Low Maintenance Flowering Plants

232 plants

The best low-maintenance plants share a few traits: they don't need dividing every year, they don't require staking, they're not prone to pests, and they naturalize happily in your conditions rather than fighting them. Native plants are often the best choice here because they evolved for your soil and climate. A garden of coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and ornamental grasses practically takes care of itself.

AgastachePerennialJul-Sep
Agastache
Licorice-scented foliage and tubular orange-pink flowers that hummingbirds and butterflies find irresistible. Thrives on neglect.
Z5-9
AjugaGround CoverApr-May
Ajuga
Bronze-purple foliage with blue spikes. Fills bare shade in one season.
Z3-10
American Gold Rush Black-Eyed SusanPerennialJul-Oct
American Gold Rush Black-Eyed Susan
Narrow, fuzzy foliage resists the leaf spot that plagues Goldsturm. A worthy upgrade.
Z3-9
Angelina SedumPerennialJun-Jul
Angelina Sedum
Chartreuse needle-like foliage turns golden orange in fall. Tiny yellow flowers are a bonus.
Z3-9
Anna's Red HelleborePerennialJan-Apr
Anna's Red Hellebore
Wine-red outward-facing blooms above silver-marbled foliage. Bred to face the viewer, not the ground, like older hellebores do.
Z4-9
Annual VincaAnnualMay-Nov
Annual Vinca
Glossy-leaved heat champion (botanically unrelated to true Vinca minor) that blooms through humidity that wilts everything else.
Z3-11
At Last RoseShrubMay-Oct
At Last Rose
Combines old-rose fragrance with modern disease resistance, finally. Apricot-pink cupped blooms that look like an English rose but bloom like a Knock Out.
Z5-9
AubrietaPerennialApr-May
Aubrieta
Purple cascades spilling over walls and rocks in spring. Shear after bloom for a fresh flush of foliage.
Z4-8
August Moon HostaPerennialJul-Aug
August Moon Hosta
Glowing gold foliage all season, and one of the best hostas for brighter spots with some morning sun.
Z3-8
Autumn Joy SedumPerennialAug-Oct
Autumn Joy Sedum
Broccoli-like heads open pink and age to copper-bronze. Four-season interest, zero maintenance.
Z3-9
Bartzella PeonyPerennialMay-Jun
Bartzella Peony
Intersectional Itoh hybrid with huge lemon-yellow double blooms and red flares at the center. Strong stems hold up to 50 flowers per plant.
Z4-9
Basket-of-GoldPerennialApr-May
Basket-of-Gold
Bright golden-yellow cascades over walls and rock edges in spring. Cut back after flowering to stay tidy.
Z3-7
BergeniaPerennialMar-Apr
Bergenia
Bold rubbery leaves provide year-round structure and turn burgundy in winter. Early pink flowers arrive with the hellebores.
Z3-8
Big BluestemGrassAug-Oct
Big Bluestem
The signature grass of the tallgrass prairie, turning copper-bronze in fall with distinctive turkey-foot seed heads.
Z3-9
Black-Eyed SusanPerennialJul-Oct
Black-Eyed Susan
Golden prairie workhorse that lights up late summer meadows.
Z3-10
Blanket FlowerPerennialJun-Oct
Blanket Flower
Fiery bicolor pinwheels that bloom nonstop in the worst heat and soil.
Z3-10
Blue Angel HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Blue Angel Hosta
A mammoth shade-garden hosta with thick, corrugated blue-gray leaves up to 18 inches long that slugs leave alone, topped by fragrant lavender flower spikes in midsummer.
Z3-8
Blue False IndigoPerennialMay-Jun
Blue False Indigo
Lupine-like spikes on a native that lives forever. Gets better with age.
Z3-10
Blue FescueGrassJun-Jul
Blue Fescue
Steel-blue tufted mound. Perfect edging or rock garden accent.
Z3-8
Blue FlaxPerennialMay-Jul
Blue Flax
Delicate sky-blue flowers open each morning on airy stems over fine foliage.
Z4-9
Blue Grama GrassGrassJul-Sep
Blue Grama Grass
Short clumping grass with distinctive eyebrow-shaped seed heads thrives in dry soils.
Z3-10
Blue Oat GrassGrassJun-Jul
Blue Oat Grass
Compact clumps of steel-blue blades provide year-round color and texture.
Z4-9
Bobo HydrangeaShrubJul-Sep
Bobo Hydrangea
Dwarf paniculata smothered in blooms. Perfect front-of-border plant that needs almost no care.
Z3-8
BougainvilleaVineMar-Nov
Bougainvillea
Explosive cascades of papery magenta, hot pink, or coral bracts that smother walls, fences, and pergolas with nonstop color from spring through fall in zones 9 to 11.
Z9-11
BrunneraPerennialApr-May
Brunnera
Clouds of tiny forget-me-not blue flowers over heart-shaped leaves. Thrives in dry shade once established.
Z3-8
Butter and Sugar Siberian IrisPerennialMay-Jun
Butter and Sugar Siberian Iris
Cream-white standards over butter-yellow falls. The first dependable yellow-and-white Siberian iris ever introduced.
