15 Best Low-Maintenance Plants for Landscaping Ideas

Key Highlights

• Landscaping becomes effortless with low-maintenance, easy-care plants that thrive in varying light exposures and soil types, making gardening less work.

  

• Drought-tolerant perennials and shrubs provide year-round greenery and vibrant flower colors, ideal for diverse growing seasons.

• Hardy plants like hostas, hydrangeas, and boxwoods add structure and textured foliage to garden beds with minimal attention.

• Options like sedum and lavender offer a splash of color while resisting pests and surviving neglect.

• Many featured shrubs attract pollinators, enhancing the beauty of outdoor gardens while supporting local wildlife.

Enjoy discovering these plants that make landscaping a breeze in the upcoming sections.

Introduction

Making your garden feel personal does not have to be hard or take up all your time. Picking the right mix of outdoor plants can change your landscape design so it looks great and is still easy to care for. When you use low-maintenance plants, you get color, texture, and flowers in your garden. They help you cut down on the amount of gardening and upkeep you need to do. If you choose plants that fit your light exposure, your soil, and your local weather, you will have a yard that looks good and is easy to keep up. Want to make your landscaping look new without a lot of work? Let’s get started!

15 Best Low-Maintenance Plants for Landscaping

Are you looking for plants that need little attention but still make your garden beds or front yard look great? This list is for you. These tough and easy plants are picked for the way they fit different growing times in the year. Most are perennial, so they come back again each year. You will also see strong textures, colorful foliage, and nice flowers that last, all while needing only a bit of care from you.

It does not matter if you deal with drought in the soil or have shady spots where you want more greenery. These options are good at giving beauty with less work. There are plants like hostas that love the shade. There is also lavender, which brings a nice smell and color to your landscaping. Check out the top choices below and enjoy an easy, stress-free yard with lots of lovely foliage.

1. Hostas: Shade-Loving Beauties

Hostas are the stars in shaded gardens. Their thick foliage brings a soft and classic touch to any garden bed. Many people choose hostas because they are easy to care for. The plants do well in part or even full shade, which makes them great for places where sunlight does not reach much. Their wide leaves feel smooth and come in different colors like gold, green, or with mixed patterns.

In the middle of summer, hostas grow light violet flowers. The flowers stand on strong stems and make the garden look nice. Some kinds of hostas, like ‘Coast to Coast’, are good for stopping slugs because their leaves are thick and not easy for the bugs to eat. You can plant hostas in big pots or put them right in the ground, and they look nice either way.

If you want your garden to have some style and not spend too much time on its care, hostas are a good pick. Their upkeep is simple because they need only a little pruning. Watering them now and then is enough for them to grow strong.

2. Boxwood: Classic Evergreen Structure

Boxwood shrubs bring timeless beauty to any yard. They are well known for giving year-round greenery and work in many kinds of landscaping. The thick evergreen leaves of boxwood do well in both full sun and some shade. You can use them in a neat, sculpted garden style or a more natural look. Boxwood grows at a steady pace and shows off its vibrant green foliage. You do not have to worry about the usual boxwood smell with these plants.

When you need to shape the plants, soft pruning will be enough. Compact types like ‘Sprinter’ and ‘North Star’ fit well in front yard spaces. You can use them to line your yard, border garden beds, or add structure to your garden. Boxwood is also known for its hardiness and can stand up to deer, so it’s a good choice if you deal with wildlife in the area.

From their strong, bold foliage to the way you can mix them with other flowering plants, boxwood fits in many gardens. Give your boxwood room to grow, and you will get easy-care greenery throughout the year.

3. Sedum (Stonecrop): Drought-Tolerant Color

As a drought-tolerant perennial, sedum (also called stonecrop) does well in places where many other plants do not. It needs little watering and only a small amount of care. This makes it great for gardeners who want bright color all season with very little effort. Sedum likes to grow in full sun. You will see flower colors like yellow or pink, and its foliage can also bring a pop of color during the growing season. Sedum can grow in poor soil and still look good. This easy plant can be used as a groundcover or to add interest in landscape design.

4. Daylilies: Hardy Perennial Blooms

Daylilies are loved by many gardeners because they look nice, are easy to care for, and can be used in many ways. These plants are known for being tough. Daylilies do well in drought, in city areas with pollution, and in poor soil. These strong perennials bloom more than once in the summer. They give gardens a splash of color with bright pink, orange, or yellow summer flowers.

Their trumpet-shaped summer flowers bring color and pull in bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. There are popular kinds like ‘Sound of My Heart.’ This type has purple edges that make your garden beds look exciting and pretty.

You don’t have to spend much time on daylilies. You do not need to worry about deadheading or doing a lot of upkeep. Just put them in sunny spots in the garden, and they will fit in and keep looking good for a long time.

5. Ornamental Grasses: Year-Round Texture

Ornamental grasses add great texture to outdoor areas. They keep your yard looking nice all year long and need just a little maintenance. One example is blue oat grass, which has colorful blue-green leaves. As time passes, the leaves can turn wine-red. Purple flower spikes add more color and movement, which looks good in any full sun spot, no matter what kind of soil you have.

These grasses need very little watering. You won’t have to prune them to keep their shape. They are a good choice to use as a main feature in a pot, or to line the edges of your garden where you want some extra depth and style. You can pick feather reed grass or switchgrass, too. Both will do well and survive tough weather. You'll be glad to see how well they adapt.

When you want a yard that is easy to take care of, ornamental grasses are a smart choice. They bring style and beauty with so little work.

6. Russian Sage: Pollinator-Friendly Fragrance

Russian sage is loved for its tall spikes and the nice smell of its foliage. This plant can grow well in both full sun and part sun. It does not need much water because it can stand drought. The purple flowers give your garden a splash of color and bring in pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Russian sage is a great alternative for gardeners who want a plant that gives beauty with little maintenance. In the growing season, it keeps the garden looking good and lively with less work. This helps your landscape design look bright and welcoming without taking up too much of your time.

