50 outdoor plants that are super easy to care for and you’ll love!

Do you want a bright, attractive garden full of color and life, but are scared of having to weed all the time, prune plants in difficult ways, and plants that seem to need continual care? You might be new to gardening, or you might just not have time for high-maintenance plants since you’re so busy. What if I told you that it’s feasible to make a beautiful outdoor environment, even if you don’t think you have a “green thumb” or a lot of free time?

You are in the correct place! Forget about flowers that are hard to care for and wilt at the drop of a hat. This guide will show you 50 easy plants to care for outside. These are strong, forgiving, and gorgeous plants that are great for busy people, new gardeners, or anyone who wants to enjoy more garden beauty with less work. Get ready to find your new favorite garden heroes who don’t require much work and turn your outside space into a beautiful refuge!

What Does It Mean for an Outdoor Plant to Be “Easy to Care For”?

Before we get into our list of garden superstars, let’s quickly go over what makes a plant “easy to care for.” Knowing these traits will help you understand why the plants on our list are such great choices and give you the knowledge you need to choose wisely for your own garden.

In general, plants that are easy to care for or don’t need much care have a few things in common:

• Drought Tolerance: This is a huge one: drought tolerance! Once these plants are rooted in your yard (meaning their roots have grown out and settled in), they can usually take periods of less water and won’t faint noticeably if you miss a watering session or two during a dry spell.
• Pest and Disease Resistance: Some plants are just naturally less likely to get sick or be bothered by pests. This means that you will spend less time figuring out what’s wrong and spraying solutions.
• Adaptability: Plants that are easy to care for are usually very adaptable and can grow well in a wide range of soil types and conditions. They don’t care too much about having the right soil pH or texture.
• Minimal Pruning Needs: Most plants need some tidying up from time to time, but these champions don’t need to have their blooms deadheaded (cut off) all the time to keep blooming or follow intricate, precise pruning regimens to stay healthy or in shape.
• Long-Lived and Reliable (for perennials and shrubs): Many easy-care perennials and shrubs are workhorses that will come back year after year, giving you consistent beauty without needing to be replaced or divided often.
• Non-Invasive: A very crucial trait! Easy-care shouldn’t mean that it takes over your whole garden (and your neighbor’s too). The plants on our list are usually well-behaved and won’t spread too quickly.
• Forgiving of Occasional Neglect: Life happens, let’s be honest! These plants are usually tough and won’t die or get upset if you forget about them for a while or if your gardening schedule gets messed up.

By picking plants that have these traits, you’ll have a more fun and less stressful time gardening, and you’ll get all the benefits with less work than usual.

A Grand Tour of 50 Outdoor Plants That Almost Take Care of Themselves

Get ready to meet your new best buddies in the garden! This chapter is where we show off our carefully chosen collection of 50 outdoor plants that are known for being beautiful, tough, and easy to care for. To make it easier for you to find what you need, we’ve grouped them by type of plant. There is a short description of each plant, why it is easy to care for, a quick care guide, and what it is useful for.

Perennials that are easy to care for (come back every year!)

Perennials are the most important plants in many gardens that don’t need a lot of work. They come back every spring.

Echinacea purpurea, sometimes known as coneflower

“These happy, daisy-like flowers with big central cones attract butterflies and bees. They bloom a lot from summer to fall.”

• Why It’s Easy: Once it gets going, it can handle drought; it doesn’t have many insect or disease problems; it doesn’t need to be deadheaded to maintain blooming (though it can help it last longer); and it can grow in a variety of soils.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Regular until the plant is established, then only during lengthy periods of drought; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Great for cut flowers, and the seed heads feed birds in the winter!
• Good for: cutting gardens, prairie-style plantings, pollinator gardens, and borders.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

“These flowers are like daisies with dark brown centers and golden-yellow petals. They make any garden look bright and sunny from mid-summer to fall.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in a lot of different places, handles heat and drought well, often seeds itself graciously, and is usually free of pests.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to light shade; Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established; Soil: Average; well-drained; Bonus: Attracts pollinators and is great for mass plantings.
• Good for: borders, pots, cottage gardens, and wildflower meadows.

Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’ or Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

“One of the best flowers for the end of the season, with big flower heads that start out pale green, turn rosy pink, and then get darker red in the fall.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of drought, doesn’t need much care, is almost free of pests and diseases, and looks good all winter long.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low, let the soil dry up; Soil: Average to poor, well-drained; Bonus: Attracts bees and butterflies, which is wonderful for winter interest.
• Good for: rock gardens, borders, xeriscaping, and containers.

Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

“Daylilies are very diverse and reliable. They come in many colors and shapes, and each flower lasts only a day, but the plants bloom many times over a long season.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in a lot of different types of soil, doesn’t need much water once it’s established, doesn’t have many pest problems, and its clumps grow slowly and can be left alone for years.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to partial shade; Water: Regularly until the plant is established, then as needed; Soil: Adaptable, but loves well-drained soil; Bonus: Some types bloom again!
• Good for: planting in large groups, making borders, stopping erosion on slopes, and landscapes that don’t need a lot of care.

Hosta (Hosta spp.)

Hostas are the perfect plant for shaded regions since they have lovely leaves in many shades of green, blue, gold, and variegated patterns that provide texture and style.

• Why It’s Easy: It grows well in the shadow, where many other plants don’t; it lives a long time and is reliable; it doesn’t need much trimming; and it grows slowly.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Some can handle more sun than others; Water: They need to stay moist, but many are very hardy; Soil: They want rich, well-drained soil; Bonus: Some types have aromatic blossoms; deer may eat them in some regions.
• Good for: edging, shade gardens, forest borders, and pots.

Peony (Paeonia spp.)

“Peonies are known for their big, showy, and often fragrant flowers in the spring. They live a long time and add a touch of old-fashioned romance to the garden.”

• Why It’s Easy: It lives a very long time (up to decades!), is resistant to deer, has few pest issues, and doesn’t need much care once it’s established, though it may need staking while it’s in full bloom.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to light afternoon shade; Water: Regular, favors moist, well-drained soil; Soil: Rich, well-drained; Bonus: Flowers are great for cutting.
• Good for: specimen plants, borders, and cutting gardens.

Leucanthemum x superbum, the Shasta Daisy

“Classic, cheerful white daisies with yellow centers that bloom a lot in the summer. A favorite in cottage gardens.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s strong and dependable, can handle a variety of climates, is usually free of pests and diseases, and deadheading encourages more blooms but isn’t technically necessary.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Average, drought-tolerant once established; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Great for cutting flowers.
• Good for: borders, bulk plantings, and cottage gardens.

Coreopsis, often known as Tickseed, is a type of flower.

“Flowers that are bright and look like daisies in yellow, orange, and red. They bloom for a long time, especially if you deadhead them. Very happy!”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle drought, grows well in full light, attracts pollinators, and many types are self-cleaning (no deadheading needed) or bloom again easily.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low to moderate; Soil: Well-drained, even poor soil; Bonus: Long bloom season, attracts butterflies.
• Good for: borders, containers, wildflower gardens, and hot, dry places.

Salvia nemorosa and S. x sylvestris, such as “May Night” and “Caradonna,” are perennial plants.

“Showy spikes of violet-blue, purple, pink, or white flowers that attract bees and butterflies. Many bloom again if cut back after the first flush.”

• Why It’s Easy: Once it’s established, it can handle drought, deer, and rabbits; it doesn’t have many pests; and it blooms for a long time.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low to moderate; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Attracts pollinators and adds vertical interest.
• Good for: borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, and plants that attract pollinators.

Achillea spp. Yarrow

“Has clusters of tiny flowers with flat tops in a wide range of colors (yellow, pink, red, white) that are held above feathery, often fragrant leaves.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of drought, grows well in poor soil and full light, is resistant to deer, and has minimal pest problems.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Very little once established; Soil: Well-drained, poor to average; Bonus: Attracts helpful insects and is fantastic for cut and dried flowers.
• Good for: xeriscaping, wildflower meadows, borders, and cottage gardens.