Z3-9
Butterfly BushShrubJun-Oct
Butterfly Bush
Long, arching flower wands that butterflies absolutely lose their minds over.
Z5-10
Butterfly MilkweedPerennialJun-Aug
Butterfly Milkweed
Vivid orange-red flat-topped clusters that monarchs and swallowtails cannot resist. Drought-proof once established.
Z3-9
Caesar's Brother Siberian IrisPerennialMay-Jun
Caesar's Brother Siberian Iris
Tall stems hold rich violet-blue flowers above grassy foliage. The Siberian iris benchmark, blooming earlier and longer than bearded types.
Z3-9
CalibrachoaAnnualMay-Oct
Calibrachoa
Mini petunias that bloom nonstop in hanging baskets. Dozens of color options and no deadheading needed.
Z9-11
California FuchsiaPerennialAug-Oct
California Fuchsia
Low mounds of gray foliage are covered in tubular red-orange flowers in late summer.
Z8-10
California PoppyAnnualMar-Sep
California Poppy
Golden cups that carpet hillsides across the state. Closes at night and on cloudy days.
Z5-10
CamassiaBulbApr-Jun
Camassia
Tall spikes of starry flowers rise above strappy foliage in late spring.
Z3-8
Cape HoneysuckleShrubJan-Nov
Cape Honeysuckle
Clusters of vivid orange-red trumpets bloom from fall through spring. Evergreen in mild climates and a hummingbird magnet in every month it flowers.
Z9-11
Caradonna SalviaPerennialMay-Aug
Caradonna Salvia
Dark purple stems set this apart from every other salvia. Vertical, architectural, electric.
Z3-9
CassiaShrubSep-Nov
Cassia
Showers of bright golden flowers cover the shrub in fall when little else is blooming. Sulphur cassia, a butterfly host plant that lights up the autumn.
Z8-11
Cat's Meow CatmintPerennialMay-Sep
Cat's Meow Catmint
Tidy, dome-shaped habit that never flops open. Stays compact without shearing.
Z3-9
CatmintPerennialMay-Sep
Catmint
Billowy lavender-blue haze that blooms all season if you shear it back.
Z3-10
Century PlantPerennialJun-Jul
Century Plant
Grows for decades, then sends up a massive flower stalk up to 20 feet tall before dying. Worth the wait.
Z8-11
Chaste TreeShrubJul-Sep
Chaste Tree
Long lavender-blue spikes cover this heat-loving shrub all summer. One of the few shrubs that actually blooms in August.
Z6-9
Chicago Apache DaylilyPerennialJun-Aug
Chicago Apache Daylily
Scarlet red with a velvety texture. One of the best true red daylilies available.
Z3-9
ChrysanthemumPerennialSep-Nov
Chrysanthemum
The fall icon. Mounds of color when everything else is fading.
Z5-10
Cinco de Mayo RoseShrubMay-Oct
Cinco de Mayo Rose
Smoky lavender-rust blooms with copper undertones unlike any other rose. Modern fragrance, modern disease resistance, and a color you will not find anywhere else.
Z5-9
CliffroseShrubMay-Jun
Cliffrose
Creamy white rose-like flowers with sweet fragrance and feathery seed plumes on a tough Rocky Mountain native.
Z4-8
Climbing HydrangeaVineJun-Jul
Climbing Hydrangea
Slow to start but spectacular once established, covering shady walls with flat-topped white lacecap flowers and exfoliating bark.
Z4-8
ColchicumBulbSep-Oct
Colchicum
Crocus-like blooms appear in fall on bare stems without leaves. Plant them and forget them, they will surprise you every September.
Z4-9
ColeusAnnualJul-Aug
Coleus
Grown for kaleidoscopic foliage, not flowers. Pinch blooms to keep energy in the leaves.
Z10-11
Compass PlantPerennialJul-Sep
Compass Plant
Tall stems with large yellow daisies tower over deeply cut basal leaves that align north-south.
Z3-8
ConeflowerPerennialJun-Sep
Coneflower
Tough prairie native with long bloom season and medicinal history.
Z3-10
Coral BellsPerennialMay-Jul
Coral Bells
Grown mostly for dramatic foliage, but the tiny bell flowers are a bonus.
Z3-10
CosmosAnnualJun-Oct
Cosmos
Airy, dancing flowers on thread-thin stems. Effortless cottage garden charm.
Z3-10
Crape MyrtleTreeJun-Sep
Crape Myrtle
The tree of the South. Months of crinkled blooms and gorgeous peeling bark.
Z7-10
Creeping PhloxGround CoverApr-May
Creeping Phlox
An evergreen sun-loving groundcover that smothers walls, slopes, and rock gardens in dense pink, purple, blue, lavender, or white sheets every April and May.
Z3-10
Creeping ThymeGround CoverJun-Jul
Creeping Thyme
Fragrant, walkable ground cover. Bees love it, foot traffic can't kill it.
Z3-10
CrocusBulbFeb-Apr
Crocus
One of the first signs of spring, pushing through snow with jewel-toned cups.
Z3-8
DaffodilBulbMar-May
Daffodil
Cheerful trumpets that naturalize beautifully and return stronger each year.
