The Best Plants for Sun, Shade, and Mixed Exposure

image of PolyMade's commercial planters

Adding greenery and vibrant flowers around your commercial property attracts potential customers, clients, guests, and passersby. Not only do plants add beauty and a comforting, welcoming vibe to your property, but they can also boost morale and productivity around the office. Therefore, adding commercial planters belongs inside and outside every office building

No two plants are the same—and neither are commercial planters—and they all require different care, including watering, fertilization, soil, and sunlight. If you’re considering adding commercial planters around your building or need to update your outdoor plants, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn about the best plants for sun, shade, and mixed exposure to help your outdoor plants flourish.

Why Add Commercial Planters?

Placing commercial planters strategically around your office building, hotel, restaurant, golf course, or other commercial property does more than attract people to your property. Commercial planters are an excellent choice for any commercial property and come with many benefits:

One of the most obvious reasons to add commercial planters to your property is that they attract customers. Whether you own a retail center, small shop, restaurant, or other public building that attracts guests, adding commercial planters creates pleasant views, gives your space an elevated feel, and incorporates a tropical feel. They can also create an oasis for hotel guests, especially when placed poolside. Placing gardening containers on balconies can breathe new life into hotel balconies, transforming them into more welcoming parts of your property.

Below are some other reasons to add commercial planters to your commercial property:

Planting the right plants around your commercial property is important for them to flourish. Be mindful when placing your plants; they all require different amounts of sunlight.

The Best Plants for Sun, Shade & Mixed Exposure

Sustaining the health of exterior plants across a commercial property can be challenging, particularly when dealing with high-maintenance plants. From ornamental annuals and shrubs to canopy trees, each requires special care and attention. There is no universal maintenance protocol; plant care must be tailored to species, including the amount of sunlight they get each day. Below are some of the best plants for sun, shade, and mixed exposure:

Best Plants for Sun

Some plants require many hours of direct sunlight and are best placed along borders, entryways without awnings, and poolside. Plants that prefer direct sunlight include flowering perennials, shrubs such as boxwoods and butterfly bushes, cacti, ornamental grasses, and some annuals, such as geraniums.

Best Plants for Shade

Other plants require more shade, preferring to have little direct sunlight. The best plants for shade are ferns, azaleas, astilbe, bleeding heart, and coleus, to name a few. Be careful not to overwater shade-loving plants; their soil is often moister than that in direct sunlight.

Best Plants for Mixed Exposure

Plants that prefer mixed exposure are versatile and often easier to care for, making them a perfect addition to any commercial property. Consider planting any of the following around your property: hydrangeas, black-eyed susans, heuchera, or hostas. 

Did you know that choosing a quality, insulated planter that protects roots is crucial to ensuring your plants flourish? PolyMade’s custom commercial planters offer exceptional quality that helps plants thrive.

The PolyMade Difference

PolyMade’s commercial planters deliver superior performance compared to conventional metal, concrete, or fiberglass planters, creating an environment where plants can truly flourish. Unlike traditional commercial planters, PolyMade’s planters are lightweight, modular, and outlast the seasons. We engineer our planters using advanced lightweight composites for flexibility and long-term durability. Constructed with a triple-layer system, incorporating a high-density polystyrene core to minimize structural load and a resilient polyurea exterior that enhances impact resistance and weather protection, our custom commercial planters are the best option for your commercial landscaping.

Below are several key benefits of selecting a custom commercial planter from PolyMade:

  • Fully customizable with a variety of shapes, sizes, and color options

  • Insulated design to safeguard plants from temperature changes

  • Superior moisture retention for healthier growth

  • Root protection to ensure plant longevity

  • Modular construction for simple assembly and mobility

  • Precision manufacturing supported by CAD technology

  • Handmade with care in the USA

  • Certified food-safe materials

  • Designed for easy shipping and hassle-free installation

Engineered for long-term durability, our planters withstand extreme weather, temperature swings, and year-round outdoor use without sacrificing style. Every planter is crafted to enhance your space, adding a refined, professional look that elevates your property and supports your vision.

Let’s Build Your Commercial Planter Today

Our custom commercial planters are unique to each client, offering custom shapes and sizes, vast color options, and are built to ship and easily install. Adding commercial planters throughout your property can boost employee productivity and improve your building’s aesthetic.

From the first conversation to final installation, our knowledgeable team partners with you throughout the entire process. We help translate your ideas into a finished product that’s both visually striking and built to last. Whether you’re specifying planters for a large commercial site or a custom architectural feature, we fabricate lightweight solutions in virtually any design while ensuring easy handling and installation.

Connect with our team to learn how PolyMade’s custom commercial planter boxes can enhance your project, simplify installation, and create an environment where plants—and properties—thrive.

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Why PolyMade's Commercial Planters are a Smart Choice for Temporary or Leased Properties

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These are the 4 Most Common Mistakes Business Owners Make with Outdoor Planters