Lavandula angustifolia, or lavender

“People love it for its fragrant purple flower spikes and silvery-grey leaves. It comes from the Mediterranean and likes the sun and good drainage.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle drought, doesn’t bother deer or rabbits, keeps some pests away, and grows well in poor soil.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low, let the soil dry out; Soil: Well-drained, alkaline to neutral, not too rich; Bonus: Very fragrant, attracts bees, and is perfect for drying.
• Good for: sensory gardens, rock gardens, herb gardens, borders, and containers.

Perovskia atriplicifolia, or Russian Sage

“Stems and leaves that are light and silver, with long panicles of lavender-blue flowers from mid-summer to fall. Very drought-resistant.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of heat and drought, deer don’t like it, it doesn’t have any major pest or disease problems, and it does well when you don’t pay attention to it.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Very little once the plant is established; Soil: Well-drained, even poor or rocky soil; Bonus: The plant blooms for a long time and lends a cool color to hot landscapes.
• Good for: xeriscaping, borders that are hot and dry, and gardens with gravel.

Nepeta x faassenii, or catmint

“Soft, gray-green leaves and spikes of lavender-blue flowers that bloom for a long time. Bees and cats both love it!”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle drought, deer, and different types of soil. Shear it after the first bloom to get more flowers.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to light shade; Water: Low to moderate; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Long blooming, attracts pollinators, highly tough.
• Good for: edging, borders, rock gardens, and placing roses under other plants.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis, now Lamprocapnos spectabilis)

“Charming, heart-shaped pink or white flowers hang from arching stems in the spring. This is a classic shade garden plant.”

• Why It’s Easy: It blooms in the spring, doesn’t get pests, and lives a long time. Goes to sleep amid the hot heat.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Partially to fully shaded; Water: Needs consistent watering, especially in the spring; Soil: Rich, moist, and well-drained; Bonus: Flowers have a unique form and are deer-resistant.
• Good for: gardens in the shade, woods, and spring borders.

Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)

“In the summer, feathery plumes of flowers in pink, red, purple, and white rise above fern-like leaves. It likes shade and moisture.”

• Why It’s Easy: It grows well in shaded, damp areas where other plants have trouble; deer don’t like it; and it doesn’t have many pest problems.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Partially to fully shade; Water: Soil should be rich, wet, well-drained, and acidic; Bonus: Adds fantastic texture and color to shadow.
• Good for: gardens with shade, gardens in the woods, and plants along the water.

The Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

“Beautiful, delicate flowers in blue, purple, white, and yellow in late spring and early summer, along with elegant, slender leaves.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in a wide range of soils (including wet ones), is resistant to pests and diseases, and doesn’t need much care once it’s grown.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to partial shade; Water: Likes continuous watering but can handle drier conditions once it is established; Soil: Can grow in a variety of soils; Bonus: Graceful shape and attractive seed pods.
• Good for: mass plantings, borders, rain gardens, and areas near ponds.

Flower of the Blanket (Gaillardia x grandiflora)

“Bright, daisy-like flowers in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow, often with banded patterns. Blooms profusely all summer long.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of heat and drought, grows well on bad soil, blooms for a long time, and attracts pollinators.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low once established; Soil: Well-drained, even sandy or rocky; Bonus: Very extended bloom time, perfect for hot places.
• Good for: borders, rock gardens, pots, and xeriscaping.

Shrubs that don’t need a lot of care (structure and long-term beauty)

Shrubs give shape and can be quite easy to care for.

Potentilla (now Dasiphora fruticosa)

“A tough shrub that can grow in a variety of conditions and blooms for a long time with lots of small, saucer-shaped flowers in yellow, white, pink, and orange.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in almost any type of soil, is quite tough and adaptable, can handle drought once it’s established, and is rarely affected by pests or diseases.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun for the greatest flowers; Water: Moderate, can handle drought; Soil: Can adapt and drain well; Bonus: Very long bloom time and strong as nails.
• Good for: hedges, borders, big plantings, and hard-to-reach places.

Spiraea spp., such as “Goldflame,” “Little Princess,” and “Anthony Waterer”

“A wide range of shrubs with different sizes, colors of leaves, and clusters of pink, white, or red flowers that bloom in the spring or summer.”

