Easy Care, Easy to Grow Perennial Plants
21 Perennials that can be Grown with Minimal Effort
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These Plants Will Look Great Without Taking All Your Time
Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, everyone can appreciate having a few plants in their yard that will thrive without much effort. The majority of the plants in this list are representative of their genus, but for assured success we recommend trying these specific varieties or series.
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Allium (Ornamental Onion)
Care: Cut back dead foliage, flower stalks in spring. Do not deadhead as the seeds will attract birds through the fall and winter months.
Variety Pictured: Allium 'Millenium'
Height: 15-20" / Width: 10-15" / Zone: 5-8 / Full to Part Sun
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Nepeta (Catmint)
Care: Can be sheared back after bloom for a second flush of flowers. Dead foliage can be removed in late fall or early spring.
Variety Pictured: Nepeta faassenii 'Cat's Meow'
Height: 17-20" / Width: 24-36" / Zone: 3-8 / Full Sun
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Hosta
Care: Remove dead foliage in spring. Flower stalks are proportionate to the foliage and do not need to be removed.
Variety Pictured: Hosta 'Empress Wu' - SHADOWLAND® Collection
Height: 3-4' / Width: 5-6' / Zone: 3-9 / Part to Full Shade
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Schizachyrium (Little Bluestem)
Care: It is a good idea to cut this grass back to ground level in late fall in order to have a sturdier plant the coming year, but can be left up for winter interest.
Variety Pictured: Schizachyrium scoparium 'Smoke Signal'
Height: 3-4' / Width: 1½-2' / Zone: 3-9 / Full Sun
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Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Care: Remove dead foliage, flower stalks in spring. Foliage, stems, and flowers can be trimmed through the season to keep the plant clean, but it is not necessary.
Variety Pictured: Hemerocallis 'Ruby Spider' - RAINBOW RHYTHM® Collection
Height: 34" / Width: 18-24" / Zone: 3-9 / Full to Part Sun
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Aquilegia (Columbine)
Care: In the fall, cut plants back to their basal foliage. In the spring, remove only the dead leaves.
Variety Pictured: Aquilegia caerulea KIRIGAMI™ Rose & Pink
Height: 22-24" / Width: 16-20" / Zone: 4-9 / Full to Part Sun
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Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
Care: Prune in early spring before new growth appears. Spent blooms can be removed to prolong bloom, but it is not necessary.
Variety Pictured: Buddleia 'Grand Cascade'
Height: 5½-6' / Width: 7-8' / Zone: 5-10 / Full Sun
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Hibiscus (Rose Mallow)
Care: Cut back in spring or late fall after the foliage have fallen off. Remove spent flowers to keep the plant looking clean. Prefers moist areas.
Variety Pictured: Hibiscus 'Evening Rose' - SUMMERIFIC® Collection
Height: 4' / Width: 4½-5' / Zone: 4-9 / Full to Part Sun
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Coreopsis (Tickseed, Threadleaf Coreopsis)
Care: Tickseed are easy to grow, thriving in any well-drained soil and full sun. Once established, it is rather drought tolerant.
Variety Pictured: Coreopsis 'Daybreak' - L'IL BANG™ Series
Height: 8-12" / Width: 12-18" / Zone: 5-9 / Full Sun
Learn More11 of 22
(False Indigo)
Care: Remove dead stems in late fall or early spring. Flower stalks can be left untrimmed as they will produce attractive seed pods late in the season.
Variety Pictured: Baptisia 'Sparkling Sapphires' - DECADENCE® Collection
Height: 2½-3' / Width: 2½-3' / Zone: 4-9 / Full to Part Sun
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Panicum (Switch Grass)
Care: It will grow in any soil, from sand to clay, is drought tolerant once established, and even withstands periodic flooding. Grow this grass in full sun. It will tolerate light shade, but will flop over if the shade is too heavy. Cut back in spring.
Variety Pictured: Panicum virgatum 'Apache Rose' - PRAIRIE WINDS® Collection
Height: 4' / Width: 2½' / Zone: 4-9 / Full Sun
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Yucca (Adam's Needle)
Care: Evergreen perennial that does not need to be cut back. If it blooms, flower stalks can be trimmed or left as desired.
Variety Pictured: Yucca filamentosa 'Excalibur'
Height: 1½-2' / Width: 3-3½' / Zone (4)5-10 / Full to Part Sun
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Festuca (Blue Fescue)
Care: In cooler areas they should be trimmed back almost to the base either before the onset of winter or in early spring. If division is required, it is best performed in the spring so the divisions have time to root in before winter.
Variety Pictured: Festuca glauca 'Blue Whiskers'
Height: 10-12" / Width: 24-28" / Zone: 4-8 / Full to Part Sun
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Paeonia (Garden Peony)
Care: Caging or support is beneficial. Can be cut or trimmed back in early spring or late fall after it goes dormant.
Variety Pictured: Paeonia 'Karl Rosenfield'
Height: 34" / Width: 24" / Zone: 3-8 / Full to Part Sun
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Veroncia (Spike Speedwell)
Care: Cut back after flowering to encourage a second flush of bloom; cut back in late fall or early spring as well. Deadheading will promote additional blooms.
Variety Pictured: Veronica 'White Wands' - MAGIC SHOW® Collection
Height: 14-16" / Width: 16-20" / Zone: 4-8 / Full to Part Sun
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Salvia (Perennial Salvia)
Care: Deadheading prolongs flowering and encourages reblooms. Remove dead foliage in late spring or early fall.
Variety Pictured: Salvia nemorosa 'Crystal Blue' - COLOR SPIRES® Collection
Height: 18-20" / Width: 24-26" / Zone: 3-8 / Full Sun
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Geranium (Hardy Geranium)
Care: If the foliage looks ragged in late summer, it can be trimmed back and a new flush of foliage will take its place.
Variety Pictured: Geranium pratense 'Boom Chocolatta'
Height: 18-20" / Width: 24-36" / Zone: 5-8 / Full to Part Sun
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Sedum (Stonecrop)
Care: Cut back in early spring. Seed heads will remain upright through winter and add seasonal interest.
Variety Pictured: Sedum 'Pure Joy' - ROCK 'N ROUND® Collection
Height: 10-12" / Width: 16-20" / Zone 3-9 / Full Sun
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Sempervivum (Hen & Chicks)
Care: An evergreen, hardy succulent perennial that does not need to be cut back. This plant is particularly effective when planted in the cracks and crevices of stone walls or walkways. It is also very attractive in containers.
Variety Pictured: Sempervivum 'Peggy'
Height: 4-6" / Width: 6-8" / Zone: 3-8 / Full Sun
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Agastache (Anise Hyssop)
Care: Cut back in late fall if the foliage looks tired or as part of spring clean up.
Variety Pictured: Agastache 'Mango Tango'
Height: 16-18" / Width: 14-16" / Zone: 6-9 / Full Sun
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Heliopsis (False Sunflower)
Care: Deadheading prolongs blooms. Should be cut back in fall or early spring.
Variety Pictured: Heliopsis helianthoides 'Tuscan Sun'
Height: 24-36" / Width: 20-24" / Zone: 3-9 / Full to Part Sun
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