However, if you are looking into planting your flowers, trees, or shrubs for the first time, then you should always take into consideration the climate you live in as they tend to have specific special requirements.
Ornamental plants are so common nowadays that it’s very likely you either have one inside your house or someone close to you have one as well!
They are grown for display purposes, thus, they have gained popularity within the last couple of years.
However, some plants can be ornamental and functional, but more often than not, ornamental plants tend to be the ones that do not have any utility to humans, so we tend to think of them as beautiful and attractive, but that’s it.
They give our senses some joy, thus, they only serve a decoration purpose. As a result, ornamental plants come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and they usually adapt well to different climates as well.
In addition, some ornamental plants are known for showy foliage. This foliage can be deciduous (which means it will change colors throughout the seasons), or they can simply be evergreen (as the name indicates the foliage remains green throughout the year).
But, which ones are the best ones to grow in your garden? Continue reading and find out, I’m sure you’ll go to your local nursery in no time after reading this article!
Why Should You Grow Ornamental Plants In Your Garden?
Whenever you are growing, maintaining, or simply buying a plant because of its color, fragrance, foliage, shape, or design, then you are getting an ornamental plant.
This type of plant tends to catch everybody’s attention because they tend to be truly beautiful, but, at the same time, they can bring fresh air into your home, and, in some cases, they can even act as a repellent for mosquitoes or any other types of bugs.
Types of Ornamental Plants You Can Choose
There are many types of ornamental plants. These are the most common ones that you could easily grow in your garden either in a pot, flower beds or as sidewalk and border plants.
Roses
One of the most common and loved ornamental plants in the world, this is why they are often called the ‘’Queen of Flowers’’. There are so many rose species and cultivars that you can pick.
Roses are easily grown, they come in a wide range of colors, and if you would like your garden to have a more vibrant space, then have you considered growing some roses?
They are great for landscaping! Choose your favourite type from rose bushes, rose shrubs, and even climbing roses.
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Desert rose
Desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a low-maintenance flowering succulent which is very easy to grow. It has pink and white trumpet-shaped flowers and you can find many different hybrids of this plant in many nurseries.
Desert rose can be planted in the ground or inside a pot. Because of its easy-to-shape characteristic, it is often trained as a bonsai plant. Desert rose bonsai is a good choice for bonsai beginners.
Lavender
Another type of ornamental plant you definitely need to have in your garden. Even though you can make oils or decorate food with lavender, they are often considered an ornamental plant precisely because of the way they can grow in any garden.
Lavender will also enhance your outdoor space with distinctive aromas that could potentially attract hummingbirds or pollinators in general.
Sage
If you are looking into diversifying your garden with different types of ornamental plants then have you considered growing sage?
It’s not only easy to grow but you could also even use it in the kitchen! Its unique flavor will sure bring your plates into life. Sages can be purple, white, and even blue!
Marigold
An all-time favorite plant for those who love to design their landscapes! Marigolds are known for bringing lots of color into any garden!
They have a mixture of colors, including, red, gold, yellow, and copper. If you decide to plant Marigolds, make sure you have patience as this type of plant will bloom in late summer!
Mint
Everybody knows about mint, but not everybody is aware of how easy it is to grow! In fact, in some places, this plant is considered to be a weed because it easily spreads everywhere.
So, if you could either make sure your mint has a growing area where they can expand themselves or you will have a garden fill with mint, which is not a bad thing, especially when it’s one of the best mosquito repellent plants you can grow.
Rosemary
This is a perennial evergreen shrub that stays green year round and has blue flowers. It is often used in the kitchen, as it has a very distinctive aromatic presence but also provinces a sweet flavor to any dish.
If you are thinking about growing rosemary in your garden, then do it! It is definitely one of the easiest ornamental garden plants to maintain.
Thyme
Thyme is another herb that is often used as an aromatic plant in many parts of the world. It has a strong and distinctive flavor, however, if you are not too keen on it you can still plant it as an ornamental type of plant.
There are many types of thyme, so, make sure you eat either the English one which is the most common one as well.
Basil
If you are into pesto, then you are into basil! This ornamental plant is a fragrant herb that will add an exquisite flavor to any dish you cook. And would you like to know another great thing about basil? It’s so easy to plant and to maintain.
In fact, you don’t need to do much to keep it healthy, just make sure you plant it before or during the summer as they don’t do well in a cold environment! There are also many types of this plant, for example, purple basil, sweet basil, and even lemony basil!
Lilies
Lilies are one of the most beloved ornamental plants in the world. They are known throughout different cultures and they can grow all over the place as well.