• Why It’s Easy: Many types are tough and can handle a lot; they don’t need much pruning (usually just a gentle shear after flowering); and they don’t usually have pests.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to light shade; Water: Average; Soil: Adaptable and well-drained. Bonus: Some have colorful leaves that attract pollinators.
• Good for: hedges, mass plantings, borders, and foundation plants.

Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), like “Limelight,” “Little Lime,” and “Vanilla Strawberry”

“Large, conical flower heads that start out white or lime green in the summer and turn pink or red as they get older. They bloom very reliably.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle more sun and drought than other hydrangeas, blooms on fresh wood (so it’s easy to prune), and is quite tough.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to moderate shade; Water: Likes to stay moist, but can handle more than other plants; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Flowers that endure a long time and are ideal for cutting.
• Good for: specimen plants, hedges, borders, and dried flowers.

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), like “Annabelle” and “Incrediball”

“Known for its big, round heads of white (or sometimes pink) flowers in the summer. Very reliable.”

• Why It’s Easy: It blooms on new wood (can be pruned back hard in the spring), can grow in some shade, and is quite hardy.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Needs more water in full sun; Water: Likes continuous wetness; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Huge, magnificent flower heads.
• Good for: borders, bulk plantings, and woodland gardens.

Weigela (Weigela florida)

“Branches that bend and have trumpet-shaped flowers (pink, red, white, yellow) in late spring to early summer. Some types have colorful leaves.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s flexible and usually doesn’t cause any problems; it attracts hummingbirds; it only needs a little pruning after it blooms to shape it.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun for best flowering; Water: Average; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Attracts hummingbirds and some rebloom.
• Good for: borders, planting around the foundation, and specimen shrubs.

Berberis thunbergii, or barberry

“Deer don’t like it because of its colorful leaves (burgundy, gold, green, and variegated) and thorny stems. It has small yellow flowers that turn into red berries.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of drought, is versatile, and doesn’t have many insect problems. Note: It can be invasive in some areas, so verify local rules and choose sterile cultivars if they are available.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun for the finest color; Water: Low once established; Soil: Adaptable and well-drained; Bonus: Colorful leaves, fall color, and berries for birds.
• Good for: hedges, barriers, and planting around the foundation (but only use non-invasive species).

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)

“One of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, with branches that bend and are covered in bright yellow flowers before the leaves come out.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s quite tough and grows quickly. It can grow in a lot of different types of soil, and it only has to be pruned after it blooms to keep its shape and encourage more blooms.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Average; Soil: Adaptable and well-drained; Bonus: Bright color in early spring.
• Good for: hedges, screens, and specimen plants.

Syringa vulgaris, or common lilac

“People love it for its fragrant clusters of purple, lavender, white, or pink flowers that bloom in late spring.”

• Why It’s Easy: It may live a long time and is very tough. It doesn’t mind deer, but it does best in alkaline soil. You might need to trim it back every now and then to get rid of suckers or old wood.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Average; Soil: Well-drained, likes neutral to alkaline; Bonus: Flowers that smell excellent and are great for cutting.
• Good for: specimen plants, hedges, and gardens that smell well.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

“A large group of evergreen conifers that can be either low-growing groundcovers or tall trees, and their leaves can be scale-like or needle-like.”

• Why It’s Easy: Many can survive in dry conditions and poor soils, are resistant to deer, and add structure and color all year long.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low once established; Soil: Well-drained and adaptable; Bonus: Many forms and textures that are interesting all year long.
• Good for: screens, rock gardens, slopes, ground cover, and planting around the foundation.

Hibiscus syriacus, sometimes known as Hardy Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon

“From mid-summer to fall, it makes big, tropical-looking flowers in pink, purple, blue, and white. It grows straight up.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle heat and mild drought, grows well in different types of soil, and blooms reliably on new wood. Can plant itself.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Average, more in heat; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Blooms in late summer and fall when not much else is blooming.
• Good for: hedges, screens, specimen plants, and drawing in pollinators.

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

“Has interesting peeling bark and colorful leaves that can be burgundy, gold, or green. In the spring, it has clusters of white or pink flowers, and in the summer, it has reddish fruit.”

