If you’re looking to add some greenery to your garden without spending hours on maintenance, low-maintenance perennials are a smart choice. These plants come back year after year and often need little care once they’re established, making them perfect for busy or beginner gardeners.
Low-maintenance perennials practically take care of themselves, saving you time and effort while still brightening your outdoor space. They can handle a range of conditions like drought, poor soil, and sun or shade, so you can enjoy a thriving garden with minimal hassle.
Hostas
Hostas are a great pick if you want something that handles shade well. You don’t have to fuss much since they can grow in various soil types and only need occasional watering during dry spells.
They’re known for being tough and pretty hard to kill, making them perfect if you want low-maintenance greenery in your garden. You can find more details about growing and caring for hostas here.
Russian Sage
Russian sage is a great pick if you want something that pretty much takes care of itself. It loves full sun and well-drained soil, so it’s low fuss once planted.
Its silvery leaves and lavender-blue flowers add color from mid-summer to fall. You just need to cut it back in early spring to keep it looking fresh. Learn more about Russian sage care here.
Sedum
Sedum is one of the easiest perennials you can grow. It’s drought-tolerant and doesn’t need much water once it’s settled in.
The star-shaped flowers bloom from late summer to fall, adding a simple but pretty touch to your garden. You’ll find many varieties that do well in hot, dry conditions, so Sedum is great for low-maintenance gardening.
Learn more about sedum varieties that thrive in heat here.
Coreopsis
If you want a bright, cheerful flower that doesn’t fuss, coreopsis is a great pick. These daisylike perennials love the sun and can handle drought and poor soil, making them easy to grow.
You’ll see blooms from summer into fall without much effort on your part. For more details on growing coreopsis, check out this guide to low-maintenance coreopsis.
Peonies
Peonies are great if you want beautiful flowers without too much fuss. They like full sun and well-drained soil, so pick a spot that gets plenty of light.
Once they’re settled in, peonies pretty much take care of themselves. Some types even have sturdy stems, so you don’t need to worry about staking them like this guide explains.
Lavender
Lavender is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.
You don’t need to water it much once it’s established, making it ideal for hot, dry spots. Plus, it adds a lovely fragrance to your garden. If you want to explore more options for growing lavender, check out this guide on how to grow the best lavender.
Nepeta (Catmint)
If you want a plant that’s easy to grow, Nepeta is a great pick. It thrives in full sun and does well in poor, well-drained soil. You’ll like that it doesn’t need much water once it’s established. Plus, it’s resistant to deer and attracts pollinators to your garden.
Catmint blooms for a long time and handles heat well, making it low-maintenance and reliable for your yard. For more details, check out this guide on growing catmint.
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are great if you want flowers that don’t need a lot of fuss. They bloom from midsummer to fall and love full sun and well-drained soil.
Once they’re established, you won’t need to water them much—they’re pretty drought-tolerant. Plus, they attract bees and butterflies, which is a nice bonus for your garden.
Hardy Hibiscus
If you want bold, tropical-looking flowers without a lot of fuss, hardy hibiscus is a great choice. You just need to plant it in full sun or light shade and keep the soil consistently moist.
It’s a perennial, so it comes back year after year with big, colorful blooms. Just give it a little space to spread, and you’ll enjoy its beauty with minimal effort. For more tips on care, check out this guide on growing hardy hibiscus.
Geranium Rozanne
Geranium Rozanne is perfect if you want a colorful ground cover with little effort. It blooms from early summer all the way to the first frost, so you get a long-lasting splash of blue-purple flowers without much work.
You don’t need to deadhead it either. It grows well in sun or part shade and prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. A light fertilizer in early spring helps keep it happy. For details, check this guide on Geranium Rozanne’s care.
Hellebore
Hellebores, also called Lenten roses, are a great pick if you want low-maintenance flowers. They bloom in late winter to early spring, giving your garden some early color.
These perennials do well in shady spots and don’t need much fuss once established. Plus, they’re pretty deer resistant, so you won’t worry much about critters munching on them. Check more about their easy care here.
Arkansas Blue Star
Arkansas Blue Star is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance perennial. You can start it from seed by sowing in the fall and transplanting in spring.
It prefers full sun to part shade and well-draining soil. Once it’s established, it mostly takes care of itself with minimal watering. This plant adds lovely blue flowers and doesn’t need much fuss, making it perfect for easy gardens.
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’
If you want a splash of bright color without much fuss, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ is a solid pick. Its tangerine-orange flowers bloom in late spring and add charm to sunny borders.
You won’t need to babysit it much since it’s low-maintenance and attracts pollinators. It’s a great choice if you want easygoing, cheerful garden vibes.
Marigolds
You’ll find marigolds easy to grow, especially if you give them plenty of sun. They handle heat well and certain types like African and signet marigolds are drought tolerant.
If you live in Zone 8 or warmer, your marigolds might even come back year after year. Just make sure they get good drainage and aren’t overwatered. For more tips on planting and care, check out this guide on marigold flowers.
Zinnias
Zinnias are great if you want colorful flowers without much fuss. You can plant them from seed, and they’ll bloom all summer long until the first frost.
They come in lots of colors like red, orange, yellow, and pink, making your garden bright with very little effort. You’ll like how easy they are to care for if you’re busy. Learn more about growing zinnias here.
Daylilies
Daylilies are a great pick if you want something low-maintenance. They multiply quickly and spread on their own, so you won’t have to do much dividing.
They handle drought well and grow in both full sun and partial shade, which makes them pretty adaptable to different spots in your garden. Once planted, you can mostly forget about them and still enjoy colorful blooms all summer long. For more details, see these easy-care daylilies.