Any Leafy plants that will survive on my patio in the summer? (Phoenix: house)

[Foreverking]

I love Cacti, but its just wrong for my patio. My patio gets very min sunlight at any given time except for early morning for about 2 hours maybe. Is there a plant with leaves that will survive the summer out there, planted in a pot? Maybe something, if watered will grow and make it the 5 months? Nothing with sharp Needles please.

[observer53]

A ficus will do just fine in a shaded area, watered. I've seen them both in pots and in the ground. Very green, leafy, pretty plant.

[gentlearts]

I love those big potted palms. They're only about $15. at Home Depot, they are lush and pretty, and even though I have to winter mine in the house they still always last few years. In AZ, I bet yours would do great.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by observer53

A ficus will do just fine in a shaded area, watered. I've seen them both in pots and in the ground. Very green, leafy, pretty plant.

isn't the ficus what dies when the freezing season comes? or am i thinking of some other tree/bush thing.

[lyzzard]

I have a schefflera that I keep on our patio in back. It gets some direct sunlight close to sunset. It does absolutely fantastic! You can water them every few days too and it still does good (I've left it alone for a week before). I've had mine for around 7 years now. It was even poisoned once (not by me ) and sprang back to life full force.

Schefflera Plant Care - Houseplant Care Tips

[HollyhockGarden]

I have multiple potted "Elephant Food" plants on my patios. It looks very similar to a jade plant and stays green all year. It does well in both sun and shade, and is also grown in the ground. In Africa, elephants in the wild eat it. You can buy the plants at many nurseries, or you can start it from cuttings if you know someone who already has one. Best of luck to you!

[observer53]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

isn't the ficus what dies when the freezing season comes? or am i thinking of some other tree/bush thing.

We don't have much of a "freezing season" here... and on a sheltered patio, I don't think it would be a huge problem. We had one by our front door, under the overhang (planted in the ground) that never froze.

[pbenjamin]

We have a row of Ficus in our backyard. It has gotten a little frost damage in the last couple of winters. If you watch the weather reports and cover them when it looks like frost you should be OK. We are in midtown Phoenix where the temps are usually a couple of degrees warmer than the suburbs.

[observer53]

Agreed. This past winter is a good example. Established bouganvillea (a VERY frost sensitive plant) have been blooming away all winter, and seem not to have frozen at all, all over town, even in open areas. The ficus would do fine.