• Why It’s Easy: It grows quickly and is very tough, so it can handle a lot of different situations, like bad soil and drought (once it’s established).
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to moderate shade (best color in full sun); Water: Adaptable; Soil: Tolerates most soils; Bonus: Multi-season interest (foliage, flowers, bark, fruit).
• Good for: natural plantings, wildlife gardens, hedges, and screens.

Easy to grow each year (big color, often self-seeding)

Annuals live for one year, but many are easy to raise from seed or starts.

Tagetes spp. (marigold)

“Classic, happy flowers in yellow, orange, and red. They are known to keep some garden pests away.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s very easy to cultivate from seed, it blooms all summer till frost, and it can handle heat and many types of soil.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Average; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Some types of blooms are edible and keep some pests away.
• Good for: borders, vegetable gardens (as companion plants), and pots.

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

“Bright, bold flowers in a wide range of colors and shapes, from single daisies to pom-poms. A must-have for any cutting garden.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s easy to cultivate from seed, likes heat, blooms a lot, and attracts butterflies.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Average, let the soil dry out a little; Soil: Rich and well-drained; Bonus: Great for cutting flowers and attracting pollinators.
• Good for: cutting gardens, borders, and containers, and bringing in butterflies.

Cosmos (C. bipinnatus and C. sulphureus)

“Flowers that look like daisies and come in pink, white, purple (bipinnatus), orange, yellow, or red (sulphureus) on tall, airy stems.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s easy to grow from seed, can handle bad soil and some neglect, often seeds itself, and draws in helpful bugs.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Moderate, drought resistant; Soil: Average to poor, well-drained; Bonus: Attracts pollinators, airy texture.
• Good for: rear of borders, cutting gardens, and wildflower gardens.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

“Famous, big, happy flowers that follow the sun. There are many kinds, from small to big.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s really easy to grow from seed, it can live in a lot of different environments, and it gives birds seeds.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full light; Water: Regular, especially for large kinds; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Seeds for birds, impressive height.
• Good for: the back of borders, gardens for kids, and gardens for birds.

Portulaca, often known as Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)

“An annual that grows low and spreads out, with succulent-like leaves and bright, rose-like flowers that open in the sun.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of heat and drought, grows well in sandy soil, and blooms all the time.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun (flowers close in shade/cloudy weather); Water: Very little; Soil: Sandy, well-drained, and poor; Bonus: Great for hot, dry places.
• Good for: rock gardens, gravel walkways, containers, hanging baskets, and ground cover in sunny areas.

Begonia semperflorens-cultorum, or Wax Begonia

“Forms neat mounds of waxy green or bronze leaves with clusters of pink, white, or red flowers. Blooms all the time.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in the shadow, blooms all season, and doesn’t get many pests.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Partially shaded to shaded (some can handle sun if they have adequate water); Water: Consistent moisture; Soil: Rich, moist, and well-drained; Bonus: Color that never stops in shady situations.
• Good for: edging, bedding, pots, and window boxes that are in the shade.

Lobularia maritima, or sweet alyssum

“Low-growing, spreading annual with small, fragrant flowers (usually white, but also pink or purple). It’s great for filling in or edging.”

• Why It’s Easy: It grows swiftly from seed, blooms quickly, commonly self-seeds, and draws in helpful bugs.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to partial shade; Water: Average; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Flowers smell like honey and attract hoverflies.
• Good for: filling in gaps, edging, containers, and hanging baskets.

Hardy groundcovers that keep weeds down and don’t spread too much

Groundcovers can make it less necessary to weed and add texture.

Thyme that creeps (Thymus serpyllum)

“A low-growing herb that forms mats and has small leaves and clusters of pink, purple, or white flowers. It smells good when crushed.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle drought once it’s established, foot traffic, and deer, and it fills in gaps.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low; Soil: Well-drained, even rocky or sandy; Bonus: Smells good, is easy to walk on, and draws bees.
• Good for: rock gardens, stepping stones, and groundcover on sunny slopes.

Groundcover Sedum (Sedum spp. – for example, “Dragon’s Blood,” “Angelina,” and “Blue Spruce”)

“A variety of low-growing succulents with fleshy leaves that come in different colors and textures. Many of them have star-shaped flowers.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of drought, grows well in poor soil and full light, spreads easily but not aggressively, and doesn’t need much care.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Very little; Soil: Well-drained and gritty; Bonus: Great for dry places, with interesting colors and textures.
• Good for: rock gardens, green roofs, pots, and ground cover in sunny, dry places.

