Medicinal | Yes | Low | Attracts bees, Purple flowers |
| Dill | Culinary | No | Medium | Feathery leaves, Tall, Yellow flowers |
If you want to know when to plant what in North Texas check: North Texas Planting Calendar (Complete list)
There are a few other plants I would love to have on my list are:
- Spider plant or Ribbon grass ( They are not the same )
- Snake plant
- Thanksgiving Cactus
These will be beautiful if you place those in the right place along with other plants.