Plant some ornamental lilies in your garden and you will receive lots of birds and pollinators each day. They come in a wide range of colors, so pick your favorite between red, pink, or purple.
Tulips
How beautiful are they, don’t you agree? Tulips can brighten everyone’s day as they have intense and vibrant colors! They will bloom once the weather is warmer and any sign of frost has disappeared.
Even though they are very tolerant of harsh climate conditions, they still prefer to grow in warm weather.
Daffodils
Daffodils have a vibrant and bright yellow flower which announces that spring is about to, well, spring!
Daffodils are hardy ornamental plants that could easily grow in most regions of the world if the right and basic conditions are met. So, if you plant them in autumn they will likely bloom in early spring.
Onion Plants
You are probably thinking, why is an onion plant in this list? Well, did you know that they can be an ornamental plant?
Just like thyme or basil, if you plant an onion that has some sprouts then they will produce green sprouts (the green leaves that grow) that are edible!
American Wisteria
This type of ornamental plant has a very fragrant vine that you will recognize from afar. It can grow up to 50 feet in length, and its flowers tend to be purple and dark blue.
Wisteria prefers to be fully exposed to the sun, although if you live in a hot climate then you should plant them under partial shade.
This plant can also be trained as a bonsai tree. You can buy wisteria bonsai from many online or local nurseries.
Petunias
Usually grown as an annual plant, they are very popular amongst gardeners who like to bring a wow factor into their landscapes.
They could be Grandiflora petunias (they have colorful large flowers), or they could be Multiflora petunias (they have abundant and colorful flowers). They tend to resist harsh climates, thus, they are a great option for any type of weather.
Lilac
Lilac flowers are another type of ornamental plant. They prefer warm weather and they have such a sweet fragrance that once you smell one you will never forget about it.
Lilacs can bring many pollinators to your garden, but they will also make your outdoor space look even better as they have a vibrant pink, yellow, and white color.
Amaryllis
Amaryllis is very easy to grow and maintain, which is perfect for any garden! They come in bulbs and they tend to have a long-lasting life.
They are very popular with many flower gardeners mainly because they can catch everybody’s attention with their different colors (you can find them in red, pink, salmon, and orange, to name a few).
Geranium
Most gardeners will agree on something: geraniums are perfect for any garden! Not only are they easy to grow but they are also so colorful that you will have a party full of pollinators every day in your garden.
Geraniums also have a beautiful fragrance and they do well in different types of climates.
Spider plant
Also known as the Chlorophytum comosum, this type of plant is very easy to grow!
Its name derives from the fact that the daughters of the mother plan dangle down as if they were spiders on a web, which makes it such a unique sight. They also bloom into white flowers.
Snake plant
This ornamental plant is also known as Dracaena trifasciata or mother-in-law’s tongue, how funny is that? They are resilient ornamental foliage plants that will help you remove all the damaging toxins that can be found in your house or garden.
Most people place them inside of their houses because of their striking appearance and the many great health benefits they have, but they can also be planted in any garden.
Golden pothos
Also known as the Money plant, if you decide to have this ornamental plant in your garden then you won’t regret it. It’s super easy to take care for with distinctly colored leaves and they tend to grow fairly fast.
They will need to be under a shade as they don’t like to have direct sunlight on top of them and you don’t need to water them every day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ornamental Plants
Is it difficult to cultivate ornamental plants?
Not at all! Most of them require specific work such as pruning, however, most of them are very low-maintenance and are easy to propagate, if you wish to do so.
Are there any differences between an ornamental plant and a utilitarian crop?
There are some differences between these two types of plants. For example, a utilitarian and crop plant will allow you to feed yourself, others, and any livestock you may have, so you are doing agriculture with those vegetable crops.
On the other hand, even though ornamental plants can also be edible, thus they will serve a utility for you, they are usually in your garden as a way to attract pollinators, beautify your outdoor space, and you won’t require them to do much, except to simply exist.
How to choose the best ornamental plant for my garden?
Another important question! You will need to study and observe your climate, so questions like, ‘’what’s the weather like where I am?’’ or ‘’do we have enough rainfall to water our plants?’’ are some things you should be answering.
You will also need to look into what you like and how willing you are to grow what you want. Some ornamental plants will prefer one type of soil over others, so make sure you do some research before planting anything.
How to maintain an ornamental plant to keep it healthy?
Most ornamental plants will require you to fertilize them, prune them, and water them. You will also need to be aware that there are pests that will try to attack your plants, so, one solution for this may be to mulch them properly.
Don’t worry though, you can have a low-maintenance landscape in your garden that will still be very beautiful for years to come.