Z3-10
DaylilyPerennialJun-Aug
Daylily
Virtually indestructible perennial with trumpet blooms in every warm hue.
Z3-10
Desert MarigoldPerennialMar-Oct
Desert Marigold
Cheerful desert wildflower that blooms almost year-round in warm climates. Thrives on neglect.
Z7-11
Double Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Double Knock Out Rose
Fuller, double-petaled version of the Knock Out. Same bulletproof performance with more petal count.
Z5-10
DrabaPerennialMar-Apr
Draba
Tiny alpine cushion plant smothered in bright yellow flowers in early spring. Perfect miniature scale.
Z4-7
Dragon's Blood SedumPerennialJul-Aug
Dragon's Blood Sedum
Creeping mat of burgundy-tinged foliage with starry red flowers. Turns deep red in fall.
Z3-9
Drift RoseShrubMay-Oct
Drift Rose
Groundcover rose that stays low and spreads wide. Tough, disease-resistant, and constantly in bloom.
Z4-11
Dutch IrisBulbMay-Jun
Dutch Iris
Slender stems bear elegant iris blooms in late spring to early summer.
Z5-9
Dutchman's BreechesPerennialMar-May
Dutchman's Breeches
Finely cut foliage and clusters of puffy white pantaloon-shaped flowers in early spring. A charming ephemeral that disappears by summer.
Z3-8
Dwarf Crested IrisPerennialApr-May
Dwarf Crested Iris
Tiny lavender-blue iris flowers with gold crests on a spreading native ground cover. A spring woodland treasure.
Z3-9
EcheveriaPerennialMay-Jul
Echeveria
Perfect rosettes in blue, green, pink, and purple. Bell-shaped flowers on arching stems. Frost-tender.
Z9-11
Elliott's BluestarPerennialApr-May
Elliott's Bluestar
Pale blue starry flowers in spring give way to feathery foliage that turns brilliant gold in fall. Two seasons of beauty for zero effort.
Z4-9
Empress Wu HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Empress Wu Hosta
The world's largest hosta. Individual leaves can exceed two feet. A bold statement in any shade garden.
Z3-8
EpimediumPerennialApr-May
Epimedium
Delicate fairy-wing flowers above leathery foliage. One of the toughest dry shade groundcovers.
Z4-8
False SunflowerPerennialJun-Sep
False Sunflower
Cheerful golden-yellow daisies that bloom for months on a tough native perennial. The sunniest, most reliable workhorse in the border.
Z3-9
Fawn LilyBulbMar-May
Fawn Lily
Mottled leaves and nodding white flowers with swept-back petals emerge in early spring from Pacific Northwest woodlands.
Z4-8
Fire and Ice HostaPerennialJul-Jul
Fire and Ice Hosta
Stark white centers with deep green margins, high contrast that jumps out from a shady border.
Z3-8
Fire Light HydrangeaShrubJul-Oct
Fire Light Hydrangea
Upright cones open pure white and transform to deep pomegranate red as the season ages. Strong stems that never need staking.
Z3-8
ForsythiaShrubMar-Apr
Forsythia
A wall of golden yellow on bare branches. Spring's loudest announcement.
Z3-8
Fountain GrassGrassAug-Nov
Fountain Grass
Arching, bottlebrush plumes that catch the light. Movement in the garden.
Z5-10
Frances Williams HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Frances Williams Hosta
Classic blue-green heart-shaped leaves with wide gold margins that make this one of the all-time great hostas.
Z3-8
Globe ThistlePerennialJul-Aug
Globe Thistle
Perfectly spherical steel-blue globes on white stems that dry to perfection. Bees are absolutely obsessed.
Z3-9
Glory-of-the-SnowBulbMar-Apr
Glory-of-the-Snow
Star-shaped blooms that appear as snow melts. Naturalizes into drifts.
Z3-8
GoatsbeardPerennialJun-Jul
Goatsbeard
Giant creamy plumes like an astilbe on steroids. Native woodland giant that anchors a shade border.
Z3-7
Golden Rain TreeTreeJun-Jul
Golden Rain Tree
Showers of small yellow flowers followed by papery lantern-like seed pods. Tolerates tough urban conditions.
Z5-9
Golden Tiara HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Golden Tiara Hosta
Small, fast-spreading mound with chartreuse-gold margins and one of the easiest hostas you can grow.
Z3-8
GoldenrodPerennialAug-Oct
Goldenrod
Wrongly blamed for allergies. A vital late-season pollinator magnet.
Z3-10
Goldsturm Black-Eyed SusanPerennialJul-Oct
Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan
The gold standard rudbeckia. Uniform, floriferous, and utterly reliable in any soil.
Z3-9
GomphrenaAnnualJun-Oct
Gomphrena
Papery clover-shaped pom-poms on wiry stems. Drought-proof, deer-proof, and dries perfectly for winter arrangements.
Z3-10
Gooseneck LoosestrifePerennialJul-Aug
Gooseneck Loosestrife
Gracefully arching white flower spikes that curve at the tips like a goose neck. Spreads vigorously in moist soil.
