(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Even though I enjoy gardening and spending time outdoors tending to my plants, I do like an easy life. And while I appreciate that many plants require particular soil, moisture and light conditions to survive, I welcome plants that thrive on neglect, especially those that are planted in pots on my patio.I prefer container plants on my patio, as I can move them around when needed to create an attractive aesthetic. However, my container patio plants are often in full sun and can’t draw on moisture deep in the soil if I forget to water them or the weather is dry.To ensure my patio plants always look stunning, I choose them carefully and opt for low-maintenance varieties that can tolerate challenging conditions. So, to help you enjoy a patio full of flowers, too, I’ve called on plant experts to share five patio plants that can thrive on neglect.1. Lantana
(Image credit: Shutterstock)Lantana is a top patio plant choice of Tammy Sons, founder and CEO at TN Nursery. “It will reward you with no end of bright flowers that draw in the butterflies and pollinators,” she says.Aside from these benefits, Anup Mutalik, chief editor at Houseplants Nook, and part of a small gardening community in Brooklyn, says, “Lantana is the most forgiving patio plant we’ve ever grown.”Even after two weeks of inconsistent watering during a heatwave last year, Mutalik returned to find the plant in full bloom.And he adds, “It thrives in full sun, tolerates poor soil, shrugs off drought once established, and produces those incredible clusters of orange, yellow, and pink flowers from late spring through to almost November.”Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Best for USDA growing zones: 8-11 as a perennial, and as an annual in zone 7.2. Lavender
