Patio Plants - Southern California
- Details
- Written by Pat Welsh
Begonia 'Irene Nusse'
A cane-type begonia that will live in the same tub for 30 years or more if you cut it back in mid February and fertilize with a handful of balanced fertilizer once in a while during spring and summer. Has the largest flowers of any begonia. Their pink color against the dark green leaves make for a highly attractive patio plant blooming from June through December. Easy care and only needs water once a week in part shade along the coast. Face east or west with midday shade.
Additional Details
Pink Cestrum - Cestrum elegans 'Smithii'
Fountain-shaped shrub, shaped like butterfly bush, well adapted to a narrow bed facing east or west in a patio and providing waves of cascading pink blooms almost year round in a sheltered spot. One of the best and most floriforous of the cestrums. Tropical look, good near swimming pools where it likes the reflected heat. Fertilize and pinch back often.
Additional Details
Lisa Fuchsia - Fuchsia sp 'Lisa'
Easy-to-grow, elegant basket plant if you install drip system to water daily and also feed monthly with slow-release 14-14-14. For year-round flowers, provide 50% sun, remove seed pods weekly, replace the plant annually, cut back lightly in August.
Additional Details
Brazilian Plume Flower - Justicia carnea
Tropical looking plant with pink, plume-like flowers that are eye-catching combined with other plants and next to patios. Grows in full sun or part shade in the ground or a large tub. Feed and water through warm months. Snap off faded flowers.
Additional Details
Alice du Pont Mandevilla - Mandevilla 'Alice du Pont'
Why do you like it? Climber with clean foliage and elegant pink flowers blooms from spring to winter. Very good small climber facing east in a warm patio, but hates wind, needs constant moisture and fertilizer. Cut a foot off the top in spring, feed water and it bounces into bloom.
Additional Details
Bridal Wreath - Stephanotis floribunda
One of the best, small, very fragrant climbers for use in warm, sunny patios. In coastal zone, give it a southern exposure, moist soil, and full sun next to patio paving.
Additional Details
