Complete Gardening
Landscaping with tall outdoor plants can transform your garden into a lush, private oasis. These plants not only add height and texture but also help in creating natural screens and backdrops.
Perfect for those who love an engaging and ever-changing landscape, tall outdoor plants are versatile additions to any garden design.
1. Giant Reed
Giant Reed is a tall, perennial grass known for its towering height and reed-like appearance. With its robust stems and lush foliage, it can grow up to 20 feet.
This plant thrives in sunny locations and is ideal for creating natural barriers. Its rapid growth makes it a favorite for those looking to quickly enhance their landscape.
Giant Reed requires regular watering, especially during dry spells, to maintain its verdant appearance. Perfect for large gardens, it adds both height and texture, making it a versatile choice for landscaping.
2. Bamboo
Bamboo is a versatile and fast-growing plant that can reach impressive heights. Its slender stalks and dense foliage provide excellent privacy.
Bamboo thrives in well-drained soil and can adapt to various climates, making it a popular choice for gardeners worldwide. It’s also an eco-friendly option, as it helps in carbon sequestration.
Regular pruning keeps bamboo in check, preventing it from becoming invasive. With its unique aesthetic, bamboo adds an exotic touch to any garden, enhancing the landscape with its graceful presence.
3. Elephant Grass
Elephant Grass is a striking plant known for its tall, dense blades that can reach up to 13 feet. It’s perfect for creating a natural fence or backdrop.
This grass is hardy and requires minimal maintenance once established, thriving in both sunny and partially shaded areas. Its lush green blades turn golden in autumn, adding seasonal interest.
Elephant Grass is also drought-tolerant, making it an ideal choice for gardens in dry regions. Its towering presence adds a dynamic element to landscapes, creating movement and texture.
4. Miscanthus
Miscanthus, often referred to as Maiden Grass, is a tall ornamental grass that boasts feathery plumes. It can grow up to 12 feet, providing a graceful screen.
These plants are low-maintenance and thrive in full sun, making them perfect for sunny borders or as accents in garden beds. Miscanthus is also deer-resistant, adding extra value.
The plant’s plumes are not only decorative but also attract birds, adding life to your garden. In autumn, its foliage turns golden-bronze, offering a beautiful seasonal display.
5. Hollyhock
Hollyhocks are tall, flowering plants known for their vibrant blooms and height, reaching up to 8 feet. They add vertical interest and color to gardens.
These biennials are easy to grow in sunny spots with well-drained soil, making them accessible to gardeners of all levels. Hollyhocks attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing biodiversity.
Their beautiful flowers come in a range of colors, from pink to deep red. Regular deadheading prolongs blooming, ensuring a spectacular display throughout the season. Hollyhocks add charm and nostalgia to garden landscapes.
6. Canna Lily
Canna Lilies are known for their large, banana-like leaves and bright, bold flowers. Growing up to 8 feet, they offer a tropical feel to landscapes.
These plants thrive in sunny, warm climates and are often used in borders or as focal points in garden design. Cannas are low-maintenance and can grow in both soil and water.
Their vibrant flowers attract hummingbirds, adding life and movement to your garden. Perfect for creating a lush, exotic atmosphere, Canna Lilies are a colorful addition to any outdoor space.
7. Fountain Grass
Fountain Grass is a popular ornamental grass that forms graceful, arching clumps. It can reach heights of 5 feet, adding a soft texture to landscapes.
This plant thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it easy to maintain. It’s drought-tolerant, ideal for low-water gardens.
Fountain Grass produces beautiful, feathery plumes that sway with the breeze, creating a dynamic visual effect. Its foliage turns golden in fall, offering seasonal interest. Perfect for borders or as a standalone feature, it adds elegance to any garden design.
8. Joseph’s Coat
Joseph’s Coat, or Alternanthera, is known for its vibrant foliage in reds, purples, and greens. It reaches heights of 3 feet, making it a striking choice.
This plant thrives in warm, sunny conditions and is perfect for adding color to borders and containers. Its colorful leaves create a tapestry of hues that brighten any landscape.
Easy to care for, Joseph’s Coat requires regular watering and occasional pruning to maintain its shape. It’s a favorite for garden enthusiasts looking to add a splash of color and visual interest.
9. Ginger Lily
Ginger Lily is a tropical plant known for its fragrant, showy flowers and lush foliage. It can grow up to 6 feet tall, adding an exotic touch to gardens.
This plant flourishes in warm, humid climates and prefers well-drained soil. It’s ideal for creating a lush, tropical atmosphere in outdoor spaces.
Ginger Lily blooms in late summer, offering aromatic blossoms that attract pollinators. Its broad leaves provide a lush backdrop, making it a versatile choice for garden beds or near water features.
10. New Zealand Flax
New Zealand Flax is a striking plant known for its architectural leaves, which can reach up to 10 feet. Its bold form adds structure to gardens.
