20 Low Maintenance Perennials Flowers Every Busy Gardener Will Love

Experts claim novice gardeners have 100% success growing hostas because they are easy to care for, which is why they are one of the most popular shade perennials. They come in unlimited shapes, sizes, and colors, from those that hug the ground in dwarfed form to the showy giant-sized beauties. 

Their green leaves are variegated with splashes of ivory, white, pink, red, yellow, and orange —and the amount of variegation will vary across varieties. These plants are often sold as bare roots that are planted in early spring. By summer, white or purple blooms emerge, luring hummingbirds to your garden.

Commonly known as Christmas Rose or Lenten Rose, Hellebores are a beautiful sight in a garden at a time when all else is dormant. They have beautiful cup-shaped flowers that look as if they were made with tissue paper and are reminiscent of soft rose-like colors of pink, maroon, purple, and black. They are perfect for adding color to your garden all winter long.

Hellebores can be grown in problem spots as they tolerate drought better and grow in shady areas where most plants perish. However, ensure they are grown out of reach from children and pets as their leaves, stems, and roots contain toxic compounds that should not be digested. 

Periwinkles are best planted in areas with a lot of shade in your garden. The vines spread quickly, covering the area with bright star-shaped flowers in cool shades of purple, white, lavender, and blue. This resilient plant returns steadily every year. It thrives in most places and cares little about sun, shade, or soil quality.

Periwinkle will, however, spread where you do not wish it to grow. Hence, it is classified as invasive in different parts of the United States. Gardeners are, therefore, advised to look after its growth and avoid planting it near woods or other natural places.

The lanceleaf coreopsis is a popular perennial for both new and seasoned gardeners. This hardy plant can withstand drought and heat and flourish in poor soil. Its slender, hairy, lance-shaped leaves grouped around the base of the plant, and its single golden yellow daisy-like petals make it suitable for both the landscape and containers. 

Many beneficial native insects, such as long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, day-flying moths, and beetles, are drawn to the plant's nectar and pollen. It is a useful addition to pollinator gardens and native landscapes because of its capacity to sustain a variety of insect life. 

Almost a century back, peonies were found in only three varieties- white, brilliant crimson, and rosy pink. Today, however, there are thousands of varieties. Their large, fragrant blooms in spring come in bright pink, coral, white, red, cream, and bicolor, which are perfect for edging paths and low hedges and mixing with other perennials.

With proper care, these resilient plants can survive for over a century. The plant's rich green, leathery leaves are visually appealing and resilient to harsh weather conditions. So, consider growing peonies if you are looking for tough perennials that will bloom relentlessly for years.

The lesser-known perennial baptisia, also called blue false indigo, is indigenous to North American grasslands and woodlands. A year after planting, spires of pea-like blooms with attractive seed pods that stay after the flowers fade appear in blue, purple, orange, yellow, and white hues.

Once established, this striking-looking perennial is exceptionally hardy, reliable, and drought-tolerant, which means nothing can get in its way from growing year after year. Over the years, they will fill out like a shrub. Beyond aesthetics, baptisia supports local wildlife and biodiversity. The flowers provide nectar and pollen, while the robust foliage serves as a food source for many insects. 

With new varieties introduced every year, coral bells have become increasingly popular among gardeners, and rightly so. The leaves of coral bells in shades of chartreuse, black, cherry, and coral are as beautiful as the small bell-shaped flowers ranging from silver and gold to lime, burgundy, chocolate brown, purple, green, and more.

One of the easiest perennials to grow, coral bells are frequently used as border plants to give texture and color to garden margins or as ground covers to create lush mats of greenery. They also stand out in rock gardens because of their low-growth habit and adaptability to different types of soil. 

You have probably seen this delicate flower more times than you count in a rose or hydrangea flower arrangement. With loose, billowy panicles of tiny flowers on small, bushy stems, baby’s breath is a popular filler in such floral arrangements. It also provides an airy touch to flower gardens.

Only a small number of more than 100 species in the genus Gypsophila—including annuals and perennials—are grown as ornamentals in gardens. Some types of baby's breath have creeping, mounding, or arching growth patterns, and the flowers can be single or double pink or white. The creeping types are ideal for rock gardens or ground cover, while the arching ones add elegance to container gardens.

Suppose you have a space in your home or outdoor garden with plenty of sun- plant lavender. This popular, fragrant perennial with silvery-green foliage and upright flower spikes makes a stunning addition to borders and perennial gardens. It usually blooms in summer, but with a little care, it can survive even tougher winters. Consider planting several varieties to extend the bloom season.

You can harvest the lavender blooms once they are dry for various culinary and medicinal applications, fragrant floral arrangements, sachets, and potpourri. Dried lavender has a distinct spicy yet soothing aroma that works well for aromatherapy and as an insect repellant. 

Once you look at the flowers, you will understand why they are bearded. Unlike the beardless ones, this iris type has three of the six petals drooping and an elongated tuft of hair in the center. But don’t let the name fool you. They come in rainbow colors and look amazing in large clusters or small bunches as accents.

Irises can be planted in the middle, back, or front of borders, in rock gardens, and in numerous garden settings. Their sword-shaped foliage keeps your yard looking good even after the flowers disappear. Throughout the growing season, the fan-like arrangement of the foliage gives garden beds vertical interest and structure. 

