Creating a beautiful garden doesn’t have to drain your wallet. You can find perennials that bring charm and elegance to your outdoor space without costing much.
These 21 perennials look like high-end choices but are surprisingly affordable, making it easier for you to grow a stunning garden on a budget. With the right plants, you can enjoy lasting blooms and lush greenery without overspending.
Black-Eyed Susan
You’ll love how Black-Eyed Susans bring bright yellow color to your garden from summer to fall. These perennials are easy to grow and thrive best with at least six hours of sunlight each day.
They fit well in beds, borders, or naturalized areas. Plus, they attract pollinators, making your garden lively without extra effort. Black-Eyed Susans look vibrant without a high price tag.
Daylilies
Daylilies are perfect if you want vibrant blooms without much fuss. You’ll find a wide range of colors and shapes that brighten up your garden through the summer.
They grow quickly and need little care, making them ideal for beginners. You can plant them in borders, containers, or almost anywhere in your yard.
Hostas
Hostas are a great choice for adding lush, textured foliage to your garden without spending much. They come in many sizes and colors, from tiny to giant leaves, giving you plenty of options for your space.
These perennials do well in shade or partial sun, making them perfect for tricky spots. You’ll find they add a rich, full look that feels more expensive than the price suggests.
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum, also known as Stonecrop, is a tough, drought-tolerant plant that fits easily into many garden styles. You’ll appreciate its low maintenance and ability to thrive in poor soil.
These succulents offer fleshy leaves and charming summer flowers. You can use them as ground cover or to brighten borders and rock gardens. Their variety means you’ll find one that suits your space perfectly.
Coneflowers (Echinacea)
Coneflowers bring bright, cheerful colors to your garden without much effort. They thrive in full sun and handle heat well, making them easy to grow.
You can expect their blooms to last a long time, adding value without high costs. They also do well in spots with partial shade, especially if they get morning sun.
These perennials attract pollinators, helping your garden’s ecosystem stay healthy and vibrant.
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
You’ll love Coral Bells for their colorful foliage that brightens shady spots in your garden. Their leaves come in shades like green, purple, and copper, adding texture without needing much care.
Tiny flowers rise above the leaves, attracting pollinators and adding delicate beauty all summer. They work well in borders or rock gardens and are great if you want an easy, eye-catching plant.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses add texture and movement to your garden without breaking the bank. They thrive in a variety of settings and require minimal care.
You can choose from types like fountain grass or fescue, which offer rich colors and interesting shapes. Many are also deer-resistant and salt-tolerant, making them a versatile choice for different landscapes.
By adding these grasses, your outdoor space will look stylish and inviting all year round.
White Astilbe
White Astilbe adds a delicate, feathery touch to your garden with its soft white blooms. It thrives in shade or partial shade, making it perfect for those harder-to-grow spots.
You can plant it alongside hostas or other shade-loving plants for a beautiful layered look. White Astilbe prefers moist, well-drained soil and doesn’t require much maintenance.
Its elegant flowers make your garden look polished without needing a big budget. You’ll enjoy its long-lasting blooms throughout the growing season.
Shasta Daisy
You’ll love how Shasta daisies brighten up your garden with their crisp white petals and sunny yellow centers. They thrive in full sun and need little care, making them perfect if you want beauty without extra work.
These perennials bloom from early summer to fall, giving your outdoor space long-lasting charm. Plus, they attract pollinators, which is great for your garden’s health and vibrancy.
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee Balm adds bright colors to your garden without costing much. Its unique tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, bringing life to your outdoor space.
This plant grows well in full sun or partial shade, making it easy to fit into different garden spots. Plus, it’s low maintenance, so you don’t need to spend extra time or money caring for it.
Russian Sage
Russian Sage is a great choice if you want a plant that looks elegant without much effort. It blooms with beautiful blue flowers throughout the summer, adding a long-lasting splash of color to your garden.
You’ll find it grows well in tough, dry conditions and needs little water. Plus, it tolerates pollution, making it ideal for city gardens. Once established, it can spread a bit but remains easy to manage.
Lenten Rose (Helleborus)
You’ll find Lenten Roses bloom early, often during late winter or early spring, adding color when most plants are still asleep. They prefer shaded spots with evenly moist soil, making them perfect for tricky garden corners.
Their evergreen foliage stays attractive year-round, giving your garden a polished look even when flowers aren’t blooming. Hellebores are low maintenance and spread slowly, so you won’t need to replant often.
Ferns
Ferns add lush greenery and interesting texture to your garden without costing much. They thrive in shady spots where many plants struggle.
You can find hardy varieties that stay vibrant year-round, giving your space a rich, natural look.
Plus, ferns pair well with other perennials, creating a layered and costly-looking garden with minimal effort.
Iris
You’ll find Iris plants add a touch of elegance without costing much. They are hardy perennials that come back year after year with minimal care.
These flowers come in many colors and varieties, so you can pick one that suits your garden style. They grow well in well-drained soil and full sun.
Once established, Irises multiply naturally, giving your garden a fuller look over time. They’re a great choice for low-maintenance beauty.
Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Ajuga, also called Bugleweed, is a low-maintenance ground cover that’s perfect if you want to fill empty garden spaces quickly.
You’ll enjoy its colorful foliage and purple flower spikes that bloom in spring. It works well in both sun and shade, and it naturally suppresses weeds.
If you have shady spots where grass struggles, Ajuga can add texture and color without much effort. It’s an easy way to give your garden a lush, lived-in look.
Lamium (Dead Nettle)
Lamium is a great choice if you want a low-maintenance ground cover that looks stylish. Its variegated leaves come in shades of green, white, and silver, adding texture and color to shady spots.
You’ll appreciate how Lamium spreads easily and helps control weeds. Small, delicate flowers appear in spring and summer, giving your garden a subtle touch of color without extra effort.
Salvia
Salvia offers beautiful flower spikes in colors like blue, purple, and pink. These perennials bloom from late spring through fall, adding lasting color to your garden.
They are easy to grow and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. You can find many varieties that fit small or large garden spaces.
With their upright form and vibrant hues, salvias look elegant but don’t cost much to maintain. They’re a smart choice for affordable garden beauty.
Coreopsis
You’ll love Coreopsis for its bright, cheerful flowers that add instant color to your garden. It grows well in most soils and needs minimal care.
Plant it in containers or group several together for a vibrant display. Coreopsis also attracts butterflies, making your outdoor space lively and inviting.
Lavender
Lavender adds a soft, purple touch that can make your garden feel more refined. It thrives best in well-drained soil and full sun, making it easy to grow in many areas.
You’ll find affordable plants, like the Lavender Avignon Early Blue, that bloom beautifully and don’t need much maintenance. Lavender’s soothing scent and long-lasting flowers can elevate your garden without a big cost.
Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Hearts are shade-loving perennials that add a gentle, romantic touch to your garden. Their heart-shaped flowers come in colors like pink, white, and yellow, bringing subtle beauty without much effort.
You’ll find these plants attract butterflies and hummingbirds, making your outdoor space feel livelier. They’re easy to grow and cost little, but their look is often associated with more expensive garden choices.
Catmint (Nepeta)
You’ll find catmint easy to grow and low maintenance. It loves full sun and can handle dry soil, making it great for many gardens.
Its soft, blue to indigo flowers attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. The long bloom period means your garden stays colorful for weeks.
Catmint also has a pleasant, gentle fragrance. It’s a wonderful choice if you want a perennial that looks good without costing much or needing constant care.