Five Plants That Love Being Outside Year-Round

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Houseplants are awesome. But plants that spruce up your outdoor living spaces need their time in the sun, too. Here are some of our favorites that’ll thrive throughout the seasons.

“Golden Sword” Yucca (Yucca filamentosa)

Why we love it: It’s a great plant for any outdoor potted arrangement. You can switch out seasonal plants, and the yucca will grow all year long. And in the summer creamy white, fragrant flowers bloom from the center of the plant on 3- to 6-foot-tall stems.

Care: Yucca tolerates some shade but thrives in sunny, dry conditions. In late winter the foliage may get a little flat, but it will perk up again come spring. Pull off the old foliage to keep your plant healthy and looking nice.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-11

Hardy Geranium (Geranium)

Why we love it: They’re a dense, low-growing plant with showy five-petal flowers, and they come in a variety of colors, including blue, pink, purple and white.

Care: Hardy geraniums like full sun to partial shade and need well-drained soil, but be sure to water them if the soil is in danger of drying out.

USDA Growing Zones: 3-9

Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)

Why we love it: This neon beauty is a fantastic addition to any flower box. It’s a reliable grower and looks great cascading over the edge of pots.

Care: Creeping Jenny likes partial shade and loves water. In fact, it loves water so much it will grow in a water garden. It can also grow in full sun, too; just make sure to keep the soil moist.

USDA Growing Zones: 4-8

Frosty Fire Dianthus (Dianthus allwoodii)

Why we love it: This ground-hugging foliage blooms with vivid scarlet red flowers. They are great to use as edging for paths or planted among a rock garden, and they attract butterflies!

Care: These fiery flowers grow in full sun and need to be watered regularly. Water more frequently in extreme heat or if you’ve planted them in containers.

USDA Growing Zones: 2-8

Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa')

Why we love it: Blue spruces are flat-topped and densely branched. But what makes them so special? Their bright blue needles hold their color all year long, and they show off a brighter hue of blue in the summer months.

Care: These charming evergreens like full to partial sun and need watered regularly.

USDA Growing Zones: 2-8

It’s time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Why not plant a few things to make it even more enjoyable?