Patio Planting

Photo by Amanda Green

By Amanda Green, Permian Basin Master Gardener

Now that spring is here, you may be thinking of planting your patio planters. Some do vegetables, some do ornamentals, but we do small native butterfly gardens. As we’re trying to move towards more native plants, we had trouble finding a good fit. Texas native plants are known for having deep roots, some up to 15 feet long, so they wouldn’t work. Would they? Through trial, error, and lots of practice, we’ve come up with a fantastic list.

The first step when designing your patio planter is to follow three simple rules. Thriller, filler, spiller. You will want one big showy plant that is the star of the show, some that will “spill” over the edge, and some to fill in any gaps. We came up with a great list to help fit all these needs.

For your main attraction, your thriller, our absolute favorite is the Hardy Hibiscus. It gets large and has flowers the size of dinner plates! Rock Rose is also a great choice for something more subtle.

Rock Rose and Hibiscus are blooming from our home garden. Photo by Amanda Green

For the spiller, you will want things that will drape over the edges. In my opinion, this is just as important as the main plant. I love using Blackfoot Daisies and Creeping Zinnias for this. They’re so beautiful when they spill over the container and are loved by the smaller, colorful butterflies. For a more subtle look, Wormwood is also beautiful and gives the appearance of moss.

The Blackfoot Daisies and Wormwood spilling over our retaining wall last year. Photo: Amanda Green

The filler stage is the most fun to choose. You just need some small plants to make sure any gaps are filled. This helps to retain water, as the soil isn’t exposed to the sun and heat. Indian Blankets, Four-Nerve Daisies, and small varieties of Coreopsis fill this role nicely.

Indian Blanket blooms in the garden. Photo: Amanda Green

Whatever you decide, have fun! Getting to create a butterfly garden, even if you live in an apartment, is such a joy to watch all summer.

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 432-498-4071 or in Midland at 432-686-4700.  Additional information and our blog for access to past articles are available at westtexasgardening.org. Click on "Resources."