Simple Summer Planter Pot Ideas for Shade

Summer is fast approaching here (even though it snowed here earlier this week!) so I have been busily prepping our outdoor spaces. It has been a nice distraction from sending our daughter back up to Bozeman for summer school. Today, I am sharing some simple summer planter pot ideas for shade along with our summer front porch reveal.

Our front porch is fully shaded not only by our roofline, but we also have an enormous blue spruce tree right in front of our porch that provided more even more shade. It has been a challenge to figure out what I can plant out there so I have educated myself over the last several years and am sharing my findings with you today.

This post is sponsored by O’Toole’s Garden Centers but all of the designs, commentary, and opinions are my own. You can read my disclosures HERE.

Let me start by saying that I have always disliked our front door. It is finally being replaced later this summer (can’t wait to share those details with you!!!) BUT, I still have to work with it for this spring season and most of the summer. Two summers ago, we did a complete remodel of the exterior of our home. You can see the whole project HERE and HERE. This is a BEFORE shot…

When we bought our home, the exterior stucco and stone were a peach tone and the roof was a rusty brown… definitely not in line with my long-term plans for a more contemporary look. The windows were white with divided light panels. We replaced all of our windows and doors, re-stuccoed and stoned the whole house, and replaced the roof. BOY, what a project that was!

The front door has been our “dangling chad”. Based on that, I always try to go a little overboard on decorating around it to distract the eye from the fact that it does not fit with the overall look of our new more contemporary exterior.

How to create Simple Summer Planter Pot Ideas for Shade

For our summer front porch overhaul, I started with the front pots around the front door. I do not start any gardening project without visiting my local O’Toole’s Garden Center! Stay tuned through the bottom of this post to learn how you can win a $150 gift certificate to use at one of their three locations in the Denver area!

Their staff is extremely helpful and they know their stuff!! I would say that I have absolutely learned more about gardening from their staff than all of the research I have done online. Truly!

My formula for creating simple summer pots is to feature HEIGHT, FILLERS, and “SPILLERS”.

To create drama (and HEIGHT) in pots that are in shaded areas such as front porches or patios, Hostas are a go-to for me. The large leaves combined with the fresh spring color are a perfect foundation for any pot. The version I used here is the “Guacamole” variety.

Some Hostas can be expensive because they are slow growers. However, I justify the expense because, at the end of the season, I replant them in our yard so that we can continue to enjoy them for years to come since they are perennials. BONUS!

For the FILLERS, I used Coleus (Colorblaze Sedona Sunset) for the soft contrast and to coordinate with the stain of our front door. If you want to plant multiple pots, I suggest using similar species in the pots to tie them together.

I also used Periwinkle and yellow Lysimachia to fill in under the Hostas.

For the “SPILLERS”, I planted Sweet Potato Vine (it usually likes full sun but I am giving it a whirl this year in my front pots), and Scopia (Gulliver White).

Needless to say, O’Toole’s carries a very large collection of planters, pots, and containers. I already owned the taller, square planters but I added these gorgeous fluted black planters to my collection this year and I am very pleased with how they offset the shape of the taller planters.

To finish off the area, I added in of their pre-potted Spring Mix planters for added variety. These mixed pots are great for the nights here in Colorado where our temps still can circle close to freezing still!

The rest of the front porch reveal…

Having a covered front porch is quite nice for lounging in the shade in the summer. We sit here often when taking breaks while we are working in the front yard. We have also been known to enjoy our cocktails here while we wave at neighbors driving or walking by, especially during the lockdowns.

I added the black patio conversation set last summer and we are really enjoying it. You will NOT believe how inexpensive it was (sourced below)!!

Any shaded outdoor location is the perfect spot to feature ferns. In my opinion, they are an essential front porch summer accessory! Adding natural greenery to a shaded area really adds to creating a relaxing space.

Adding an area rug is another way to cozy up an outdoor space. Mine is from Lowe’s and is an exclusive for them. The black and white outdoor reversible mat in front of the front door was only $20! You can check it out HERE.

I changed out my throw pillows this year and chose these because of the pop of gold that ties in with my planter pots.

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Other plant varieties that are great to use in shaded patio or porch pots…

• Caladiums (vivid color and girth)
• Coral Bells
• Creeping Jenny
• Bleeding Hearts
• Begonias
• Hydrangeas
• Coleus (unique color varieties)
• Impatiens
• Deadnettle
• Succulents
• Snake Plants
• Sedum
• Primrose
• Hosta
• Leafy Ferns (a must!)

Here are a few other simple summer planter pot ideas for shade…

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Hopefully, you have enjoyed learning about these Simple Summer Planter Pot Ideas for Shade. Here is the fun part! If you leave a comment in the comments section below (and follow O’Toole’s Garden Center on Instagram and Home with Holliday on IG), you will be entered to win a $150 gift card from O’Toole’s Garden Center (must enter by May 31, 2021)! They offer online ordering and curbside pick-up making it super easy to shop with them! Do you have shady areas around your home that you want to decorate for summer?? Let’s do this!!