Z3-9
Grape HyacinthBulbMar-May
Grape Hyacinth
Tiny grape-like clusters that spread into rivers of blue over time.
Z3-8
Green-and-GoldPerennialMar-Jun
Green-and-Gold
Bright yellow star flowers appear for months above mat-forming foliage. The best spring ground cover for the Southeast.
Z5-8
Guacamole HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Guacamole Hosta
Chartreuse-gold leaves with dark green margins and sweetly fragrant white flowers that perfume the shade garden.
Z3-8
Halcyon HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Halcyon Hosta
The bluest hosta you can grow. Thick, heavily textured leaves resist slugs better than most.
Z3-8
Happy Returns DaylilyPerennialMay-Sep
Happy Returns Daylily
Lemon-yellow rebloomer with light fragrance. A bit taller than Stella with softer color.
Z3-9
HelleborePerennialJan-Apr
Hellebore
The Lenten Rose. Elegant nodding blooms that thrive in deep shade.
Z3-10
Hens and ChicksPerennialJun-Jul
Hens and Chicks
Tight rosettes that multiply by producing offsets. The mother plant flowers once, then dies, replaced by chicks.
Z3-8
Hidcote LavenderPerennialJun-Aug
Hidcote Lavender
Compact and intensely dark purple. The standard against which all other lavenders are measured.
Z5-9
HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Hosta
The undisputed queen of shade gardening. Foliage in every green and blue.
Z3-8
Hyperion DaylilyPerennialJun-Aug
Hyperion Daylily
Tall, pale lemon-yellow, sweetly fragrant blooms on an heirloom variety that's been cherished since 1925.
Z3-9
Ice Follies DaffodilBulbMar-Apr
Ice Follies Daffodil
White petals frame a wide, ruffled cup that opens yellow and fades to cream. Multiplies fast.
Z3-9
Ice PlantPerennialJun-Sep
Ice Plant
Neon-bright daisy flowers that shimmer in the sun over succulent foliage. Thrives in hot, dry rock gardens.
Z5-10
Iceberg RoseShrubMay-Oct
Iceberg Rose
Pure white floribunda clusters that bloom non-stop from spring to frost. Among the most planted roses in the world and bulletproof in any climate.
Z4-9
ImpatiensAnnualMay-Oct
Impatiens
The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.
Z3-10
Indian GrassGrassAug-Oct
Indian Grass
Golden-orange fall color and shimmering flower spikes make this tall prairie native one of autumn's best performers.
Z4-9
Ivory Prince HelleborePerennialJan-Apr
Ivory Prince Hellebore
Outward-facing ivory blooms blushed with pink and chartreuse. Compact, tidy, and one of the longest-blooming hellebores in the catalog.
Z4-9
Japanese AnemonePerennialAug-Oct
Japanese Anemone
Graceful, swaying blooms on tall stems. Elegant in partial shade.
Z4-8
Japanese Forest GrassGrassAug-Sep
Japanese Forest Grass
Arching variegated leaves form graceful cascades and brighten shady spots.
Z5-9
Japanese Painted FernPerennialMay-Sep
Japanese Painted Fern
Silver and burgundy fronds unlike any other fern. Foliage plant that earns its keep on color alone.
Z4-8
Julia Child RoseShrubMay-Oct
Julia Child Rose
Butter-yellow ruffled blooms with a sweet licorice-candy fragrance. The chef's own pick for her garden and one of the best yellow floribundas ever bred.
Z5-9
June HostaPerennialJul-Aug
June Hosta
Gold center streaked with blue-green margins. Color shifts through the season. A collector's favorite.
Z3-8
Karl Foerster Feather Reed GrassGrassJun-Aug
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Strong vertical plumes emerge in early summer and persist as tawny stems through winter.
Z4-9
KerriaShrubApr-May
Kerria
Cheerful golden-yellow pompoms on bright green stems that stay vivid green all winter. One of the easiest shade-tolerant shrubs.
Z4-9
King Alfred DaffodilBulbMar-Apr
King Alfred Daffodil
The classic golden trumpet daffodil. Naturalizes into massive sweeps that return for decades.
Z3-9
Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Knock Out Rose
The rose that changed everything. Disease-resistant, self-cleaning, and blooms nonstop from spring to frost.
Z5-10
Krossa Regal HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Krossa Regal Hosta
Stately vase-shaped form with silvery-blue leaves on long stems. Tall lavender flower spikes rise five feet above the foliage.
Z3-8
Lady of Shalott RoseShrubMay-Oct
Lady of Shalott Rose
Coppery orange buds open to salmon-pink cups with golden undersides. Tough, disease-resistant, and one of the most generous repeat bloomers David Austin ever bred.
Z4-9
Lady's MantlePerennialMay-Jul
Lady's Mantle
Chartreuse frothy flowers and pleated blue-green leaves that hold water droplets like mercury. The ultimate filler plant.
Z3-7
LantanaPerennialMay-Nov
Lantana
Multi-colored flower clusters that bloom relentlessly in brutal heat.
Z7-10
LavenderPerennialJun-Aug
Lavender
Fragrant silver-green mounds beloved by bees and humans alike.
