5 Potted Plants for a Stunning Front Door, Stoop, or Porch

You may think professional landscaping is the only way to achieve great curb appeal. But, allow us to let you in on a money- and time-saving secret: A selection of strategically placed potted plants can do a lot to elevate your home's exterior. Using potted plants with a mix of heights, textures, and colors can create visual interest and make a big impact. For the most effective display, place eye catching colors in prominent spots and ground them with neutral earth tones for contrast.

If you don’t have a green thumb, opt for plants and florals that are easy to care for and well-suited for the climate and weather where you live. For some recommendations, we spoke with Erin Schanen of the blog and YouTube channel The Impatient Gardener and David Angelov of PlantParenthood for plant choices that will leave neighbors and passersby in awe. 

Here's a pro tip from Schanen before you get started: Map out the placement of all of your pots first, before adding soil and plants. After all, moving around a large potted plant or bush is awfully heavy.

Keep reading for the best potted plants to increase your home's curb appeal.

Fuschia plants

Fuschia plants produce beautiful, bell-shaped, bi-colored blooms in lush colors ranging from candy-pink to magenta. Angelov suggests placing fuschias by an entryway where “guests can admire it while waiting at the door.” These vibrant and colorful annuals can also be used to accent key landscape features, like walkways, mailboxes, patios, gazebos, or even pools. Angelov suggests pairing fuschias with “a fragrant plant, like lavender or gardenia, to add another layer of intrigue.” 

Fuschia plants are available in hearty and half-hearty varieties that flower in the summer and fall. They require lots of sunlight and proper water drainage. To style them, consider large pots or hanging baskets grouped together for a dramatic focal point. If your home has a neutral color exterior, exuberant potted flower pairings will make heads turn. Pair fuschias with begonias, dahlias, or petunias for a playful, yet long-lasting potted plant combo.

Evergreens

Angelov says evergreen trees and shrubs are generally a safe bet for anyone without a green thumb. However, there are over 50 varieties of evergreens, so it’s best to choose one that's ideal for your home and environment. 

Boxwood is a classic choice for adding a touch of elegance to any home exterior. Its dense evergreen foliage is compact and great for topiary. It can be trimmed into neat hedges, balls, or other cute shapes for a formal landscaped look. Boxwood is also great for framing a doorway or creating a border along a walkway. 

Another evergreen that works for most is the yew tree. Schanen says yews do well in shade, and their columnar form can add a lot of interest to an entryway or driveway. If they're planted in a high-quality potting mix in a planter with good drainage, then they should grow well in a pot. Yew trees require regular watering and a bit of fertilizer once or twice a year. “They won’t grow much in a pot, so buy one that is close to the finished size you’re seeking,” Schanen says.

Agapanthus

Agapanthus, also known as Lily of the Nile, is a striking plant with tall, slender stems topped with clusters of blue or white flowers. It’s a good choice for adding height and vertical interest to a porch or patio. It can also be used to create a colorful focal point in a garden bed. Even when not flowering, its dark and glossy leaves are an attractive complement to any yard. It is susceptible to frost and is best suited to sunny, mild climates. For the ideal curb appeal, place agapanthus in tall, narrow pots, arranged in groups of three to five bulbs. Just be warned that it’s not a plant you want near play areas for pets or kids. If touched, the sap can cause eye and skin irritation—and these leaves should never be eaten.

Purple Fountain Grass 

“When it comes to keeping potted plants simple, the place to start is with plants that have great foliage, because flowering plants often need deadheading or trimming,” Schanen says. So, if you're looking for plants with the most minimal care for the best visual payoff, purple fountain grass and other ornamental grasses, such as Japanese forest grass, are excellent choices. “Plus, they have the added benefit of adding movement as they blow in the wind,” Schanen adds. 

Ornamental grasses are low maintenance, so long as they’re in the right pot. Make sure the pot provides ample room—at least 8 inches in every direction—around the bulb root. And make sure there are lots of drainage holes. For natural coverage, place them against a fence, garage walls, or around patio furniture. These grasses tend to be drought-tolerant and thrive in cooler temperatures.

Fruits and Vegetables

Angelov says vegetables can be aesthetically pleasing and practical plants that are easy to grow. While edibles aren't a traditional choice for yard decoration, there's been a recent trend of creating picturesque vegetable gardens (along with the increased interest in English cottage gardens).

Cabbage and lettuce plants mix well with brightly colored chili peppers, peas, and tomatoes to provide a pleasing focal point for a front or side yard. When planted in small potted groves, fruit trees, like apple, lemon, orange, or fig, are beautiful walkway pieces. When paired with other landscaping elements, these eye-catching additions look less like a sustainable food source and more like a work of art that neighbors can admire and enjoy.