Easy Front Porch Makeover on a Budget with Baskets & Native Plants

By Trace Barnett

There’s something welcoming about a front porch overflowing with greenery and color. And the good news? It doesn’t have to cost much. Below I share how to create a lush and lovely porch display using tough, drought-resistant annuals, pass-along plants, and clever tricks to make it all go further.

Pick the Right Plants: Pretty, Hardy, and Porch-Perfect

Look for annuals and houseplants that thrive in containers and can take a little heat and neglect. Our favorite “porch picks” include:

Coleus – Big color impact with foliage alone. Grows fast, thrives in partial shade, and roots easily in water for sharing.
Inch Plant (Tradescantia zebrina) – A pass-along favorite. Fast-growing, trailing, and tolerant of drought once established. Loves hanging baskets.
Sweet Potato Vine – Big drama, low care. The chartreuse and purple varieties trail beautifully over pot edges.
Caladiums – Tropical, shade-loving, and easy to divide. Give instant “southern charm.”
Portulaca (Moss Rose) – A sun-loving, drought-tolerant bloomer that pops in small containers.
Begonias – Great for shady porches and often pest-free. Use wax begonias for easy care or angel wing varieties for drama.

Dig, Divide & Share: Use What You’ve Got

You don’t need to spend much if you look around your garden or ask a neighbor. These “free” plants are porch heroes:

Native Ferns – Dig them from shady spots and pot them up. Look for Christmas fern or southern wood fern.
Native Grasses (like Carex) – Add texture and movement. Great for filling out large pots.
Elephant Ears – If you’ve got a big pot and part-shade, this bold tropical makes a stunning anchor. Divide and replant.
Wandering Jew, Spider Plants, and Pothos – Houseplants can summer outside. Just pot them up, water well, and enjoy their trailing beauty.
Mint, Basil, or Rosemary – Add herbs for fragrance, usefulness, and charm.

Use What You Have: Plant in Baskets or Repurposed Containers

To keep things budget-friendly and still beautiful:

Reuse old hanging baskets, metal buckets, or even fruit crates as containers.
Line with plastic grocery bags, cut-up trash bags, or landscape fabric to retain moisture. Just poke a few drainage holes.
Tuck sphagnum moss, pine straw, or dried leaves between the liner and basket edge for a natural look.

Water Wisely

Group pots with similar water needs together.
Water deeply in the morning when needed—but not daily! Most drought-tolerant plants prefer to dry out a bit between drinks.
Mulch container tops with bark or moss to help retain moisture.

Feed on a Budget

Use a diluted all-purpose liquid fertilizer every two weeks for leafy plants like coleus and ferns.
For flowering plants, try a bloom booster once a month.
DIY tip: Soak a handful of banana peels and crushed eggshells in a gallon of water for a free fertilizer tea.

TIP: Encourage neighbors and friends to swap cuttings and divisions. A small slip of coleus or an inch plant node in water becomes a whole new plant in just days!