15 Low Maintenance Plants That Require Little Gardening Work

Low maintenance landscaping allows you to have a beautiful yard without putting in hours of hard work each week. By using low maintenance plants you can design a low maintenance garden that will provide your landscape with beauty and function for years to come.

Low Maintenance Plants

Start by planting low maintenance plants that are suited to your particular landscape and growing climate. Select plants that require minimal pruning, dead-heading, separating and clean-up that grows well in your climate. For example, a slow-growing conifer will require less of your time and energy than an oak tree, and perennials require less planting effort than annuals. Opt for the easiest to maintain trees, flowers and shrubs to meet the landscape needs you have.

Micro-Climates

Every landscape has its own variety of micro-climates. One section of your yard may be shady all the time while the another section may be in full sun and remain dry all the time. Select plants that do their best in each micro-climate for easy-care. Plant drought tolerant plants in the sunny, dry soil and shade-loving plants in shady areas and the plants will be right at home with little effort on your part.
Always select plants that do well in your particular growing zone for easy-care. A tropical plant, like a bird-of-paradise, will require much less hands-on care in Florida than it will in New York. Plants that are native to your growing zone will be the most easy care plants and require the least of all maintenance.

Low Water Plants Choices

1- Blue Flax

This is a short lived perennial with each plant producing a small blue flower for one day. Blue flax grows well in most regions, preferring to be planted in full sun and under low water conditions.

2- Cosmos

Cosmos is fragrant and colorful and makes quite a visual impact with their height and bold colors. Cosmos loves full sun, low water and will spread quickly.

3- FeverFew

This is a white flowering, scented herb that has several medicinal uses when harvested. Plant feverfew in a low water areas around outdoor eating areas to help keep insects away.

4- Morning Glory

This low maintenance plant will climb on most any vertical surface and produce new flowers each morning. The morning glory vine grows best in poor soil with very little water. Related articles: Low light house plants that are easy to grow.

5- Johnny Jump Ups

This is a low growing, self-seeding beauty that produces tri-colored blooms and is striking when planted en-masse.

6- Crepe Myrtles

These are drought tolerant, shade-providing, blooming beauties that all low maintenance garden ideas should incorporate at least one of. Prune to any size or plant it and forget about and the shrub will reach a mature height of 20 feet. Colorful, crepe-like blooms will appear in late summer when most other plants are finished for the season.

Sandy Soil Choices

Hot, dry climates that need drought tolerant plants typically have sandy soil and these flowers love to have their ‘feet’ in the sand.

7- Beach Sunflower

This flower is often seen growing on sand dunes and can grow upright or lay down. It’s self-seeding and requires no care.

8- Beautyberry

This plant grows best in sandy soil and light shade. The plant will reach a mature height of six feet, bearing clusters of purple berries from late summer through fall.

9- Firebush

This flowering plant is a tall growing bush that bears nectar-rich red blooms all summer when planted in full sun and sandy soil. Firebush is a favorite flower of hummingbirds and butterflies.

10- Golden Aster

This Low maintenance looks similar to a yellow daisy and loves to be planted in sandy soil and full sun. Golden aster produces long-lasting yellow blooms on two-feet tall plants.

11- Trumpet Honeysuckle

This twining vine loves the sun and sand. The vine produces clusters of red, tube-shaped flowers in the spring that attract hummingbirds.

Shade Loving Plants

Not all landscapes are sunny and most are a mix of sun and shade. Use these easy care plants in the shady areas of your yard.

12- Hostas

Hostas plant enjoy a secluded shady spot and will grow into a 2 x 2 feet mound of broad green leaves. Hostas grown in heavy shade rarely bloom, but if the plant does receive a little sunlight it may send up a few spikes and produce some tiny purple bell-shaped blooms. Related articles: easy to grow low light indoor trees.

13- Lady Ferns

These low maintenance plants grow well in heavy shade where the soil remains moist. Lady ferns produce delicate-looking, deciduous fronds on plants that can grow up to three feet across.

14- Japanese Spurge

This is an ornamental plant that typically is grown as a ground cover. Japanese spurge is an evergreen perennial that produces tiny white flowers in spring.

15- Ginger

This pretty low maintenance plant has culinary uses and grows well in heavy shade. Ginger root is harvested and used to make tea, season foods and in the making of some home remedies.