ORNAMENTAL GARDEN PLANTS: THE BEST SPECIES FOR THE OUTDOORS - LIFESTYLE

Ornamental garden plants: the best species to decorate the green areas of the house

You are already aware of the fact that plants are good for our mood as much as for the appearance of the house and its outdoor spaces. With the right plant varieties you can really transform your garden or terrace as you like, giving it character and style. Each plant is precious for our health, but did you know that there are species that can purify the indoor air of your home? Watch the video and find out what they are.

Ornamental garden plants: how to choose them

Decorative outdoor plants are all those plants that help us to characterize our home, with a touch of color, a shaded area or creating a natural divider for privacy.
They can be flowering garden plants or hardy evergreens, it doesn't matter. What matters is that they embellish the green areas of the house to make them more liveable and appreciated by guests.

Ornamental garden plants are chosen based on certain factors, including the climatic condition and the sun exposure they can receive. Is the soil well drained and rich in nutrients? Will the new plant have to "divide" its space with others or will it have a These are some of the considerations to make when preparing to plant a new decorative element in the garden. They may seem trivial, but in reality they are essential points to be able to take care of your green spaces properly and grow the chosen species in the best way.

Usually for garden ornamental plants species with a bonus for the aesthetic value are preferred, that is, they are beautiful to look at! And the plants with this characteristic are usually the flowering ones, but there are varieties that are really appreciated only for the color of the leaves that change with the passing of the seasons, such as the Canadian vine or the American vine.

Let's see which are the most cultivated outdoor species in our gardens.

Decorative plants for the garden: what are they?

Within this family of plants there are infinite varieties, very different from each other in terms of appearance, required care and preferred exposure. If you do not have the time to contact an expert gardener, read our list of ornamental garden plants; below you will find our favorite species to decorate large and small gardens!

All the plants proposed are ideal for making your plots of land more tidy, to create new natural settings and above all to love the place you live in a little more. Loving your garden means loving the plants we choose to decorate it, to which we must devote love and attention. The time available is often a sore point, but by choosing the right plants we can guarantee them a good growth.

Mimosa

Mimosa is the symbolic plant of March 8, when the Women's Day is celebrated; from a botanical point of view it is the ideal shrub to liven up small and medium-sized gardens. It is characterized by jagged and scenographic leaves that close during the night and small fragrant yellow flowers.

The mimosa is an evergreen plant that grows in height of about 10-15 meters; it is part of the acacia family and its small soft balls bloom in the winter period, from January to March. Perfect for adding some color to winter gardens and for announcing that spring is just around the corner.
The mimosa also produces small fruits with an elongated appearance, so if you happen to see black legumes among its fronds, don't be afraid!

How is mimosa grown in the garden? The shrub prefers acid-tending, deep and well-drained soils; it is preferable to plant it in the sunniest areas of our green area because it does not tolerate frosts well. Irrigation must not be frequent, just remember to wet it every 3-4 weeks to have a lush and healthy mimosa; this makes it one of the most suitable ornamental garden plants for those who have little time to dedicate to gardening. Once it has grown up it will no longer be necessary to water it about once a month because it will feed on water rain.

Borage

Smaller than a mimosa tree, but just as colorful and certainly particular: borage is an annual herbaceous plant, identifiable by very robust branched stems covered with small hairs. The maximum height is 70cm therefore it is recommended to combine it with other bedding plants or to alternate with very tall shrubs. The borage leaves have an oval shape, pointed, of a beautiful dark green color and are also covered with a down. on whitish tones.
The flowers are characterized by a beautiful indigo-blue color and are striking with their pointed shape on the ends. You can choose borage as an ornamental house plant if you want to have a resistant plant that lasts all year. This species does not fear low temperatures, but it must still be planted in a sunny context, if you want to give it a good growth. For the requested soil there are no particular indications, but only an excellent drainage.

If not grown at home, boraggine is a "wild herb, and is known by our grandparents because it can also be used in the form of herbal tea or oil. Borrago officinalis boasts numerous properties; for example, it is a fantastic natural remedy for constipation, it soothes inflammation of the respiratory system and also seems to be a valid ally to counteract pre-menstrual pain. Pay attention to how you cook it: to eliminate all the toxic substances inside it is essential that the borage is brought to a boil.

Viburnum tinus

The Viburnum tinus, said laurotino, is a shrub that gives great satisfaction to those who decide to grow it in their garden. Native to south-eastern Europe, it is a perennial plant used to create tall hedges (it can reach 4 meters in height) thanks to its soft foliage.
Very resistant, the Viburnum survives very well in harsh climates, gets little sick and if left to grow freely does not require pruning. Why do we recommend it? Because as an ornamental plant it is perfect for creating shaded areas or sheltering other more fragile specimens from the wind.

Viburnum produces white and fragrant flowers, followed by purple-blue berries. Being a particularly resistant plant, it lends itself to being an excellent natural decoration during the winter. In nature you can choose from many varieties, and all of them will give you beautiful, colorful and fragrant hedges!

