How to add color to your yard without planting any flowers – 4 expert methods to enliven your plot, even if there is no room for more beds

For those of us with a small outside space, adding color to a yard or balcony might not be as simple as planting lots more flowers. What if there simply isn't room?

Well, planting extra flowers isn't the only way to add color to your backyard ideas. There are so many ways to go about bringing vibrancy to a garden, courtyard or balcony that you may not even at first consider, and can make an impactful difference.

Here garden experts share their top four ways to add color to your yard without planting any flowers, and how each works to bring brightness to a space. These ideas are perfect for the summer to wake your yard or terrace up in time for guests or relaxing outdoors with a beautiful backdrop.

1. Add plants with colored foliage

There are many plants out there with foliage so gorgeous it could rival any flower. You'd be surprised by the amount of stunning colors leaves can be, from deep purples to tinted blues and yellows.

Just think of how each of these would stand out in your yard, whether you're looking to add bright hues to create a foliage border or something more subtle and sporadic. Plus, they can all be grown vertically in taller planters or in pots that hook over a balcony.

Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass, says, 'There are many plants out there with colorful foliage to bring beauty to a yard, but these are my top three picks.'

1. 'Coral bells (Heuchera sanguinea) provide wonderful shades of green, red, purple (and even some hues of silver) and are a top choice for someone looking to avoid flowers because they provide this attractive foliage all season.'
2. 'Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) is another plant that, compared to flowers, blooms full season from spring to fall and grows quickly, showing off vibrant leaf colors of red, purple, pink, orange, green and yellow.' Learn how to grow coleus here.
3. 'Lastly, I would also recommend Persian shield plants (Strobilanthes dyerianus) for these same reasons mentioned above. They boast stunning metallic or iridescent colors including purple and silver year-round, and require minimal work from gardeners.'

Laura Janney

Laura Janney is a renowned landscape architect and designer, and CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass. Laura has left her mark on the cottage garden landscape design scene, recently winning the 2023 Houzz Best in Design award for her work in the New York area.

2. Add plants with variegated foliage in pots

Opting for plants or trees in containers with variegated foliage is another great way to add color and spruce up your backyard without planting any flowers.

These are leafy plants with foliage of multiple different hues, such as 'Goshiki' (Osmanthus heterophyllus), a selection of 'Solomon Seal', and ‘Variegatum’ (Polygonatum odoratum - types of spider plant).

Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, says, 'There are many interesting plants with variegated foliage, often in combinations of green and yellow or green and white. ‘Variegatum’ [spider plant] is a great woodland plant with arching stems, and white and green variegated leaves. Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ is another option with evergreen holly-like leaves that have an attractive suffusion of yellow, white and green.'

Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture and leads the utilization of planting and design to promote environmentally sound gardening practices at PHS. Prior to arriving at PHS, Andrew worked at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Chanticleer Garden, and the Scott Arboretum for a tenure of 27 years, and has received many commendations for his work. In 2015, Andrew published his first book, “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias.” 

3. Use colored planters

A simple but effective way to inject more color into your yard without planting any flowers is to switch in some colorful container gardening ideas.

These don't have to be neon yellow to be effective. The best plant pots can be muted pastels, quiet pops of navy and purple, or any colors that won't blend in too much with the background of the natural world will be noticeable in the space.

Jessica Mercer PhD, a plant expert at Plant Addicts, says, 'A great way to add color without petals is with hardscape accents like showy containers. A trio of durable planters sat together can become a commanding focal point, whether you're planting up matching greenery in each container or something contrasting.'

The corky metal pot planter from Wayfair and the maisonette pot planter, also from Wayfair both come in a large range of colors to tailor to any yard.

Jessica Mercer

Jessica Mercer, PhD, is the Senior Content Marketing Coordinator and plant expert for Plant Addicts. As a 'plant collector', Jessica enjoys growing many different plants and learning about the best cultural practices for each. Writing for Plant Addicts is a real joy for her, as she can use her science background to research interesting plant topics. She carefully considers how to best present the information to other gardeners, with a focus on sustainability and the environment.

4. Add color through patio furniture and accessories

Focusing your attention on the rest of your yard's furniture and patio ideas is another easy way to implement color without any additional flowers. It might be as simple as a lick of paint here and there, or a seasonal pillow can do a lot when designing a patio.

'A weather-resistant bench sprayed in a bold teal or a set of powder-coated steel trellises in citrus orange supply saturated hues across the yard,' says Jessica.

'Fabric can be a mobile splash of color too. Outdoor pillows and umbrellas can echo the tones in your foliage, can be swapped out easily, and fold away for winter.'

If your yard is still lacking the colour you were hoping for, dotting a few patio plants or thoughtful pieces of garden art or garden decor around the yard might do just the trick. For instance, the glitzhome metal hanging birdhouse from Amazon is functional while adding a burst of red to your yard without taking up floor space.

If you're looking to redesign the majority of your yard while adding color, we recommend considering the top backyard improvements that add value to your home while embarking on the job. This way, your yard's new design will also benefit you financially in the future.