Lacking green thumbs? A garden isn’t out of reach for you! Whether you’re testing the waters of gardening, or you’re a convicted plant-killer, there are plenty of low maintenance garden plants to spruce up your landscape. These plants demand less of you and often flourish on their own, freeing up your time to just enjoy the greener pastures.
Coneflower
This bright flower is named after the Greek word for hedgehog because of its adorable prickly center that attracts the likes of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Coneflower Care: Coneflowers like well-drained soil and lots of sun, but can thrive in partial shady areas as well. Place a thin layer of compost around the fresh soil, followed by mulch to prevent weeds.
Petunia
With hundreds of varieties to choose from, there’s a petunia made for everyone. This flowering plant is widely known as one of the easiest garden plants to care for since the advent of modern hybrid breeds, also one of the best garden flowers.
Petunia Care: This bloom is a warm-season annual, meaning it needs to be planted after the last frost date in your climate. Outside petunias can get by with a weekly watering and love a monthly fertilizing for maximum blooms.
Yarrow
This perennial plant blooms adorable clusters of small, bright flowers surrounded by fern-like foliage. These red, pink, or yellow flowers attract all kinds of butterflies and are often picked for stock stems in a bouquet.
Yarrow Care: Plant yarrows in the spring or early summer months when the risk of frost has completely subsided. Choose a spot with full sun with loam soil as the yarrow hates a saturated flower bed, and prefers a hotter, drier environment.
Daylily
Contrary to its delicate name, the daylily is a resilient perennial that can adapt to many climates. They can even survive winter frost! This cheery flower can grow up to four feet tall and is available in an array of colors. Order spring flowers today!
Daylily Care: This rugged plant for your garden can’t stand one thing: competing for resources. Avoid planting under a tree or overbearing shrubs where nutrients is scarce. Aim for full to partial sun exposure and fertilize the garden plant with slightly acidic soil.
Hosta
This shade-tolerant foliage plant is a popular choice among first-time gardeners. Its leaves typically grow in a neon green or light green color low to the ground,, and will sprout lavender, white, or purple flowers in the summer.
Hosta Care: Hostas are great at surviving in the shade, but will ultimately grow more slowly and less full than one planted in the sun. Begin a slow-release fertilizer in spring and keep the surrounding soil most, but not saturated.
Zinnia
Zinnias are an incredibly eye-catching garden plant for how low maintenance they are. Along with their gorgeous colors, zinnias also grow in various shapes like the “beehive”, “button”, and “cactus”. Look for zinnias when starting a cut flower garden.
Zinnia Care: This is an annual plant and will not survive the winter months. Plant a fresh perennial in the spring or early summer months in a sunny spot with soil high in organic matter. Water frequently enough to maintain a moist soil bed.
Barberry
This resilient shrub is deer resistant, drought tolerant, and a perfect low maintenance garden plant. Sprouting a deep maroon color, or bright green, a few barberry varieties are classified as invasive species, so double check your extension service office before you introduce the plant to your garden.
Barberry Care: Plant your barberry shrub in well-drained soil during the spring. Find a nice sunny or partially sunny spot for the most vibrant shape and color.
Buddleia Shrub
If you’d like to fill your garden with seasonal monarchs, swallowtails, and other colorful pollinators, plant a buddleia shrub. Pick a newer breed in pink, violet, red, white, purple, orange, or a combination.
Buddleia Shrub Care: Situate your shrub in a full sun spot. During the late winter months, prune the buddleia to the ground to promote healthier growth in the spring.
Russian Sage
This calming shrub is a prime low-maintenance herbaceous perennial plant. Landscape architects love this varietal for its whimsical shape and high compatibility with other species.
Russian Sage Care: Aside from a sunny spot, occasional water, and an initial dose of fertilizer, this is the ultimate low maintenance garden plant as it is super drought tolerant.
Switchgrass
Credit Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panicum_virgatum_Shenandoah_10zz.jpg
Switchgrass is a favorite among gardeners looking for a natural feel. It’s a North American staple resembling the rolling grassy hills of the prairie.
Switchgrass Care: Aim for a location in the full sun, and this garden plant does well in any soil from sandy to clay-based. Plant the seedlings in spring after the last frost, and keep the soil moist for germination.
Juniper
If you want to pack a green punch without much hassle, the juniper shrub is your guy. This low maintenance coniferous plant is extremely adaptable to different environments, doesn’t require pruning, and deer don’t snack on juniper.
Juniper Care: Plant in a very sunny to partially sunny spot in spring or early summer. During the peak summer heat, make sure to spray the whole bush with plenty of water. Never let the soil dry out completely, but junipers are resilient.
St. John’s Wort
First-time gardeners will love this low maintenance garden plant and its cheery yellow flowers. It can reach up to three feet tall with little to no fuss.
St. John’s Wort Care: This flowering shrub loves full sun coverage in rich, well-drained soil. Pruning isn’t a necessary step in this garden plant’s routine, and we actually advise against pruning it to the ground.
Ajuga
Often regarded as the best shady outdoor plant, the ajuga is a colorful, weed-smothering pick for the corners of your garden. Expect blue-purple blooms in late spring and rich foliage the rest of the year.
Ajuga Care: Although it’s considered groundcover, avoid planting ajuga in areas of high foot traffic. Choose a spot in full to partial shade with well-drained soil, and if you live in a mild climate, this low maintenance garden plant may be evergreen!
Persian Shield
Credit Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persian_Shield_Closeup_(3699816041).jpg
These iridescent purple leaves are unique, durable, and offer a tropical touch without the hassle. Enjoy the dramatic foliage as a seasonal annual that can be kept alive through the winter once potted indoors.
Persian Shield Care: This tropical plant loves the sun or partial shade in warmer climates. Watch for leggy growth and pinch back when necessary.
Armeria
This is a great choice for sandy soil for gardeners in coastal cities.
Armeria Care: This ground-hugging plant for your garden is evergreen, sprouting flowers in late spring if planted in full sun areas, with well-drained soil. It’s virtually deer, pest and disease resistant while still attracting fun pollinators.
Get started planting today by ordering garden plants with The Bouqs Co.
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