The Best Plants to Complement Your Outdoor Fountain

Creating a beautiful outdoor space is an art, and a stunning fountain can be a stunning focal point. Whether you've installed a solar water feature, a concrete fountain, or any kind of garden water features, the right plants can enhance the beauty of your setup. This blog post will explore the best plants to pair with your outdoor fountain, ensuring a vibrant and serene environment in your garden or yard. Let’s dive in!

Why Choose the Right Plants?

Plants play a critical role in your outdoor landscape. When paired with yard fountains or a tranquil fountain in a garden, they can create a harmonious atmosphere. The gentle sound of bubbling water from a bird bath fountain combined with lush greenery can provide a tranquil escape.

Adding plants around your exterior water fountain offers multiple benefits:

• Aesthetic Appeal: They soften the hard edges of stone or concrete, creating a more inviting space.
• Natural Habitat: Encourage local wildlife, including birds and beneficial insects, to visit your garden.
• Microclimate: Plants can create a cooler, moister microclimate around water features, enhancing comfort.

Best Plants for Your Outdoor Fountain

1. Ferns

Ferns are a fantastic choice for complementing any exterior fountains. Their lush foliage adds a lush green backdrop that beautifully contrasts with the water's blue tones. Hardy ferns such as the Boston Fern or Maidenhair Fern thrive in the humid environment created by a solar water fountain. They love shade and are low-maintenance, making them perfect candidates for planting around your fountain area.

2. Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses, such as Pampas Grass or Blue Fescue, help introduce height and movement to your outdoor setting. Their gentle swaying in the breeze complements the soothing sounds of water in a garden fountain. Choose grasses that are appropriate for your climate and consider mixing different heights for a dynamic look.

3. Water Lilies

If your fountain is designed as a small pond, consider adding water lilies. These stunning aquatic plants not only enhance the fountain's visual appeal but also provide shelter for fish and local wildlife. Their floating leaves cover the surface, minimizing algae growth and increasing oxygen levels in the water. When the blooms appear, they will magnify the beauty of your garden space.

4. Sedums

For gardeners looking for low-maintenance plants, sedums offer resilience and versatility. These succulent plants thrive in various conditions, tolerate dry spells, and can be used in containers or directly in the ground. They work wonderfully around stone bird baths or ceramic bird baths, adding a splash of color that is both vibrant and drought-resistant.

5. Asiatic Lilies

Asiatic lilies provide an explosion of color and delightful fragrance throughout the summer months. They can create stunning focal points around your outdoor fountains; their tall stature adds vertical interest, especially when paired with lower-profile plants. Plant them in clusters for more striking visual effects and to attract pollinators, enhancing your garden’s ecosystem.

Indoor to Outdoor Transition: Plants for a Bird Bath

When considering plants specifically for your bird bath, whether you have a solar bird bath fountain or a concrete bird bath, ensure they are non-toxic to local wildlife. Here are some excellent plant choices:

6. Herbs

Herbs like rosemary, lavender, and thyme are not only functional for your kitchen but also attract birds and beneficial insects. When planted around your bird bath bowl, these fragrant plants provide a sensory experience for both humans and wildlife alike.

7. Wildflowers

Consider planting native wildflowers around your solar bird bath. They require less maintenance and support local biodiversity. Wildflowers attract butterflies and birds, turning your yard into a lively and colorful sanctuary.

8. Red-Flowering Currant

The Red-Flowering Currant is a deciduous shrub that offers beautiful pink flowers in early spring. This plant can assist in attracting hummingbirds, who will relish in the proximity to your solar powered water feature. Its leaves can provide much-needed shade during hot days for the birds visiting your bird bath fountain.

Design Tips for Planting Around Your Fountain

To create a harmonious and balanced design around your fountain, consider the following tips:

Layering

Utilize different heights and sizes when selecting plants. Taller plants can anchor the back while smaller plants can fill the foreground, creating depth. For example, combine tall ornamental grasses with vibrant flowers to attract attention to your fountain in a garden.

Color Coordination

Choose plant colors that complement the color of your fountain. If your fountain is made of stone or concrete, opt for bright, vibrant plants to create contrast. For a more subtle look, select plants with colors that harmonize with the fountain's hue.

Seasonal Interest

When selecting plants, consider those that will provide visual interest throughout the seasons. Choosing plants that bloom in different seasons or have varying foliage colors can make your outdoor fountains the focal point of your garden year-round.

Maintenance and Care

Caring for the plants around your garden water features involves basic routines. Watering, weeding, and mulching should be prioritized to keep your plants healthy and vibrant. Regularly check the fountain for any necessary maintenance as well; clear debris and ensure the water is clean to prevent any disruption to your plants and the wildlife visiting your garden.

Turn Your Garden into a True Oasis

With the right selection of plants, you can transform your outdoor space into an enchanting getaway that captivates both you and the local wildlife. The addition of plants near your outdoor fountains will not only bolster the overall aesthetic but also promote a biodiverse environment where nature thrives. From lush ferns to fragrant herbs, each plant serves a purpose, enhancing the beauty and tranquility of the area.

So, whether you have a solar waterfall fountain, a traditional stone bird bath, or an intricate bird bath bowl, take the time to plan your planting scheme. Your garden could become a stunning showcase, inviting relaxation, enjoyment, and a multitude of beautiful creatures!