Ajuga or Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)

“Forms thick mats of pretty leaves (green, bronze, burgundy, and variegated) with blue, purple, or pink flowers in the spring.”

• Why It’s Easy: It spreads out to make a mat that keeps weeds from growing, can handle shade and wet weather, and deer don’t like it. Can be strong.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Partially shaded to fully shaded (some sun is okay); Water: Average to wet; Soil: Adaptable; Bonus: Good for keeping shady slopes from eroding.
• Good for: ground cover in the shade, forest gardens, and growing shrubs under trees.

Lamium or Spotted Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum)

“Has beautiful silvery-variegated leaves and groups of pink, purple, or white flowers. Makes shady spots brighter.”

• Why It’s Easy: It grows well in the shadow, spreads to cover the ground, doesn’t get pests, and deer don’t like it.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Partially to fully shaded; Water: Average moisture; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Colorful leaves for shade and extended blooms.
• Good for: covering the ground in the shade, in woodland gardens, and in containers.

Vinca Minor, often known as Periwinkle

“A groundcover that grows along the ground and has glossy dark green leaves and pretty blue, purple, or white star-shaped flowers in the spring.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s quite robust and can grow in the dark and in dry conditions once it’s established. It also keeps weeds from growing. Be careful where you plant it because it can spread quickly.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Shade to partial sun; Water: Adaptable, drought tolerant once established; Soil: Adaptable; Bonus: Evergreen, good for hard-to-reach shaded places.
• Good for: covering the ground under trees and on slopes (but only where it won’t spread).

Juniperus horizontalis, sometimes known as creeping juniper

“An evergreen conifer that grows low and spreads out, making a dense mat. The leaves can be green, blue-green, or gold, and they often change color in the winter.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can survive in very dry conditions and poor soil, it loves full sun, it doesn’t be eaten by deer, and it provides cover all year long.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Very little once grown; Soil: Well-drained and adaptable; Bonus: Interest all year round and great for controlling erosion.
• Good for: Foundation plantings, slopes, rock gardens, and groundcover in sunny, dry locations.

Simple Ornamental Grasses (Texture and Movement)

Grasses give great texture, movement, and interest all year round.

Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)

“An upright grass that grows in clumps and has feathery, wheat-colored plumes that come out in early summer and last through winter. Very architectural.”

• Why It’s Easy: It’s quite flexible and doesn’t need much care. Once it’s established, it can handle drought and doesn’t have any major insect or disease issues. It also doesn’t self-seed very aggressively.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to light shade; Water: Average, can handle some dryness; Soil: Adaptable, preferably well-drained; Bonus: Early plumes, strong vertical accent, winter interest.
• Good for: modern landscapes, borders, screens, and bulk plantings.

Panicum virgatum, or switchgrass

“A native prairie grass that grows in upright clumps and has airy flower panicles in late summer. Many types have beautiful blue foliage or fall color.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in a wide range of soils and is quite drought-resistant. It also provides food and shelter for birds in the winter and doesn’t need much care.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low to average; Soil: Adaptable, tolerates poor soil; Bonus: Native, fall color, and winter interest.
• Good for: planting in the prairie, making gardens look natural, making boundaries, and stopping erosion.

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

“Another lovely native prairie grass with fine-textured, blue-green leaves that change to bright orange, red, and purple in the fall. The seed heads are fluffy.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can survive in very dry conditions, grows well in bad soil, has gorgeous fall colors, and is good for wildlife.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Very little once established; Soil: Well-drained, poor to average; Bonus: Beautiful fall color, native, and interesting in the winter.
• Good for: native plant gardens, meadows, xeriscaping, and big plantings.

Festuca glauca, or blue fescue

“Forms neat, rounded tufts of fine, silvery-blue leaves. This is a smaller ornamental grass that works well for edging or rock gardens.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle dry weather, is small, and adds a lot of color and texture. May need to be divided every few years to stay strong.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low; Soil: Well-drained, not too rich; Bonus: Beautiful blue leaves and a neat habit.
• Good for: edging, rock gardens, pots, and modern landscaping.

