Even for challenging conditions, you normally have the option of many perennials. To get a shady deck which receives the brunt of the wind, you will have to choose hardy perennials. Some will develop in containers on the deck, though others may be implanted around a deck and also act as a wind break.

Sturdy Shrubs

If you want to block some of the wind from getting into the deck, large shrubs can provide help. Pick drought-tolerant plants, because wind dries out the soil, and choose types with small leaves which will not be ripped by the wind. Very good choices for partial shade include downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), which rises in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 and strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo, USDA zones 7 through 9). Serviceberry grows 15 to 25 feet tall, and strawberry tree grows 15 to 30 feet tall. Both require regular watering after being implanted, but are drought-tolerant once their roots are created.

Windy Landscape Plants

If you don’t require a windbreak, several shorter landscape plants grow well in partly shaded, windy conditions. Pacific Coast iris (Iris douglasiana, USDA zones 8 9) grows 12 to 18 inches tall. In spring, this iris has bluish-purple blossoms in shades of dark blue to lavender. California lilacs, such as the number “El Dorado” (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus “Perado,” USDA zones 7 through 11), are evergreen shrubs with bright spring flowers. “El Dorado” rises up to 8 feet tall. California lilacs can be paired with serviceberry or strawberry tree when planting windbreaks, as well as used in their own.

Containers in Breeze

Before selecting container plants to grow on a windy deck, then you have to select the right container. Lightweight pots blow more easily, so choose large heavy pots. Any bud you use needs to have drainage holes. Glazed ceramic works best, because the ceramic provides weight and the glaze helps keep the soil from drying out. Herbs in the Mediterranean climate are a good choice for windy locations. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, USDA zones 8 through 10) and sage (Salvia officinalis, USDA zones 4 through 8) are just two choices which may grow in partial shade.

Tropical Vines

Several perennial vines have a higher tolerance for wind. All these are ideal for full sunlight, but yellowish orchid vine, also called transnational vine (Mascagnia macroptera, USDA zones 8 through 10), is tolerant of partial shade. Once established, this vine is drought-tolerant and flowers the majority of the year. Bower plant (Pandorea jasminoides, USDA zones 9 through 11) has a much higher tolerance for shade. It flowers sporadically throughout the year, and also has moderate drought tolerance. Both these vines can be grown in containers but they will require some sort of help to climb, like a trellis attached to the deck.

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