21 Best Patios Plants For All Gardening Levels

Here are the 21 best plants for a patio to make your outdoor oasis burst with greenery, color, and texture.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 11a-12bFlower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full, partial sunSoil Needs: Moist, well-draining, acidicMature Size: 3-8 ft. tall, 3-6 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-11Flower Color Varieties: White, pink, lavender, redLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Fertile with good drainage, mildly acidicMature Size: 24-36 in.Deer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7a-11aFlower Color Varieties: Mix of red, orange, yellow, blue, white, pinkLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Well-drained, neutral pHMature Size: 6 ft. high and wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11Flower Color Varieties: Blue, white, or lavenderLight: Part to full shadeSoil Needs: Rich, moist, loose, well-drained, and slightly acidicMature Size: 6-36 in. tall and wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11Flower Color Varieties: Red, green, purple, orange, yellowLight: Bright, indirect lightSoil Needs: Fast-draining, acidic potting soilMature Size: VariesDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Flower Color Varieties: Green, pink, white, redLight: Full to partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained, slightly acidicMature Size: 12–30 in. tall, 12–24 in. wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-12Flower Color Varieties: Orange, pink, red, white, purpleLight: Full or partial sunSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained, acidicMature Size: 12–18 in. tall, 6–9 in. wideDeer Resistant: No

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Flower Color Varieties: White, lavender, purpleLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, loamy, and neutral pHMature Size: 1-4 ft. tallDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Flower Color Varieties: Pink, yellow, red, violet, white, blue, magenta, bronzeLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining, acidic Mature Size: 3-9 in. tall and 6-24 in. wideDeer Resistant: Yes (mostly, but not always)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11Flower Color Varieties: White, pink, red, bicoloredLight: Full sun or part shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidicMature Size: 6-12 in.Deer Resistant: Yes (not always, though)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-11Flower Color Varieties: Various, including white, red, pink, yellow, orangeLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Well, moist-drained, neutral to acidicMature Size: 3-10 ft. tall and 2-8 ft. wideDeer Resistant: No

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Color Varieties: Varies, including red, purple, yellow, orange, black, or whiteLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, loamy, slightly acidicMature Size: 6 in. to 3 ft.Deer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Flower Color Varieties: Does not flowerLight: Partial shadeSoil Needs: Well-draining, slightly acidicMature Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide Deer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Well-draining sandy, loamy, or clay, acid, alkaline, or neutralMature Size: 2-4 in. tall, 12-18 in. wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-12Flower Color Varieties: Red, purple, pink, magenta orange, salmon, white, bicoloredLight: Full light, tolerates light shadeSoil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil, slightly acidicMature Size: 5-36 in. tall, depending on varietyDeer Resistant: Sometimes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10Flower Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, pink, cream, white; solid color or with contrasting spotsLight: Full sunSoil Needs: Rich, moist, well-draining, acidicMature Size: 1.5–8 ft. tall, 1.5–6 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-10Flower Color Varieties: Burgundy redLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Moist but well-drained, neutral to acidicMature Size: 3–5 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes

Smaller plants, such as heavenly bamboo grow to 7 feet and may be a better choice for patio container gardens. Another container garden alternative would be the smaller bamboo variety Pleioblastus chino ‘Variegatus,’ which grows about 4 feet tall. Use a container at least 18 inches wide and deep, and water frequently. Bamboo likes some shade in the hottest part of the day.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10Flower Color Varieties: Rarely flowersLight: Full sun, partial shadeSoil Needs: Moist, well-drained, neutral to acidicMature Size: 12–20 ft. tall, 12-25 ft. wide (clumps of canes), 1–2 in. thick (individual golden bamboo canes)Deer Resistant: Yes (though not all of the time)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8Flower Color Varieties: Does not flowerLight: Full sun to partial shadeSoil Needs: Well-draining, acidicMature Size: 6-8 ft. tall, 4-5 ft. wideDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11Flower Color Varieties: White, creamLight: Full sun or partial shadeSoil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil, peat-based potting mix for containersMature Size: 5-6 ft. tall and spreadDeer Resistant: Yes

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9Flower Color Varieties: Green and yellowLight: Full, partial sunSoil Needs: Loamy, neutral to alkalineMature Size: 2-8 ft. tall (varies by species)Deer Resistant: Yes