Enjoy the evening outside
By: Garden Gate staff
| 1 of 8
Relax on the patio
Candles and low-voltage uplighting in your outdoor space help set a calming mood, while providing additional lighting for conversation after dusk. But your planting can help extend the time you spend on your porch or patio, too! Soft pastel and white flowers, with petals that pick up and reflect any amount of light, glow at night.
Keep clicking to find out which plants provide year-round interest and make this patio beautiful even after the sun sets.
| 2 of 8
Redbud Cercis canadensis Type Tree Blooms Vivid pink flowers line each twig in early spring before leaves emerge; after leaves drop, tree has a rugged architectural look for winter, may have good yellow fall color Light Full sun to part shade Size 15 to 3
Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Type Tree
Blooms Vivid pink flowers line each twig in early spring before leaves emerge; after leaves drop, tree has a rugged architectural look for winter, may have good yellow fall color
Light Full sun to part shade
Size 15 to 30 ft. tall, 20 to 30 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
| 3 of 8
Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ Type Shrub Blooms White flowers in midsummer turn pale green in late summer, changing to papery brown for the winter Light Part to full shade Size 3 to 5 ft. tall, 4 to 6 ft. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 3
Smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
Type Shrub
Blooms White flowers in midsummer turn pale green in late summer, changing to papery brown for the winter
Light Part to full shade
Size 3 to 5 ft. tall, 4 to 6 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
| 4 of 8
Lilyturf Liriope spicata Type Perennial Blooms Lavender flowers spikes in summer; grassy foliage makes a lush ground cover Light Full sun to full shade Size 10 to 12 in. tall, spreading Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 10 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 10 to 1
Lilyturf
Liriope spicata
Type Perennial
Blooms Lavender flowers spikes in summer; grassy foliage makes a lush ground cover
Light Full sun to full shade
Size 10 to 12 in. tall, spreading
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 10
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 10 to 1
| 5 of 8
Impatiens Impatiens hybrid Type Annual Blooms Flowers in shades of red, pink and orange; blooms can also be found in white or a mix Light Part to full shade Size 8 to 36 in. tall, 10 to 36 in. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12
Impatiens
Impatiens hybrid
Type Annual
Blooms Flowers in shades of red, pink and orange; blooms can also be found in white or a mix
Light Part to full shade
Size 8 to 36 in. tall, 10 to 36 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 9 to 11
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 12 to 1
| 6 of 8
Lavender
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’
Type Perennial
Blooms Fragrant, purple flowers in summer
Light Full sun
Size 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
Lavender
Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’
Type Perennial
Blooms Fragrant, purple flowers in summer
Light Full sun
Size 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 5 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
| 7 of 8
Pyramidal yew Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’ Type Perennial Blooms Glossy green needles give winter interest, and pyramidal shape has a formal feel Light Full sun to full shade Size 3 to 25 ft. tall, 2 to 15 ft. wide Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 8 Heat-tolerant
Pyramidal yew
Taxus cuspidata ‘Capitata’
Type Perennial
Blooms Glossy green needles give winter interest, and pyramidal shape has a formal feel
Light Full sun to full shade
Size 3 to 25 ft. tall, 2 to 15 ft. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
| 8 of 8
Clematis Clematis ‘Henryi’ Type Vine Blooms Creamy white flowers in summer; train onto arbor for overhead shade Light Full sun to part shade Size 10 to 15 ft. tall, spreading Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9 Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
Clematis
Clematis ‘Henryi’
Type Vine
Blooms Creamy white flowers in summer; train onto arbor for overhead shade
Light Full sun to part shade
Size 10 to 15 ft. tall, spreading
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
