Looking for fresh ways to brighten up your front porch? Hostas, coral bells, and ferns are all hardy plants that can create a welcoming and beautiful entrance to your home.
With the right plant combinations, you can boost your home’s curb appeal and make your porch stand out all season long. These plants are easy to care for and come in many colors and shapes, giving you plenty of options to fit your style.
In this article, we'll cover
- 1. Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ for vibrant yellow-green foliage
- 2. Coral Bells ‘Palace Purple’ with deep purple leaves
- 3. Boston Fern for lush, classic greenery
- 4. Hosta ‘Guacamole’ with large chartreuse leaves
- 5. Coral Bells ‘Caramel’ featuring caramel-colored leaves
- 6. Maidenhair Fern for delicate, airy texture
- 7. Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ with large lime-green leaves
- 8. Japanese Painted Fern for silver and green fronds
- 9. Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ known for blue-green leaves with yellow edges
- 10. Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ for bright, lime-green color
- 11. Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ with small, round blue leaves
- 12. Hosta ‘June’ with glossy green leaves and purple flowers
- 13. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ with shiny black foliage
- 14. Autumn Fern to add red tones in fall
- 15. Hosta ‘Big Daddy’ for bold, textured leaves
- 16. Ostrich Fern for dramatic, tall fronds
- 17. Hosta ‘Royal Standard’ with classic green leaves
- 18. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ for deep purple hues
1. Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ for vibrant yellow-green foliage
You’ll love Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ for its bright yellow centers and deep green edges.
The textured leaves look bold and unique on your front porch.
In late summer, it also has pretty, pale lavender flowers.
2. Coral Bells ‘Palace Purple’ with deep purple leaves
Coral Bells ‘Palace Purple’ brings rich, deep purple leaves to your porch.
You can plant them in pots or garden beds.
They look especially nice with green hostas or ferns nearby.
3. Boston Fern for lush, classic greenery
Add Boston ferns to your front porch for a fresh, timeless look.
They do well in hanging baskets or tall pots near your door.
These easy-care ferns thrive in the shade and bring bold green color.
4. Hosta ‘Guacamole’ with large chartreuse leaves
You’ll love Hosta ‘Guacamole’ for its bright, chartreuse leaves with darker green edges.
This variety can grow big and adds a fresh look to your porch.
It also has pale, fragrant flowers in summer.
5. Coral Bells ‘Caramel’ featuring caramel-colored leaves
You’ll love Coral Bells ‘Caramel’ for its soft amber and apricot leaves. The purple-red underside adds a pretty pop of color. These plants brighten shady porch corners with almost no effort.
6. Maidenhair Fern for delicate, airy texture
If you want to add a light, feathery texture to your porch, try Maidenhair Fern. Its soft, delicate leaves fill small spaces between larger plants. Maidenhair Fern grows well in shade.
7. Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ with large lime-green leaves
You can brighten your porch with Hosta ‘Sum and Substance.’ Its large lime-green leaves add bold color.
This plant stands out in the shade and pairs well with ferns or coral bells.
8. Japanese Painted Fern for silver and green fronds
You can add a lot of interest to your front porch with Japanese Painted Ferns. Their silver and green fronds look pretty next to hostas and coral bells.
These ferns do well in shady spots and prefer moist soil. Mix them with your other shade plants for a soft, stylish touch.
9. Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ known for blue-green leaves with yellow edges
Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ brings eye-catching color with blue-green leaves and wide yellow margins.
You can plant it in shade for best leaf color and easy care.
Its thick leaves even help keep slugs away.
10. Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ for bright, lime-green color
You can add a pop of lime-green to your porch with Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’. Its ruffled leaves look lively all season. White flower stems give extra charm.
11. Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ with small, round blue leaves
You’ll love ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ for its cute, blue-green leaves. This tiny hosta forms neat, round clumps that fit well in tight spaces on your porch.
It’s easy to care for and likes partial to full shade. The thick leaves look like little mouse ears, adding a playful touch to your front porch.
12. Hosta ‘June’ with glossy green leaves and purple flowers
Hosta ‘June’ adds soft, glossy green leaves to your porch. Its purple, bell-shaped flowers bloom in early summer. You can enjoy both color and texture in the shade.
13. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ with shiny black foliage
Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ has smooth, shiny leaves that look almost black.
You can use it as a bold accent in shady spots on your porch.
It pairs well with green hostas and feathery ferns.
14. Autumn Fern to add red tones in fall
You can add warm red and copper tones to your porch by planting Autumn Fern. Its new fronds appear with a coppery color in fall. This mixes well with green hostas and coral bells.
15. Hosta ‘Big Daddy’ for bold, textured leaves
If you love bold texture, try adding Hosta ‘Big Daddy’ to your porch. The big, rounded blue leaves look striking and unique.
These leaves also feel thick and quilted, giving extra interest. This hosta grows well in shade and adds easy color to your space.
16. Ostrich Fern for dramatic, tall fronds
Ostrich ferns add height and texture to your porch with their tall, feathery fronds. They do well in shady spots and look great with hostas. Try growing them in large pots or beds.
17. Hosta ‘Royal Standard’ with classic green leaves
You’ll love the glossy, bright green leaves of Hosta ‘Royal Standard’ on your porch. This hosta is known for its sun tolerance and fragrant white flowers in late summer.
18. Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ for deep purple hues
You can add rich purple color to your porch with Heuchera ‘Palace Purple.’ Its bold leaves stand out, giving your space a fresh look. Try planting it near ferns or hostas for extra contrast.