Dear Plant Stylist: "What plant should I get for my patio?"
Photo credit: This Old House
In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below!
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Dear Plant Stylist,
My patio needs a serious overhaul. I want it to be somewhere I can spend peaceful hours, not just a feature that I never set foot on. Do you have any tips for good outdoor plants?
Hoping so-
C.B.
Dear C.,
Patios are endless inspiration for us, and this is the moment to explore your vision!
Our plant fans have been asking us to carry outdoor plants for years, and the stars have aligned: we launched an Outdoor Plant Collection, and hand-picked the best of the best easy-care bushes and trees for our customers. These plants are hardy and resilient, and will easily thrive with ample light and appropriate watering.
Outdoor plants are so evocative: we all have memories of vacations that we never wanted to end, and the plants that adorned those environments. For me it was moist, super-green tropical plants in Costa Rica. Others remember Joshua trees, or mediterranean citrus, or so many other beautiful outdoor varieties. Our Outdoor Plant Collection features a little bit of every aesthetic you could want, so let’s take a closer look at the varieties and go from there.
Olive trees are naturally pest-repelling and drought resistant. Photo credit: decorpad.com
Olive Trees
The Olive Tree, or olea europaea, features elegant, silvery green foliage, and is naturally pest and drought resistant. They love plenty of sun, so they’ll be a great choice if you get a lot of light on your patio.
This plant is incredibly popular, and for good reason. They aren’t just beautiful, but they are storied: sun-drenched islands, warm earth, Greek myth, artfully adorned hummus! The Olive Tree conjures them all. If you’re looking for outdoor plants that are classic and luxurious, these fit the bill. The Olive tree will produce fruit over time and with appropriate care, and also comes in an adorable bush shape!
Meyer Lemon Trees
Citrus trees are so romantic, aren’t they? And fun: the fruit they produce is so sculptural and vividly colored. Meyer lemon trees (Citrus meyeri) are lush and vibrant, with that enchanting citrus aroma we all love. With ample light, and over the course of several months, these plants will also fruit- first pushing out fragrant white blossoms, then meyer lemons, which are the ultimate multi-purpose citrus!
The Sago Palm is a gorgeously lush and textural plant to bring a taste of the jungle into your patio. Photo by Kathryn Millet.
Sago Palm
If you love a jungle (who doesn’t?) the Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is really a special treat. It’s incredibly textural, with feathery fronds and a rich, coffee brown trunk. Sagos prefer indirect bright light, so they’re happiest in a spot outdoors that receives some shade. They are a match made in heaven for our ceramic pots— you’ll be delighted by how perfectly the proportions complement each other.
Indoor Plants for Outdoors
Some of our indoor plant varieties can be suited for the outdoors, most notable the Bird of Paradise. Put it in a shady spot or spot with morning light, and watch it thrive! Their jumbo, quill-shaped foliage is stunning in outdoor spaces, and they’re exceptionally low-maintenance. If you’d like it to bask in full sun, slowly introduce it over the course of several weeks, as putting it directly in harsh sunlight will scorch its leaves. The Desert Cactus may also be placed outside and is less picky about the type of light it receives.
The Bird of Paradise can be transitioned outdoors for spring, summer and fall.
You’ve got options, C. And we usually find that the best approach is to follow your heart. There’s no need to try to match a trend to a “T”: plants are all about love. So choose the outdoor plant that makes you feel like breaking out in song. Then grab a good book and your sun hat, because you’re ready for patio time!
OUTDOOR PLANTS BY LÉON & GEORGE
Luxurious greenery for vibrant outdoor spaces. Order online at leonandgeorge.com