The best outdoor plants for beginners and experts

Beautiful garden with plants and flowers

Gardening is a very big world. When you realize that you like plants and start to investigate, you quickly discover that the limits become further and further away as you discover a new species. Therefore, the beginnings are usually full of failures, which are completely normal and even beneficial because they help us to learn, but … we are not going to fool ourselves, If we knew in advance those that are resistant, we would probably like this world much more.

So, that’s what I’m going to right now: to tell you what are the best outdoor plants for beginners. But do not worry, if you are an expert, these species are also for you. Find out what their main characteristics are and, most importantly, what care they need.

Aspidistra

Aspidistra plant in garden

Aspidistra is a rhizomatous plant known as hall leaves, tin leaf or tinplate native to Asia that is grown both indoors and outdoors, in pot and in the ground. It is formed by long leaves of about 50cm, dark green in color. It produces flowers, but they are not very visible.

So that it is beautiful it has to be grown in places where direct sunlight does not reach, and watered once or twice a week. If it is in a pot, we recommend fertilizing it in spring and summer with a fertilizer for green plants following the instructions specified on the package. Resists up to -5ºC.

Geraniums

Group of geraniums in bloom

Geraniums are herbaceous or shrubby plants native to temperate regions of the world, also in the mountains of the tropics. They have simple leaves, usually palmatidivided, sometimes almost whole and toothed. The magnificent flowers bloom from spring to late summer, and can be of various colors: pink, red, lilac, white …

Do you want to have one on your patio? Put it in full sun and give it three to four weekly waterings in summer and some less the rest of the year. You’ll see how pretty it gets on you . Do not forget to transplant it in spring to a larger pot so that it can continue to grow. In addition, you should know that it supports up to -3ºC.

Ivy

Ivy climbing on tree

La ivy it is a perennial climbing plant native to Asia. It has two types of leaves: the juveniles are lobed, and the adults are whole and cordate. The color of them is dark green, with the visible nerves of a light green almost whitish color. It is capable of exceeding 2m if it has a support to climb on. It can be used as a covering plant or a climbing plant, so whether you have a floor to cover or you need a corner to have more privacy, do not hesitate to get one.

To be alright it is recommended to have in semi-shadebut it can also be in the sun if it is watered 2-3 times a week.

Rosales

Yellow rose bush

Yes, yes, rose bushes are suitable for beginners. Native to Asia, They are characterized by growing in a shrub or climbing form, usually thorny, up to 2-5 meters in height.. Its stems are semi-woody, almost always erect, armed with thorns or stings. The leaves can be evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species.

What do these plants need? Lots of sun, water (preventing the soil from drying out completely) and some other pruning (Basically, remove the withered flowers and a trimming of branches in spring so that it can produce new stems that will give new flowers. They withstand cold and frosts down to -7ºC.

Sarracenia

Sarracenia specimen in pot

Who told you that carnivorous plants are they very complicated? Well … he was right, but not all. The Sarracenia are the exception. Native to North America, specifically East Texas, the Great Lakes area, and southeastern Canada, these carnivorous plants are characterized by having modified leaves that have turned into jugs that are partially filled with water. The insects are attracted by the secretion of the nectar at the end of each trap, but once it reaches it, if it slips, it will not be able to get out, as it has hairs that grow downwards, very slippery.

So that you do not have to complicate a lot with its care, You simply have to plant it in a plastic container with blonde peat mixed with perlite, and put a plate under it that you must fill whenever you see it empty with rain, distilled or osmosis water. Easy right? In winter you will see it a bit ugly, because when the temperatures drop below 10ºC it begins to hibernate. You can cut those that dry out.

Important: in order to grow well, it must be cold in winter, that is, the mercury in the thermometer has to reach 0ºC at some point. The Sarracenias support up to -3ºC, but they cannot adapt to tropical climates.

Opuntia

Opuntia ovata specimen

Our Opuntia They are cactus native to America, specifically from the north of the United States to Patagonia. Known as nopal, prickly pear, or xoconostle, They grow in the form of a bush or tree, with heights ranging from 50cm to 5 meters. They are characterized by having fleshy leaves, called cladodes, oval that are often armed with long spines, or very thin and short.

They are the most resistant type of cactus. Having only direct sunlight, they are able to take care of themselves if they are on the ground. In pot, they need one or two waterings every 15-20 days. They withstand temperatures down to -5ºC, but hail can damage them, especially if they are young.

Yucca

Yucca rostrata ideal

yucca rostrata

If you would like to have a low or no maintenance garden, a plant that will give you many joys are those of the genus Yucca. Native to North and Central America, they are characterized by their rosettes of sword-shaped leaves which arise, in some species from a trunk that can be more or less branched. The flowers, bell-shaped and white, are grouped in inflorescences that appear in spring.

From my own experience I can tell you that the only thing these plants need is sun. If they are in pots, you will have to water them at least once a week, but if they are in the ground, from the second year it will not be necessary to provide them with water. In addition, they resist well the cold of up to -5ºC and high temperatures (up to almost 42ºC).

And now the million dollar question: which of these outdoor plants did you like the most? Do you know others?

The best outdoor plants for beginners and experts

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