Z5-10
Lemon Chiffon PeonyPerennialMay-Jun
Lemon Chiffon Peony
Intersectional Itoh hybrid with pale lemon-yellow semi-double blooms. Bartzella's softer-toned sibling with the same strong stems and long bloom.
Z4-9
Lenten RosePerennialFeb-Apr
Lenten Rose
Nodding flowers in late winter when nothing else is blooming. Evergreen foliage adds year-round structure to shade gardens.
Z4-9
Liberty HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Liberty Hosta
Large blue-green leaves with wide creamy yellow margins that whiten as the season ages. Bigger and brighter than First Frost, its parent.
Z3-8
Lily-of-the-ValleyPerennialApr-May
Lily-of-the-Valley
Tiny bell-shaped flowers with one of the most intoxicating fragrances in the plant world. Spreads into lush carpets under trees.
Z2-7
Limelight HydrangeaShrubJul-Sep
Limelight Hydrangea
Cone-shaped blooms open chartreuse, mature to white, then blush pink in fall. Tough as nails.
Z3-8
Little BluestemGrassAug-Oct
Little Bluestem
Upright clumps turn coppery orange in fall and stand well through winter.
Z3-9
Little Lime HydrangeaShrubJul-Sep
Little Lime Hydrangea
Compact Limelight. Same color show in a smaller package perfect for borders and containers.
Z3-8
Little Quick Fire HydrangeaShrubJun-Sep
Little Quick Fire Hydrangea
Compact form of Quick Fire that blooms early on a container-sized plant. Same flame-toned color shift in a much smaller footprint.
Z3-8
LungwortPerennialMar-May
Lungwort
Flowers open pink and turn blue on the same stem. Silver-spotted foliage looks great all season.
Z3-8
Magnus ConeflowerPerennialJun-Sep
Magnus Coneflower
The gold standard coneflower. Flat, non-drooping petals around a bold copper cone. Perennial Plant of the Year.
Z3-8
Maiden GrassGrassSep-Oct
Maiden Grass
Narrow arching foliage creates elegant vase shapes topped with coppery pink plumes in fall.
Z5-9
MarigoldAnnualJun-Oct
Marigold
Bulletproof color all season long. The workhorse of warm-toned borders.
Z3-10
May Night SalviaPerennialMay-Aug
May Night Salvia
Perennial Plant of the Year. Dense indigo-violet spikes that rebloom if deadheaded.
Z3-9
Mexican Feather GrassGrassMay-Jul
Mexican Feather Grass
Gossamer fine blades ripple in the slightest breeze like living silk. Plant where you can watch it move.
Z6-10
Mexican HatPerennialJun-Sep
Mexican Hat
Distinctive sombrero-like flowers sway on wiry stems in summer prairies.
Z4-9
MiscanthusGrassSep-Nov
Miscanthus
Tall, graceful plumes that persist through winter. Living architecture.
Z5-10
Morning GloryAnnualJun-Oct
Morning Glory
Fast-climbing vine with trumpets that open fresh every morning.
Z3-10
Morning Light MiscanthusGrassSep-Oct
Morning Light Miscanthus
Fine white-edged foliage shimmers in morning light, then silver plumes arch above in fall.
Z5-9
Mount Hood DaffodilBulbMar-Apr
Mount Hood Daffodil
Large pure white trumpets that age from cream to bright white. The classic white daffodil for naturalizing under trees.
Z3-9
Munstead LavenderPerennialJun-Aug
Munstead Lavender
Earlier blooming and slightly softer purple than Hidcote. Gertrude Jekyll's favorite for a reason.
Z5-9
Native SpiderwortPerennialMay-Jul
Native Spiderwort
Three-petaled flowers in blue-purple open fresh each morning on a tough native that blooms for weeks and seeds freely.
Z4-9
NinebarkShrubMay-Jun
Ninebark
Peeling bark, burgundy foliage, and white puffs. A native multitasker.
Z3-8
Northwind SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Northwind Switchgrass
Stiffly upright blue-green foliage that never flops. The most architectural switchgrass available.
Z4-9
OceansprayShrubJun-Jul
Oceanspray
Cascading creamy white plumes on arching branches. Western Washington's summer answer to a native bridal veil.
Z5-9
Olivia Rose Austin RoseShrubMay-Oct
Olivia Rose Austin Rose
Soft pink rosettes with a sweet fruity fragrance. Widely considered one of the best David Austin roses ever, with exceptional disease resistance.
Z4-9
OrnithogalumBulbApr-Jun
Ornithogalum
Star-shaped white flowers with green stripes on the back. Star of Bethlehem, naturalizes into drifts that take care of themselves.
Z4-10
Ostrich FernPerennialMay-Sep
Ostrich Fern
Tall vase-shaped fronds that unfurl from fiddleheads in spring. Spreads to form dramatic colonies.
Z3-7
Pacific Bleeding HeartPerennialApr-Aug
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Western native that blooms much longer than its eastern cousin. Ferny foliage all season.
Z3-9
Pardon Me DaylilyPerennialJun-Sep
Pardon Me Daylily
Compact cranberry-red with a yellow-green throat and one of the best reblooming habits in the entire family.
