One of the most effective ways to make a patio and garden feel cooler is to surround it with the right plants. It's not a substitute for an air con unit, but leafy trees, vigorous climbers and moisture-loving foliage plants can help create a cooler microclimate by providing shade, reducing reflected heat and releasing moisture into the air.
For this reason, some of the best plants for cooling a patio combine height, dense foliage and large leaves. They create dappled shade, absorb heat and some even have beautifully scented flowers.
Together, the five plants suggestions below can transform a sun-baked patio into a greener, fresher and more comfortable outdoor retreat. Plus, you could grow them in a large self-watering planter, such as this set from Amazon. They are a gamechanger in hot weather and take the effort out of constant watering.
Bay Tree
I have a bay tree (Laurus nobilis) growing in the ground next to my backyard patio, and it is one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to look after.
Granted, it isn't big enough to take the place of a shade sail, but it has dense, evergreen foliage, that creates natural shade and helps create cooler microclimates on the patio.
It is easy to clip into the shape I want, and it grows vigorously every year after it's annual prune.
This bay laurel at Plant Addicts is where I would start if I didn't already have one, and you can use the leaves in cooking, too.
Bays are also ideal trees for pots, so you could even start small and move it around to help create shade at different parts of the day.
Star Jasmine
The thick vines of star jasmine (trachelospermum jasminoides) provides evergreen cover for hot walls, absorbing heat in the process. It can be trained over pergolas, fences and walls, helping to shade surfaces that would otherwise absorb and radiate heat throughout the day.
This incredible star jasmine vine from Plant Addicts comes in a wide variety of pot sizes, so it's fantastic option if you want to get a more established plant right from the get-go.
This headily fragrant climber thrives in hot conditions, and is often found growing in abundant swathes, adorning pergolas, walls, patio trellises and gazebos in Mediterranean climates.
Once established, star jasmine is also relatively drought tolerant, making it a practical choice for sunny patios in warmer regions.
Crape Mrytle
Crape myrtle (lagerstroemia indica) is an wonderful shrub to cool a patio as it has naturally airy canopy, creating dappled shade without making a space feel dark or blocking out the light.
In summer, it produces masses of flowers that can last for weeks, and the long leaves of crape myrtle help to soften hard landscaping.
Like all leafy plants, crape myrtle releases water vapour through its leaves. This transpiration can slightly cool the surrounding air, particularly when the tree is in full leaf during the summer.
This stunning crape myrtle from Nature Hills has vibrant hot pink flowers and dark burgundy foliage, and would also help to create privacy screen on a patio.
Hardy Banana
Nothing quite shouts tropical like a banana tree. With its huge leaves, whether grown in the ground or a pot, it creates instant shade, and a cooling visual effect.
You can find cold hardy banana trees at Plant Addicts, which will grow down to USDA hardiness zone 5.
In warmer weather, cold hardy bananas can grow fast, so if planting in the ground make sure you give it enough room to expand. A specific banana tree fertilizer, such as this one from Amazon, will also give it a boost and encourage fruits.
If you want an option that is perfect for a pot, this dwarf 'Cavendish' banana tree from Fast Growing Trees might be the perfect option for you.
Ostrich Fern
Thinking not just about height and shade, but also plants lower to the ground that can help to cool a patio, ostrich ferns are well worth a mention.
Ferns help to cool the areas around seating by increasing humidity from their large, feathery fronds. Their lush foliage can also lightly cover hard landscaping, reducing the amount of reflected heat from a patio and making seating areas feel fresher.
I have a lot of these ferns in my yard, and they are very easy to establish around a patio, preferring shade to a full sun position. They are also simple to grow in containers. My ostrich ferns can produce fronds that are between two and three feet in height, and with their beautiful texture the leaves are always a welcome addition when they begin to appear in spring.
You can find ostrich fern plants at Amazon.
What to Shop
Oversized planters allow roots to stay cooler and retain moisture for longer, helping large patio plants cope with summer heat.
Shade remains the most effective way to cool an outdoor space, making a tilting garden parasol a practical addition alongside trees and climbers.
For even greater relief during heatwaves, you could pair cooling plants with an outdoor misting system.
Creating a cooler patio doesn't have to rely on pricey outdoor upgrades. By choosing plants wisely, you can transform even the most sun-exposed space into a greener, more comfortable retreat for summer. And once you have your plants sorted, it's time to add those outdoor string lights, no?
If you love inspiring garden ideas, outdoor advice, and the latest news, why not sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox?