A Few More Easy Winners All Around

Adding a few more reliable options to our list.

Stonecrop Sedum (not just “Autumn Joy,” but also upright forms like Sedum spectabile)

“Many upright sedums, not just ‘Autumn Joy,’ have fleshy leaves and big, flat flower heads in late summer and fall that attract pollinators.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle drought, loves the sun, and has few pests.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Blooms in late season and attracts pollinators.
• Good for: attracting late-season pollinators, borders, and rock gardens.

Geranium (Perennial Cranesbill) (Geranium spp. – for example, ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Biokovo’)

“True geraniums are hardy perennials with pretty leaves and long bloom times. ‘Rozanne’ is a star.”

• Why It’s Easy: A lot of them can adapt, bloom for a long time, and make attractive mounds.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to partial shade (depending on the type); Water: Average; Soil: Well-drained; Bonus: Long bloom season, good groundcover or filler.
• Good for: borders, ground cover, planting under trees, and cottage gardening.

Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina)

“Planted for its soft, fuzzy, silver-grey leaves that are hard to resist touching. It also sends up spikes of purple flowers from time to time.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can handle a lot of drought, likes the sun, and deer don’t like it. It spreads out to make a smooth carpet. Can become mushy if it gets too moist.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low; Soil: Well-drained, even poor soil; Bonus: Unique texture that feels good to touch.
• Good for: edging, rock gardens, sensory gardening, and covering bare ground.

Baptisia or False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

“A strong, shrub-like perennial with beautiful blue-green leaves and big spikes of blue, purple, yellow, or white flowers that look like lupines in late spring or early summer. These flowers are followed by interesting black seed pods.”

• Why It’s Easy: It lives a long time and can handle drought once it’s established; it has a deep taproot that makes it tough; and it doesn’t have any major pests or diseases.
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun; Water: Low to moderate once established; Soil: Well-drained and adaptable; Bonus: Native, shrub-like presence, and fascinating seed pods.
• Good for: borders, gardens with native plants, specimen plants, and landscapes that don’t need a lot of water.

Tradescantia spp. spiderwort

“Has grassy leaves and flowers with three petals that come in blue, purple, pink, or white. They open in the morning and close by afternoon, and they bloom for a long time.”

• Why It’s Easy: It can grow in a lot of different types of soil and light, and it spreads quickly (although it may be a bit thuggish in the right conditions, so choose your site carefully or pick less aggressive cultivars).
• Care Snapshot: Sun: Full sun to partial shade; Water: Adaptable, loves moist but can handle some dryness; Soil: Adaptable; Bonus: Long bloom season with fascinating blooms.
• Good for: gardens in the woods, wet locations, and informal gardens (keep an eye on the spread).

Chapter 3: How to Make Your Easy-Care Garden Work

You need to know a little bit about how to take care of even the simplest plants to get them to really thrive and look their best. Here are some general guidelines to help you make your new low-maintenance garden work:

• Right Plant, Right Place: The most important rule of gardening is to put the right plant in the right place. Even plants that are easy to care for have basic needs for sunlight (full sun, partial shade, full shade) and soil type (well-drained, moist, sandy, clay). The most important thing you can do to make your garden easy to care for is to choose plants that will thrive in the conditions that are already there. No matter how “easy” it is, a plant that likes the light will have a hard time in deep shade.
• Basic Soil Preparation: Even though many of the plants on our list can adapt, it’s always good to give them a good start. Adding compost or other organic matter to your soil before planting makes it better at holding water, draining, and providing nutrients. Most plants that are easy to care for like soil that drains properly. They don’t want to sit in “wet feet.”
• Watering New Plants: The Establishment Phase: Keep in mind that words like “drought tolerant” usually only apply once the plant has been established. Perennials, shrubs, and even annuals that have just been planted will need to be watered regularly and consistently for the first few weeks or months (and often even the whole first season for bigger shrubs) to let their roots grow and settle into the new soil. Water deeply to help roots grow deeper.
• Mulching is Your Best Friend: Putting a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch (such shredded bark, wood chips, straw, or compost) around your plants (but not on the stems) is a great way to help them grow with little effort. Mulch does the following:
  • Keep weeds from growing (less effort for you!)
  • Keep the soil wet (less watering needed)
  • Control the temperature of the soil to keep the roots safe from extreme heat and cold.
  • As the soil breaks down, make the structure better over time (if it’s organic).
• Minimal Ongoing Intervention: “Easy care” doesn’t mean “no care at all.” You should check on your garden every now and then and do as little as possible. Check for any evident symptoms of stress, pests (though these plants are less likely to have them), or if things are getting too crowded. A little bit of watching out for problems can help you find small ones before they turn into big ones. A small cut here and there or changing the watering schedule during bad weather is usually all that’s needed.