Z3-10
Patriot HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Patriot Hosta
Dark green leaves with crisp white margins. Classic variegated hosta that brightens shady spots.
Z3-8
Penny's Pink HelleborePerennialJan-Apr
Penny's Pink Hellebore
Outward-facing rose-pink blooms with veined petals, held above marbled foliage. One of the showiest hellebores ever bred.
Z4-9
PentasAnnualMay-Nov
Pentas
Star-shaped flower clusters that hummingbirds and butterflies hit on every pass. Blooms nonstop in heat that stops impatiens cold.
Z3-11
PetuniaAnnualMay-Oct
Petunia
Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.
Z3-10
Phenomenal LavenderPerennialJun-Aug
Phenomenal Lavender
Survives humidity and cold that kills other lavenders. Silver foliage stays tight and full.
Z5-9
PierisShrubMar-Apr
Pieris
Chains of lily-of-the-valley flowers dangle over colorful new growth. Year-round structure for shady borders.
Z5-8
Pink Muhly GrassGrassSep-Nov
Pink Muhly Grass
Billowing pink seed clouds float over fine foliage in autumn and remain attractive dried.
Z6-10
PlumbagoShrubMay-Nov
Plumbago
Sky-blue phlox-like clusters bloom nonstop in warm climates. The blue flower that thrives where most blues melt in summer heat.
Z9-11
Polish Spirit ClematisVineJul-Sep
Polish Spirit Clematis
Deep violet-purple flowers cover a vigorous plant from midsummer to fall. Prune hard each spring and stand back.
Z4-9
PomegranateShrubMay-Jul
Pomegranate
Brilliant orange-red blossoms in late spring and summer are followed by decorative, edible fruits.
Z8-11
PortulacaAnnualMay-Oct
Portulaca
Succulent-leaved sun lover with silky rose-like blooms that thrives where pavement, rock, or sand defeats everything else.
Z3-10
Prairie DockPerennialJul-Sep
Prairie Dock
Huge basal leaves and tall stalks topped with yellow daisies give strong prairie structure.
Z3-8
Prairie DropseedGrassAug-Sep
Prairie Dropseed
Fine-textured mounds send up airy fragrant flower sprays that persist into winter.
Z3-9
Prairie Sky SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Prairie Sky Switchgrass
The bluest foliage of any switchgrass, with airy pink seed clouds drifting above in late summer.
Z4-9
Prairie SmokePerennialApr-Jun
Prairie Smoke
Nodding wine-red flowers transform into feathery pink seed plumes that persist into summer. Native prairie gem.
Z3-7
Pride of BarbadosShrubMay-Nov
Pride of Barbados
Flame-orange and yellow flower clusters that hummingbirds and swallowtails cannot resist. Thrives on heat, dies back at frost, returns every spring.
Z9-11
Purple de Oro DaylilyPerennialJun-Aug
Purple de Oro Daylily
Deep purple-red blooms on a compact Stella-sized plant. Brings rich color to the front of the border.
Z3-9
Purple Fountain GrassGrassJul-Oct
Purple Fountain Grass
Burgundy foliage topped with fuzzy rose-colored plumes. Stunning in containers where it's treated as an annual in cold climates.
Z9-11
Purple Prairie CloverPerennialJun-Aug
Purple Prairie Clover
Brushy purple flower spikes rise over fine foliage and feed prairie pollinators.
Z3-8
Rainbow Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Rainbow Knock Out Rose
Coral-pink single blooms with a yellow eye on the same indestructible Knock Out frame. Self-cleaning and disease-resistant like the original.
Z5-10
Red Hot PokerPerennialJun-Aug
Red Hot Poker
Torch-like spikes in fire-orange and yellow that hummingbirds zoom straight to. Bold and unforgettable.
Z5-9
Red Hot Returns DaylilyPerennialMay-Sep
Red Hot Returns Daylily
Brilliant red with a small yellow center, compact and one of the earliest daylilies to kick into rebloom.
Z3-9
RhubarbPerennialMay-Jun
Rhubarb
Huge leaves and thick red stalks give a lush look while supplying tart harvests.
Z3-8
Roald Dahl RoseShrubMay-Oct
Roald Dahl Rose
Peach-apricot cups in soft warm tones with a tea rose fragrance. Tireless rebloomer with excellent disease resistance.
Z5-9
RodgersiaPerennialJun-Jul
Rodgersia
Huge textured leaves resembling horse chestnuts with fluffy plumes. Architectural shade statement.
Z5-7
Rose of SharonShrubJul-Oct
Rose of Sharon
A cold-hardy hibiscus shrub (Hibiscus syriacus) with big tropical-looking blooms in lavender, pink, blue, white, or wine, opening late summer when most flowering shrubs are done.
Z5-10
Rosy Returns DaylilyPerennialMay-Oct
Rosy Returns Daylily
Soft rose-pink blooms with a cream throat that keep coming from late spring to frost, absolutely tireless.
Z3-9
Royal Standard HostaPerennialJul-Sep
Royal Standard Hosta
Glossy green leaves and pure white fragrant flowers on tall stems. Takes more sun than most hostas and perfumes the entire shade garden.
