18 Low-Maintenance Flowers for Your Garden

Astilbe Arendsii Group flowers — Credit:
Julija Kumpinovica / GETTY IMAGES

A garden full of beautiful, vibrant blooms doesn't always require hours of weeding, pruning, and watering. Low-maintenance flowers grow in every part of the United States, from the full sun and sandy soils of the western region to the damp, woodsy areas of the Northeast.

The flowers on this list can add color to a dull garden bed, serve as a border around a plot, or drape over garden walls and rocky areas to add texture. No matter how you want to spruce up your garden, these expert-recommended, low-maintenance flowers will do just that.

Annie Barrow, manager of horticulture outreach programs at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado
Michael Hagen, curator of the rock garden and native plant garden at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York
Dee Hall of Mermaid City Flowers, an urban flower farm and floral design studio specializing in locally grown, seasonal blooms in Norfolk, Virginia

01 of 18

Blanket Flower

Short-lived but brightly colored, blanket flowers (Gaillardia aristata) are native to the western United States, so they thrive in full sun and poor, well-drained soil. "The cultivars of this plant are many, and for good reason," says Annie Barrow, the manager of sustainable landscape services at the Denver Botanic Gardens. "Often, blanket flower can become floppy and look unkempt. Cultivated varieties offer bunchier plants with flowers that are bolder, brighter, bigger, and longer-lasting."

Zone: 3 to 10
Size: 24 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; poor, well-draining soil

02 of 18

Wild Bleeding Heart

Closeup of pink delicate flowers with green foliage in the background — magicflute002 / Getty Images

Wild bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) adds color to your garden with bright bursts of heart-shaped blooms. This long-blooming perennial will go dormant in the summer if allowed to dry out, but with continued watering, it will bloom again in September. "Lots of cultivars are available, but all are hybrids with the western species, Dicentra Formosa," says Michael Hagen, curator of the rock garden and native plant garden at the New York Botanical Garden.

Zone: 3 to 8
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall x 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial shade; well-draining, woodsy soil

03 of 18

Coneflower

Different species of coneflower (Echinacea) thrive across the United States. In the western half of the country, consider narrow-leaf coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia). "It is drought-tolerant and thrives in our native, lean soils," says Barrow. "It performs much better than purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, which is native to eastern North America and found in marshlands and swamps."

Zone: 3 to 8
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 10 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Sun or part shade; dry, sandy soil

04 of 18

Black-Eyed Susan

The most well-known member of the Rudbeckia family, black-eyed Susan is a short-lived, low-maintenance perennial that provides bright yellow flowers in late summer and fall. It’s also a pollinator favorite that comes in a variety of cultivars in different sizes and colors, says Dee Hall of Mermaid City Flowers.

Zone: 4 to 9
Size: 24 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

05 of 18

Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillia) shoots up tall, green stalks with clusters of small yellow, pink, red, or white blooms at the top. "It is one of the toughest garden plants that also offers long blooms—June through October," says Barrow. "Any species or variety will do well in both dry and wet and rich and poor soils."

Zone: 3 to 9
Size: 6 to 36 inches tall x 24 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; dry soil

06 of 18

Bigroot Crane's Bill

bigroot geranium flowers — Ina Hesmer / GETTY IMAGES

Bigroot crane's bill (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a hardworking, quick-growing ground cover with fragrant foliage and cheerful pink flowers, says Hagen. In the fall, the low foliage turns reddish-brown, adding autumn color. Hagen recommends using this plant as a border edge or garden filler; his favorite cultivar is Ingwersen's variety, which shows off pale pink flowers.

Zone: 4 to 9
Size: 12 to 15 inches high x 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-draining soil

07 of 18

Bishop's Hat

Epimedium grandiflorum or Barrenwort — KirsanovV / GETTY IMAGES

Bishop's hat (Epimedium grandiflorum) is a perennial ground cover with spindly purple or white blooms. "This is the gold standard for plants that thrive in dry shade," says Hagen. "They are long-lived, easy-to-grow, and undemanding, with dainty flowers in spring and often nice fall foliage."

Zone: 4 to 9
Size: 12 inches high x 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Shade to partial shade; cool, well-draining soil

08 of 18

Moss Phlox

Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is a spring-blooming perennial that is a perfect addition to the rock garden and a great companion plant for early spring bulbs, says Hagen. Dense flowers and low, matted foliage are easy to grow, long-lasting, and come in a wide variety of purple, pink, white, and blue shades.

