Patio Decorating Ideas With Plants

Patio Plant and Flower Ideas

I remember the first time I was struck how potted plants and flowers could really enhance a patio, just as much as gardens enhance a backyard (see our 59 backyard ideas gallery).

It was when I saw my now mother-in-law's deck in late Spring for the first time. The large deck exploded in color but was done in a way that didn't encroach available sitting space.

The deck has a railing on all sides and she uses the railing and corners for a myriad of potted plants and flowers.

She tiers them in the corners so it's a cascade of colors from floor to above the railing.

It's something else. My enjoyment of the deck would not be same without those potted plants and flowers.

Related: Hydrangea Flower Pot and Planter | Outdoor Steps with Flower Planters | Hanging Flower Planter Ideas

Patio potted flower and plant tips:

1. Tier for cascading effect

I love this technique more than anything else. Planning tiered potted plants and flowers is like setting up bleacher seating. You want the front low and then each subsequent row rises above the preceding creating a cascading wall of flowers and plants. Even a simple cascade is stunning.

2. Use available railings privacy walls

Railings are ideal for planter boxes. Privacy walls are great for attaching planters with flowers to create a quasi living wall (also see our 50 vertical garden ideas).

3. Fill up the corners

Corners are great spaces for potted plants and flowers. You can place large pots or a series of small pots. They form the pillars of the patio or deck space.

4. Use flowers along edges

If a patio, lining up potted plants along the edge is a brilliant way to demarcate a patio from the rest of the yard.

5. Be mindful of the pots and boxes you use

While the flowers and plants are the star, don't forget your choice of pots and planters. Pots and planters are a strong supporting role. Badly chosen pots/planters can detract from the overall effect.

6. Plan for the full season

I know my mother-in-law takes care in planning her deck flowers so the deck is in bloom from Spring through early Fall. This just takes some planning so you know what to plant and when.

Our Patio Potted Flowers and Plants Gallery

atio border lined up with Hyacinths in black pots forming a lovely line of potted plants.

Patio border lined up with Hyacinths in black pots forming a lovely line of potted plants. I like the color scheme of purple and white which syncs with the garden above the rock retaining wall.

A terrific example of large and small potted plants in a grouping on a sun deck.

A terrific example of large and small potted plants in a grouping on a sun deck. In this case the pots look fantastic as well enhancing the overall look.

A large cluster of yellow and purple flowers in ceramic pots on a patio with a yellow, white and pink centerpiece.

The image above shows a great way to create a centerpiece with patio flowers.

I love this dense flower display on the patio but it also serves as an example of how the aged pots detract from the overall effect.

This is a zen garden on a deck that includes an terrific mixture of flowers and plants using a variety of pot styles.

One of my favorite deck flower and plant displays. This is a zen garden on a deck that includes an terrific mixture of flowers and plants using a variety of pot styles. The display is set up in a tiered cascading fashion creating a burst of color in the corner of the deck.

Potted cacti in clay pots on a white cinder block railing.

Potted cacti in clay pots on a white cinder block railing. This is a great example of incorporating cacti in your patio displays assuming you reside in a drier climate.

Here's an iron bowl serving as a flower pot on a deck.

Here's an iron bowl serving as a flower pot on a deck. The point here is to show that you can be creative with pot selection.

Top-down view of potted plants and flowers in pots elevated in iron pot holders.

Top-down view of potted plants and flowers in pots elevated in iron pot holders. Notice the tiered effect here as well (not as apparent with the top-down view).

I love the creativity here of creating a wall garden on this privacy wall (or fence) that borders the patio.

I love the creativity here of creating a wall garden on this privacy wall (or fence) that borders the patio. It's much nicer than just the wall.

Stunning backyard patio system filled with potted plants and flowers throughout creating a small yard garden oasis.

Stunning backyard patio system filled with potted plants and flowers throughout creating a small yard garden oasis. This is not terribly difficult to achieve and yet the effect is amazing. Notice the large pots which helps fill up the space.

Patio mosaic with small flower in the center.

Pilar Andreu Rovira / Shutterstock.com

Patio mosaic with small flower in the center. Not a pot, but an interesting patio flower technique using natural elements for the mosaic.

I love this blanket of flowers with chair serving as flower holder in the midst of a flower sea.

Pilar Andreu Rovira / Shutterstock.com

I love this blanket of flowers with chair serving as flower holder in the midst of a flower sea.

Wild flower pot made form bamboo sticks elevated to look like a large torch.

Pilar Andreu Rovira / Shutterstock.com

Wild flower pot made form bamboo sticks elevated to look like a large torch. Quite the effect.

Here's pot creativity with this wooden wagon flower planter on a veranda.

Here's pot creativity with this wooden wagon flower planter on a veranda. See more wheelbarrow planters here.

2 stacked tires serving as patio flower pot.

2 stacked tires serving as patio flower pot. Not for everyone, but it's a great way to use old tires. See 29 tire planter ideas here.

I love this ladder plant holder in white in a small garden off the patio.

I love this ladder plant holder in white in a small garden off the patio. This is a brilliant way to place a lot of flowers and plants in a small area.

7patio-potted-plants

Scatter patio flower pot effect here with large potted flowers and plants placed throughout a large patio space.

This tiered patio wood planter is a fabulous way to border a deck in small backyard.

This tiered patio wood planter is a fabulous way to border a deck in small backyard. The tiered planters create a lovely cascading flowering effect.

Example of a single flower pot on a small condo balcony.

Example of a single flower pot on a small condo balcony. While it's certainly not an explosion of flowers, the single potted flower enhances this small balcony.

Great use of a patio corner with a myriad of potted flowers, a small fountain and the courtyard wall with wall planters.

Great use of a patio corner with a myriad of potted flowers, a small fountain and the courtyard wall with wall planters. Very cool.

Barrel flower pot on a patio.

Barrel flower pot on a patio. We included this patio flower pot to show just how cool barrels are for flower pots.

Brick patio with potted flowers among amazing patio furniture.

Brick patio with potted flowers among amazing patio furniture. In some cases less is more. The potted flowers look fabulous here, even if it's not many, among the stunning patio furniture.

Hiking shoes serving as flower pots.

Hiking shoes serving as flower pots. This is a whimsical approach to deck flowers by using a pair of hiking boots as flower pots.

Another example of a vertical garden, this time plants on a white lattice privacy wall.

Patio columns with ornate flower pots.

Patio columns with ornate flower pots. Here's an ode to Roman times with these pillars elevating ornate flower pots on an elaborate patio with royal purple throughout.

Clever custom wood planters creating a tired wooden planter.

Clever custom wood planters creating a tired wooden planter. Very effective technique.

Example of a line of small potted trees on a patio.

I love these cement barrel plant and flower pots inside a large rock garden on the edge of a large patio

I love these cement barrel plant and flower pots inside a large rock garden on the edge of a large patio (may be a road… the point is the effect of the cement barrel style pots).

Tall modern cement planter holding tall grass on a patio.