Z3-8
Rozanne GeraniumPerennialMay-Oct
Rozanne Geranium
Violet-blue saucer flowers on a sprawling mound that blooms from late spring until frost. The most awarded perennial geranium in history.
Z5-8
Russian SagePerennialJul-Oct
Russian Sage
Airy lavender clouds on silver stems. Thrives in heat and poor soil.
Z4-9
Sagae HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Sagae Hosta
Huge gray-blue leaves with creamy margins on a stately, vase-shaped plant that wins awards for good reason.
Z3-8
SalviaPerennialMay-Sep
Salvia
Vertical flower spikes that hummingbirds and bees cannot resist.
Z3-10
ScillaBulbMar-Apr
Scilla
Carpets of brilliant blue that naturalize under trees with zero effort.
Z3-8
Sea HollyPerennialJul-Sep
Sea Holly
Metallic blue bracts and cones turn the whole plant a vivid silvery-blue. Otherworldly and completely drought-proof.
Z4-8
Sea ThriftPerennialApr-Jun
Sea Thrift
Grassy tufts topped with round pink pom-poms. Loves lean soil and coastal conditions.
Z3-8
SedumPerennialAug-Nov
Sedum
Succulent leaves, tough as nails. Ages to deep crimson in autumn.
Z3-10
Shasta DaisyPerennialJun-Aug
Shasta Daisy
Classic white-and-gold daisies that look fresh from a meadow painting.
Z3-10
Shenandoah SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Shenandoah Switchgrass
Compact selection that turns vivid burgundy-red in late summer earlier than any other switchgrass.
Z4-9
Showy GoldenrodPerennialAug-Oct
Showy Goldenrod
Upright spikes of bright yellow flowers feed late-season pollinators on dry prairies.
Z3-8
Sideoats GramaGrassJul-Sep
Sideoats Grama
Seed heads hang like tiny flags along one side of the stem on this graceful, drought-tolerant prairie native.
Z4-9
Siloam Doodlebug DaylilyPerennialJun-Jul
Siloam Doodlebug Daylily
Tiny pastel pink blooms on a miniature plant, perfect for container gardens and tight spaces.
Z3-9
Smoke TreeTreeJun-Jul
Smoke Tree
Airy pink flower plumes create a smoke-like haze around the canopy. 'Royal Purple' has burgundy foliage.
Z4-8
SnowdropBulbJan-Mar
Snowdrop
Delicate nodding bells that bloom fearlessly in late winter cold.
Z3-8
Solomon's SealPerennialMay-Jun
Solomon's Seal
Arching stems hung with dangling white bells. Pairs of leaves create graceful, layered architecture.
Z3-8
SpeedwellPerennialMay-Aug
Speedwell
Tidy spikes of blue that add vertical punch to the front of the border.
Z3-8
SpireaShrubMay-Jul
Spirea
Flat-topped flower clusters on tidy mounds. The easiest flowering shrub.
Z3-10
Stained Glass HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Stained Glass Hosta
Glossy gold center with dark green margins, like light through a cathedral window.
Z3-8
StaticeAnnualJun-Sep
Statice
Stiff papery flower clusters that dry to keep their color for years. A cut-flower farmer staple for wreaths and dried bouquets.
Z2-11
Stella de Oro DaylilyPerennialMay-Sep
Stella de Oro Daylily
The most planted perennial in America. Compact, reblooming, and basically indestructible.
Z3-10
Stokes AsterPerennialJun-Sep
Stokes Aster
Fringed, shaggy-petaled flowers in shades of cornflower blue that bloom for weeks on a tough Southern native.
Z5-9
Strawberry Sundae HydrangeaShrubJul-Oct
Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea
Compact paniculata cones open creamy white, blush pink in summer, then deepen to strawberry red as fall arrives.
Z4-8
StrawflowerAnnualJun-Oct
Strawflower
Papery petals that already look like dried flowers when fresh. The original everlasting, hanging on long after every other bloom fades.
Z2-11
Sulphur FlowerPerennialJun-Jul
Sulphur Flower
Sulfur-yellow flower clusters on a silvery-leaved cushion plant. One of the toughest and prettiest natives of the Mountain West.
Z3-8
Sum and Substance HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Sum and Substance Hosta
Chartreuse giant that can take more sun than most hostas. Heart-shaped leaves grow enormous.
Z3-8
SundropPerennialJun-Aug
Sundrop
Bright yellow cups that open in daylight on a cheerful, drought-tolerant native that spreads into informal drifts.
Z4-8
Sunny Knock Out RoseShrubMay-Oct
Sunny Knock Out Rose
Bright lemon-yellow single blooms that fade to creamy white. The only Knock Out with real fragrance, and just as bulletproof as the rest.
Z5-10
Sunsprite RoseShrubMay-Oct
Sunsprite Rose
Brilliant deep yellow floribunda blooms that hold their color even in hot sun. Sweet fragrance and outstanding disease resistance.
Z5-9
Sweet AlyssumAnnualApr-Oct
Sweet Alyssum
Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.