While most plants are toxic to pets, cat parents can breathe a sigh of relief with catmint. These plants burst into hues ranging from pale pink to vibrant yellow two-lipped blooms with aromatic mounds of gray-green foliage. The aroma tends to attract cats, so you will probably find your cats nibbling on them which is perfectly safe. 

Apart from being cat-friendly, these plants are celebrated for being deer-resistant and rabbit-proof. Hence, they make an excellent addition to gardens plagued by these creatures. You can incorporate them into various landscape designs, but they are best planted alongside walkways or in your herb garden, where you can enjoy their vibrant flowers.

Sedums come in limitless shapes, colors, and sizes; they can be creeping or stately, upright plants. Often called stonecrops, these low-maintenance plants maintain their attractive appearance throughout the winter. They retain their color and texture and stand upright even in cold weather. 

They produce clusters of star-shaped flowers from late summer to fall, which attract pollinators who are ravenous. They might, however, develop a little lanky if exposed to extreme heat or a lack of sunlight. Following flowering, trimming helps the plants maintain their shape and encourages vigorous, bushier growth, so ensure you prune them properly.

How can you not smile when you see these cheerful plants? You have learn to draw these daisies since kindergarten. Shasta daisies are a classic thanks to their vivid blooms of dazzling white petals, golden centers, and dark green leaves that infuse any garden with vitality. They are available in single, double, quilled, and fringed forms.

Shasta daisies are herbaceous perennials tolerant of drought and different soils, making them ideal for  pots placed by a sunny window, cottage-style borders, or garden beds. Outdoors, you do not have to worry about deer or rabbit attacks but they will draw in butterflies during peak bloom season. 

Perennial salvia blooms in early summer, with striking spikes of purple, blue, or pink flowers rising on attractive gray-green leaves. Salvias are heliophytes, caring little about the soil type. They attract hordes of butterflies and bees when they bloom.If you snip off the flower spikes when they fade, they will rebloom

Most people tend to interchange the terms salvia and sage. However, the former refers to ornamental plants, while the latter is better known as culinary herbs. There are some lovely ornamental types of garden sage, though like purple and golden ones. They offer bold color contrasts and brighten up garden beds and containers.

Planting Russian sage in your garden is sure to turn heads. An easy perennial to grow with clouds of bluish-purple flowers atop grey-green leaves on silver-white stems that look terrific even without the flowers. You can plant them alongside orange coneflowers for a serendipitous plant partnership.

Russian sage, however, is not a sage but a member of the mint family. Like other mints, leaves release a scent when crushed. You should plant it where you can keep it restricted because it spreads rapidly with seeds and underground stems. This hardy and attractive plant can be an ideal addition to your landscape if you want to add a little flair and elegance. 

To many, black-eyed susan flowers scream country farmhouse, making it ideal for those who want that aesthetic. The flowers come in a range of shades, but the most popular kind features deep green foliage with coarse hairs and a single row of gold petals encircling a black or brown core. 

You can also find varieties with orange, cherry, and bicolor flowers. These flowers blend well in a mixed garden bed but spread quickly, so plant them in a very contained area. And the more you cut the flowers, the more blooms they produce. They can be deadheaded any time of year to promote new flower growth. Once the plant has died back completely, you can cut it down. 

Phlox's enduring appeal might be attributed to its no-fuss nature and clouds of billowy blossoms. The real cherry on top, though, is the lengthy flowering season that starts early spring and continues until the first hard frost in the fall. This extended bloom time, paired with its sweet fragrance and ability to attract pollinators, ensures that phlox remains a garden staple for months.

However, this is only possible when the plant receives regular moisture and rich, well-draining soil. They sport copious star-shaped, colorful flowers in nearly every hue on the color wheel. There are so many types, you can find a phlox for almost any garden. 

The name is derived from the soft pink puffy blooms shaped like hearts that bloom in spring. Each heart-shaped bloom has a white petal with a streak of scarlet protruding at the base that makes them look like bleeding hearts. The long, arching stems hold the petals, which gives a cascading effect to the plant. These flowers bloom in the spring, providing flower beds and borders a charming and whimsical feel. 

It is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring and a welcome indication that warmer weather is coming. Work them in shaded borders throughout the landscape, especially if you want to combine something with geranium, and astilbe. 

With delicately patterned fronds of silver, green, or burgundy variegation, the Japanese-painted fern almost looks hand-painted. They are unlike other ferns that have solid green leaves, truly living up to their name. The striking leaves develop better hue in partial shade and sun and are a real showstopper for shady conditions. 

These unique plants offer color and intricate texture and are a stunning addition to any garden. They are best used as a soft complement to bolder colors and textures. You can pair them with other plants on this list, like the lacy hosta foliage or the colorful, ruffly coral bells.

The easily recognizable foxglove, which seems to fit in an overflowing English country garden, is due to its tall, profuse stems covered with tubular, speckled blossoms. These gorgeous plants spread their towering blooms year after year and self-seed, adding brilliant color to a shadow garden.

This pretty flower has been known for centuries to have chemicals that make it medicinal and harmful at the same time. It contains natural compounds, and if ingested in a healthy dose, it acts like a heart medication. However, this could spell big trouble for people with healthy hearts.