If you follow these simple rules, you’ll make a place where your easy-care plants can grow without you having to do much to help them.

Conclusion: Enjoy the beauty without the stress!

You don’t have to be overwhelmed by the thought of making a beautiful, colorful garden. As we’ve shown with our list of 50 easy plants to care for outside, it’s very possible to create a beautiful outdoor setting that makes you happy and peaceful without needing a lot of effort.

There are a lot of hardy and rewarding plants that would look great in your garden. Some examples are reliable perennials that come back year after year, easy-care shrubs that add structure and color, and even colorful annuals that make a big impact with little work. The most important thing is to pick the proper plants for your situation and know what they need. For these garden heroes, their needs are really simple!

So, whether you’re a total newbie just starting out in the world of gardening, a seasoned green thumb looking to make your yard easier to care for, or just someone with a busy life who still wants to add some natural beauty, we suggest you choose a few favorites from this list and get started. You might be amazed at how simple and fun gardening can be! These plants are tough and provide you a lot of pleasure, so you can spend less time working in your garden and more time just appreciating its beauty. Welcome to the fun of gardening that doesn’t take a lot of work but has a big effect!

Answers to Your Simple Garden Questions! (FAQ Section)

When developing a garden that doesn’t need much maintenance, these are some questions that often come up:

What is the easiest outdoor plant for people who are just starting out?

That’s a hard question because “easiest” might mean different things in different climates and soils! But you can’t go wrong with plants like Sedum “Autumn Joy” (which can handle being ignored and bad soil), Daylilies (which can adapt and blossom on time), or annuals like Marigolds or Zinnias (which are very easy to cultivate from seed and bloom all summer). All of them are great options that give you fast benefits and help you feel more confident in your gardening skills.

Do plants that are “easy care” still need fertilizer?

Most of the plants on our list don’t need a lot of extra fertilizer to grow well. This is especially true if your soil is already healthy or you add compost to it once a year. In fact, giving these hardy plants too much fertilizer can sometimes do more harm than good, making them grow floppy or bloom less. If your soil is really bad, a light application of a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer in the spring is typically all you need.

How can I pick plants that don’t need much maintenance for a garden that gets a lot of sun and heat?

You should look for plants that are known to be drought-tolerant and adore full sun for those tough places that get a lot of sun. Once they are established, many of the plants on our list will do well in these conditions. You should look for plants like Coneflower (Echinacea), Yarrow (Achillea), Lavender, Russian Sage, Sedum (all sorts), Blanket Flower (Gaillardia), Coreopsis, and most attractive grasses, such as Switchgrass or Little Bluestem. These plants do well in heat and won’t droop too much if you forget to water them.

Can I put these easy plants in pots or containers?

Yes, a lot of them! Most of the annuals on the list are great for pots. A lot of perennials thrive nicely in pots, including Hostas (for shade), Coreopsis, Sedum (both erect and groundcover types), Lavender, Catmint, and smaller ornamental grasses like Blue Fescue. Some smaller shrubs, such dwarf Potentilla or Spirea, might be happy in a container that is the right size for them for a few years. Here are the most important things to know when growing in containers:

• Pick a pot that is the right size for the plant when it is fully grown (or for a few seasons).
• Make sure the pot has openings for drainage.
• Make sure to use a good potting mix.
• Plants in pots usually need to be watered more often than plants in the ground since pots dry out faster, even for plants that can handle dry conditions. They might also do better with light feeding every now and then, since nutrients leave pots more easily.