This plant is hardy and adaptable, thriving in full sun to partial shade. It’s drought-tolerant, making it perfect for low-maintenance landscapes.
The leaves come in a range of colors, from deep red to green, offering visual interest year-round. Perfect for modern designs, New Zealand Flax adds a contemporary touch to any outdoor space.
11. Tall Verbena
Tall Verbena is a perennial plant known for its clusters of small, vibrant purple flowers atop slender stems. It can grow up to 6 feet tall.
This plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent choice for borders or wildflower gardens. It’s drought-tolerant and attracts butterflies, enhancing the garden’s ecosystem.
Tall Verbena’s airy structure allows it to blend seamlessly with other plants, adding height without overpowering the landscape. Its long blooming season provides continuous color in the garden.
12. Russian Sage
Russian Sage is a hardy perennial known for its tall, silvery stems and lavender-blue flowers. It can reach up to 4 feet in height.
This plant is drought-resistant and thrives in sunny, well-drained areas, making it perfect for xeriscaping. Russian Sage adds a touch of elegance with its airy appearance.
Its aromatic foliage and long-lasting blooms attract pollinators, making it a valuable addition to biodiversity. Perfect for borders or as a stand-alone feature, it offers a fresh, fragrant presence in any garden.
13. Castor Bean Plant
The Castor Bean Plant is known for its dramatic foliage and fast growth, reaching heights of up to 10 feet. Its large, glossy leaves create a lush backdrop.
This plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, adding a tropical feel to gardens. It’s ideal for creating visual interest with its bold texture and form.
While beautiful, the Castor Bean Plant is toxic, requiring careful placement away from pets and children. Its striking appearance makes it a popular choice for adding a dramatic touch to landscapes.
14. Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a tropical plant known for its large, colorful flowers and tall stature, reaching up to 8 feet. It adds a tropical flair to gardens.
This plant thrives in sunny, warm climates and is perfect for creating a vibrant, lush atmosphere. Hibiscus attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, enhancing garden activity.
Regular watering and pruning ensure continuous blooms throughout the season. With its striking flowers, Hibiscus makes a bold statement, adding both height and vibrant color to any outdoor space.
15. Foxglove
Foxglove is known for its tall spikes of tubular flowers, reaching up to 6 feet. It adds vertical interest and charm to gardens.
This biennial plant thrives in partial shade and well-drained soils, making it suitable for woodland gardens. Foxglove attracts pollinators, enhancing biodiversity.
Its flowers come in various shades, from white to purple, offering a delicate beauty. Caution is advised as the plant is toxic if ingested. Foxglove’s elegant spires add a touch of sophistication to garden landscapes.
16. Red Hot Poker
Red Hot Poker, also known as Kniphofia, is known for its tall spikes of tubular flowers. Reaching up to 5 feet, it adds a fiery touch to gardens.
This plant thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil, making it perfect for borders or as an accent plant. Its vibrant flowers attract hummingbirds, adding life to your garden.
The torch-like blooms come in shades of red, orange, and yellow, creating a bold visual impact. Red Hot Poker’s unique appearance makes it a standout feature in any landscape.
17. Lupine
Lupines are known for their tall, spiky flowers and vibrant hues, reaching up to 4 feet. They add color and texture to gardens.
These perennials thrive in sunny locations and well-drained soil, making them perfect for cottage gardens or wildflower meadows. Lupines attract pollinators, enriching garden ecosystems.
Their flowers come in a range of colors, including blue, pink, and yellow. Lupines’ tall spikes create a vertical focal point, adding interest and elegance to garden landscapes.
18. Yucca
Yucca is a drought-tolerant plant known for its tall, spiky leaves and unique silhouette. It can grow up to 10 feet, adding a bold structure to gardens.
This plant thrives in dry, sunny environments and requires minimal care, making it ideal for xeriscaping. Yucca’s architectural form adds interest to any landscape.
Its dramatic appearance is perfect for modern garden designs, and it pairs well with rocks or gravel. Yucca’s striking form and adaptability make it a standout choice for arid climates.
19. Agapanthus
Agapanthus, also known as Lily of the Nile, is known for its tall stems and clusters of blue flowers. It can reach up to 4 feet, adding elegance to gardens.
This plant thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil, making it perfect for borders and containers. Agapanthus attracts bees and butterflies, enhancing garden biodiversity.
Its flowers bloom in summer, offering a striking display that complements other garden plants. Agapanthus’ tall stems and vibrant blooms add height and color, enhancing any landscape.
20. Cannas
Cannas are known for their broad, colorful leaves and tall blooms, reaching up to 8 feet. They add a tropical touch to gardens.
These plants thrive in sunny, warm environments and are often used in borders or as focal points. Cannas are easy to care for and can grow in both soil and water.
Their vibrant flowers, in shades of red, orange, and yellow, attract hummingbirds. Cannas’ lush tropical appearance makes them a popular choice for adding a splash of color and texture.