See also: Desire for summer. Ideas for decorating your garden

Outdoor furniture

Othonnopsis cheirifolia

This graceful decorative plant was born in Algeria and Tunisia and is frequently used to make flower beds and borders given its particularly thick foliage. It remains a low-rise shrub, perfect for filling in empty spaces in your garden. In winter / early spring it produces delightful deep yellow flowers, very ornamental and ideal for giving a lively touch to the green areas of the house. The beautiful thing about " Othonnopsis cheirifolia is that its flowering lasts for many months, until autumn!
The beauty of this species also derives from the wonderful contrast created between its lemon yellow flowers and gray-green leaves; why not put it next to other specimens with darker leaves? The result will be a beautiful game of contrasts.

The only fragility of Othonnopsis cheirifolia is the frost, instead it appreciates the direct sun and arid places. Store it in a south or west facing area.

Wisteria

Who doesn't know this wonderful tree? The wisteria is highly scenographic and is able to give a unique touch of color and romance to the green areas of our outdoor areas. Beautiful to frame a porch or to decorate an arch, it is definitely one of the most evocative plant species due to its size and unmistakable beauty.
In fact it is a climbing shrub, but sometimes its size is such that it is not difficult to confuse wisteria with a real tree. It is easily recognized for its light green pinnate leaves and for its flower, in clusters, very fragrant and lilac in color.
For the cultivation of wisteria as an ornamental house plant it is necessary to have a clayey and well-drained soil, rich in organic fertilizers.
The shrub loves to be kissed by the sun's rays, so make sure it has good sun exposure for most of the day. It does not tolerate the cold well and being a climber it needs a support (a wall or an espalier) to be able to develop in height.
It is not a plant that needs little attention, but the result it gives during the flowering period is phenomenal. It needs frequent watering, even if not too abundant, and requires a double annual pruning, in January and July.

Canadian vine and American vine

The Canadian vine and the American vine are two species that are very similar to each other: both are climbers and both have large and vigorous leaves that can quickly cover the external fences of the house such as walls, fences and pergolas. Their tendrils grow vertically and manage to do so even when there is little light. These shrubs can be grown in shady areas (although they grow more prominently when exposed to the sun) and are well suited for hiding those old structures. abandoned or poorly cared for that we sometimes tend to leave in our gardens. That's why we recommend it as an outdoor ornamental plant.

They are deciduous species and in autumn they take on magnificent bright colors ranging from red to yellow. The Canadian Vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) is recognized because it is characterized by leaves in groups of three on the same petiole (trilobed), while the American vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) has 5 leaves. The latter also produces small blue berries during the summer.
These species are grown both in the garden and in pots. The important thing to make them grow well is the presence of a fresh and well-drained soil. It is very important to water them abundantly in summer, always maintaining excellent drainage.

Magnolia

Magnolia is a very beautiful plant to look at, elegant and simple at the same time. When you have a large garden at your disposal, it is almost an obligation to plant it: it fills the space with color, has a rustic and particular appearance, but turns into an extremely romantic tree during flowering.
Magnolias belong to the family of magnolaliacee and have always been chosen as decorative plants for outdoor areas, especially large ones as they can reach 7 meters in height.

They originate originally in China, Korea, Japan, but also in the southern part of the United States. Here in Italy they grow very well, where there are beautiful long-lived specimens.
The strong point of the magnolia is given by its large flowers, of the star or tulip shape: the colors vary from one species to another, but they are always very characteristic. They are usually in shades of white, pink and fuchsia and it is possible to admire them in the classic flowering period that runs from March to May.
Another point in favor of magnolia is the very pleasant scent that it manages to emanate when it is in full bloom: imagine being in your garden on a spring afternoon and catching delicate notes simply by relaxing in your outdoor area; what a beauty!

Hawthorn

In gardening, hawthorn can be grown in pots or in rows, to set up a colorful hedge dotted with white flowers. This shrub is mainly used as an ornamental plant in the garden but its antioxidant properties are known which make it appreciated as a medicinal species.

Hawthorn is not an evergreen plant, but deciduous; it develops between 50 cm and 6 meters in height depending on the variety chosen and has a greyish bark.
In spring the shrub produces beautiful white hermaphrodite flowers, usually in the month of May or June, which can last even until the end of summer, but it is more common to see a temporary flowering because these flowers are very delicate.
From the flowers, rounded fruits similar to berries develop; each of these fruits contains a single hawthorn seed, so if you want to plant them in another area of the garden, keep them aside!
Hawthorn fruits are edible and are used in cooking for jam, jams or to make syrups and jellies. They are even used to flavor wine or make liqueurs.

For ornamental purposes, the hawthorn plant is a good choice even if you have agricultural land; it has thorns and thick branches that can create an extremely compact natural enclosure in the plains or hills. It's not a fast growing plant species, so it doesn't matter if you're not a gardening master; hawthorn requires little attention.