Zone: 3 to 9
Size: 6 to 9 inches tall x 12 to 15 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil

09 of 18

Red Hot Poker

Though red hot poker (Knipjofia) and its cousin regal torchlily (Kniphofia caulescens) are native to South Africa, this hardy summer bloomer also lights up acres of terrain with its showy summer flowers in the western part of North America, says Barrow.

Zone: 5 to 9
Size: 36 to 48 inches tall x 24 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

10 of 18

Lenten Rose

hellebores flowers — Clive Nichols / GETTY IMAGES

Lenten rose (Hellebore) gets its name from its propensity to bloom in late winter or early spring—before Easter, during the season of Lent. It boasts white, pink, or purple blooms on top of dense, evergreen foliage. They aren't fussy about sunlight and can thrive in both full sun and full shade.

Zone: 3 to 9
Size: 9 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

11 of 18

Foxglove Beardtongue

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is a pollinator-friendly plant boasting tall stalks with white, tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other nectar-seekers during spring and summer. "Cultivars such as Husker Red have distinctive red foliage," says Hagen. They are low-maintenance and easy to grow by seed.

Zone: 3 to 9
Size: 36 inches tall x 25 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

12 of 18

Lavender

The delicate flowers and recognizable scent of lavender (Lavandula) make it a popular garden addition, while its low-maintenance care gives gardeners a break. “Native to rocky, gravelly soil, lavender prefers low water conditions,” says Barrow. “Lavender is a classic traditional perennial that blooms May through October and can be cut, dried, and used in tinctures and for its essential oils.”

Zone: 5 to 9
Size: 24 to 26 inches tall x 24 to 48 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; dry soil

13 of 18

Clustered Mountain Mint

mountain mint flowers — undefined undefined / GETTY IMAGES

Clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) offers aromatic, silvery-gray foliage and pink tubular flowers in flat-topped clusters that are bee magnets in late summer, says Hagen. Easily fill tricky growing spots with this dense, fast-growing species, including varieties like white-flowered Pycnanthemum tenuifolium and clump-forming Pycnanthemum curvipes.

Zone: 5 to 8
Size: 24 to 36 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wide
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-draining, drier soil

14 of 18

Blue Mistflower

Spider-like, clustered flowers blooming above the pointed leaves of blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) are a popular draw for your garden’s pollinators, says Hall. This late-blooming plant shows its color in summer and fall.

Zone: 5 to 10
Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 36 inches wide
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, sandy soil

15 of 18

Astilbe x Arendsii Hybrids

Vibrant Astilbe x arendsii hybrids bloom in cone-shaped clusters of tiny pink, purple, or red blooms. "Originally bred and selected in Germany at the start of the 20th century, these hybrid astilbe cultivars are still to be surpassed for reliability and vigor," says Hagen. "[They are] perennial standards that are long-lived, easy-to-grow, deer- and disease-resistant, and available in a multitude of flower colors, from shades of red to pink and white with varying heights."

Zone: 3 to 8
Size: 24 to 48 inches tall x 24 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial shade or sun; moist, rich, cool soil

16 of 18

Catmint

Catnip plant — Akchamczuk / GETTY IMAGES

Catmint (Nepeta cataria), also known as catnip, is an herbaceous perennial that acts as a natural insect repellant. It's a fast grower that produces dainty white flowers with purple centers. So long as it's given adequate sunlight and planted in well-draining soil, catmint is relatively fuss-free.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: full to partial sun; well-draining soil

17 of 18

Twinspur

Twinspur (Diascia barberae) is a perennial that pushes out pretty pink flowers along the top section of its leafy stalk from late spring through fall, says Barrow. Though it needs consistent watering when planted, once established, it is drought-resistant and grows well in dry, loamy soil.

Zone: 8 to 11
Size: 9 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide
Care requirement: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining, loamy soil

18 of 18

Stonecrop

Butterflies with pink autumn joy sedum. Neil Holmes/Getty Images

Stonecrop (Sedum) is a succulent known for its drought- and heat-tolerance. There are many different varieties to choose from in a range of colors, but you will find just about every variety is easy to care for.