Flowers for a Front-Porch Planter

Big, Bold Bloomers

• Consider placing flowers that produce big, boldly colored blossoms in planters on your front porch. Dahlias, gardenias, hibiscus, bellflowers, carnations, daisies and roses will produce large, colorful flowers when they reach maturity. While these flowers thrive as potted plants, harvesting fully-opened blossoms to be used as cut displays around your home will encourage the plants to produce new blooms.

Cascading Varieties

• If you are planning to fill hanging baskets, window-sill planters or pots placed along the railings or edges of your porch with flowers, use cascading or trailing varieties. The Purdue University Cooperative extension notes that lavender alyssum, pansies and petunias are perfect candidates for planters that accommodate cascading plants. These trailing specimens can be mixed to create variances in height, color and texture, but make sure flowers occupying the same basket or planter have the same water, sunlight and space requirements.

Attractive Foliage

• Some flowering plants offer gardeners pretty foliage to keep front porches looking attractive even after the blossoms fade. The Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension notes Hinckley's columbine, yarrow and firebush as plants known for the beauty of both their flowers and foliage, and some specimens, including the Mexican mint marigold, have aromatic greenery. These plants are superb choices for gardeners who want beautiful potted plants on their porches all year long without the hassle of replanting once flowers have fallen.

Seasonal Specimens

• If you have some time on your hands to keep the flowers on your porch fresh and in season, consider planting seasonal flowers that are already in bloom from local nurseries. Bulb plants, including lilies and tulips, and annual bloomers, such as coneflowers, asters and zinnias, produce attractive displays once a year, and should be replanted the following year.