Z3-10
Sweet OliveShrubMar-Nov
Sweet Olive
Small clustered flowers perfume the garden with an apricot-like scent over a long season.
Z8-11
SwitchgrassGrassAug-Oct
Switchgrass
Upright native grass with airy seed heads. Gold and red fall color.
Z3-10
Tete-a-Tete DaffodilBulbFeb-Apr
Tete-a-Tete Daffodil
Miniature golden trumpets, two to three per stem, on a tiny plant. The earliest daffodil and the best one for containers and the front of the bed.
Z3-9
Texas Blue StarPerennialApr-May
Texas Blue Star
Fine foliage and pale blue starry flowers are followed by golden fall color.
Z6-10
Thread-Leaf CoreopsisPerennialJun-Sep
Thread-Leaf Coreopsis
Thread-fine foliage and masses of tiny yellow stars bloom for months with zero effort. A perennial you can actually neglect.
Z3-9
TickseedPerennialJun-Sep
Tickseed
Cheerful native daisy that blooms for months with almost no care.
Z3-10
Toad LilyPerennialSep-Oct
Toad Lily
Orchid-like spotted flowers when everything else is done. A late-season shade garden gem.
Z4-8
TriteleiaBulbMay-Jul
Triteleia
Loose umbels of starry blue trumpets on tall wiry stems. Western native bulb that thrives on summer drought.
Z5-10
Trumpet VineVineJun-Sep
Trumpet Vine
Aggressive native vine with fiery trumpets. Hummingbird highway.
Z4-10
Tufted Hair GrassGrassJun-Aug
Tufted Hair Grass
Airy gold-green flower clouds hover above dark evergreen tufts. One of the few grasses that thrives in moist shade.
Z4-9
Turk's CapPerennialJun-Nov
Turk's Cap
Nodding red hibiscus flowers that never fully open are pure hummingbird candy across the Gulf South.
Z7-10
Twinspike Coral BellsPerennialMay-Jul
Twinspike Coral Bells
Warm amber-caramel foliage that glows in the shade garden all season. The flowers are just a bonus.
Z4-9
Vanilla Strawberry HydrangeaShrubJul-Oct
Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea
Cone blooms open creamy white, age to soft pink, then deepen to strawberry red while new white cones keep emerging above them.
Z3-8
VincaGround CoverApr-Jun
Vinca
Evergreen mat with periwinkle-blue flowers. Tough shade ground cover.
Z3-10
Visions in Pink AstilbePerennialJul-Aug
Visions in Pink Astilbe
Compact and more drought-tolerant than most astilbes. Dense, rosy-pink plumes.
Z3-8
Walker's Low CatmintPerennialMay-Sep
Walker's Low Catmint
Perennial Plant of the Year. Billowy lavender-blue spikes that rebloom hard after a shear.
Z3-9
Wax BegoniaAnnualMay-Oct
Wax Begonia
Glossy leaves and nonstop flowers in sun or shade. One of the most reliable bedding plants anywhere.
Z8-11
WeigelaShrubMay-Jun
Weigela
Tubular blooms smother arching branches in late spring. Hummingbird haven.
Z3-8
White Prairie CloverPerennialJun-Aug
White Prairie Clover
Cylindrical white flower spikes with orange anthers on a delicate, drought-proof prairie native that feeds bees all summer.
Z3-8
White Wild IndigoPerennialMay-Jun
White Wild Indigo
Luminous white lupin-like spikes on a structural native that's practically indestructible and improves with every year.
Z4-9
Wide Brim HostaPerennialJul-Aug
Wide Brim Hosta
Blue-green leaves with wide creamy-white margins that age to a clean white, a standout performer in any shade garden.
Z3-8
Wild GeraniumPerennialApr-Jun
Wild Geranium
Soft pink blooms over deeply-cut foliage. A woodland edge staple.
Z3-8
William Baffin RoseVineMay-Oct
William Baffin Rose
Bulletproof Canadian Explorer climber that survives zone 3 winters without protection. Strawberry-pink semi-double blooms in massive clusters.
Z3-9
Winter AconiteBulbFeb-Mar
Winter Aconite
Buttercup-yellow blooms that push through frozen ground before the crocuses.
Z3-8
Wonderful PomegranateShrubMay-Jul
Wonderful Pomegranate
Reliable cultivar bearing large red fruits and vivid orange flowers.
Z8-11
YarrowPerennialJun-Sep
Yarrow
Flat-topped clusters on ferny foliage. Thrives on neglect in poor soil.
Z3-10
Yellow BellsShrubMay-Nov
Yellow Bells
Clusters of bright yellow trumpet flowers bloom for months in the heat. Southwest staple that takes drought and reflected heat without flinching.
Z9-11
YuccaPerennialJun-Jul
Yucca
Sword-like evergreen foliage sends up dramatic stalks of white bells. Tough, architectural, underrated.
Z4-10
Zebra GrassGrassSep-Oct
Zebra Grass
Horizontal yellow bands cross the blades in a pattern unique among ornamental grasses. Bold and architectural.
Z5-9
ZinniaAnnualJun-Oct
Zinnia
Easy-grow annual with electric colors. Cut-and-come-again champion.
Z3-10

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