7. Juniper: Versatile Evergreen Groundcover

Juniper is a great pick if you want landscaping that does not need a lot of work. It does best in full sun and can give your yard a strong groundcover. This evergreen comes in a lot of different textures and colors, so it can fit in with many different looks. Once it settles in, juniper can handle drought and only needs a little attention. You get a lush background for your plants with not much upkeep. Its wide-spreading habit helps make the garden look good and neat. Juniper also brings in helpful pollinators, so your garden looks and feels full of life all through the growing season.

8. Lavender: Aromatic and Pest-Resistant

Lavender brings a nice scent and lovely purple flowers to any landscape design. It loves full sun and has great drought tolerance, so you only need to do a little effort and upkeep after putting it in the ground. This perennial plant smells fresh and helps keep pests away, so many gardeners like to use it. Lavender does well during the growing season and blooms from late spring into summer. Its blooms give a bright pop of color, bring in lots of pollinators, and do not need much work to keep looking good.

9. Yarrow: Colorful, Easy-Care Blooms

Yarrow brings a pop of color to your garden with its bright yellow, pink, and white flowers. These blooms draw in pollinators, which is good for your plants. This perennial grows best in full sun and can handle drought very well. You do not have to give it a lot of attention. The fragrant foliage makes any landscape design look good and helps keep pests away. Once the plant takes root, yarrow needs little care. This makes it a top pick for gardeners who want both ease and beauty in their garden. Add yarrow for bold color all through the growing season.

10. Coneflower (Echinacea): Native Wildflower Appeal

This beautiful perennial makes a garden bed look bright. It has a splash of color. Coneflowers, also called echinacea, come in shades from deep purples to light pinks. They bring strong color to your landscape design all summer.

These flowers have good drought tolerance. They can go through periods without water. Even then, they still look good and draw in pollinators. Butterflies and hummingbirds often visit them. You do not need to do much for these native wildflowers except do some deadheading once in a while. They will stand out in your yard and make the space feel alive.

11. Spirea: Reliable Flowering Shrub

Spirea is a good pick for gardeners who want a beautiful and easy plant. This shrub can grow well in both full sun and part sun. It gives a pop of color to garden beds when it blooms in late spring and early summer. The flowers are bright and pretty, making your garden look nice. You do not need to do much upkeep, so there is little maintenance for you. Spirea also brings pollinators like butterflies and bees. Because of this, it is smart to use in your landscape design.

12. Coral Bells (Heuchera): Colorful Foliage Options

Known for their bright foliage, coral bells (Heuchera) help you add a splash of color to any landscape design. These perennial plants grow well in part sun or full sun. The leaves come in many colors, like deep burgundy and even bright lime green. You need to do little maintenance, just water the plants now and then and do some deadheading. This makes them a good pick for gardeners who are busy. The unique leaves stand out in the garden beds and bring in pollinators. You will get a lively garden through the whole growing season.

13.  Philodendron: Vibrant and Eye-Catching

The Philodendron Moonlight is one of the most striking additions you can bring into your home. Its vivid chartreuse leaves practically glow, instantly lifting the mood of any room. It grows quickly with just bright, indirect light and a regular watering routine. Plus, it's compact and low-maintenance—ideal for both beginners and seasoned collectors alike. If you’re looking for a statement plant that doesn’t ask for much, this one’s a must-have.

14. Butterfly Bush: Wildlife Magnet

The butterfly bush is a great choice for a low-maintenance garden. It brings in many pollinators that people love to see, like butterflies and hummingbirds. The plant shows off tall flower spikes in purple and white. It is a perennial, so it comes back every year and will bloom over a long growing season if you put it in full sun.

This plant can handle drought and still looks good. You do not have to do much for it to thrive, so it lets you enjoy bright colors with little effort. Gardeners who plant this bush not only get nice blooms but also help local wildlife.

15. Creeping Thyme: Fragrant, Low-Growing Groundcover

Creeping thyme is a good and fun plant to add in your landscape design. It acts as a low-growing groundcover that is very easy to care for. This strong perennial plant loves full sun and it usually stays looking nice all year because of its thick, green foliage. You do not need to water it all the time, so it can put up with drought and does not use much water. That makes it good for people who want easy care plants.

In late spring, tiny blossoms show up on the plant. These bring a nice pop of color to your garden beds. The blossoms also attract bees and other pollinators. Beside looking nice, creeping thyme needs little maintenance. It does not take much work, so it is a favorite for many people who have gardens.

Conclusion

Adding low-maintenance plants to your landscaping makes your front yard or garden bed look great and also saves you time. These plants, like lavender with its purple flowers or coneflower with its bright blooms, have strong drought tolerance. They don’t need a lot of water, so they are easy to care for. They also bring in pollinators to your garden. With these plants, you can have color and beauty without much upkeep. This makes them a great alternative for gardeners who want a nice garden but want to use little effort because of a busy life or long periods of drought.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest landscaping plants to maintain in the U.S.?

Some of the easiest landscaping plants to look after in the U.S. are sedum, lavender, and yarrow. They do well in many types of soil and weather, and they don’t need much care. There are also plants from here, like coneflower and butterfly bush. They bring in birds and bees, but you still don’t have to do a lot to keep them growing in your garden. These options can make your landscaping look good without taking much time or work.

How often should I water low-maintenance landscape plants?

Low-maintenance landscape plants need watering about once every one to two weeks. How often you water depends on the season and how much rain there is. When it is hot and dry, you should water more to keep the soil wet. Always look at what the plant needs in your area. This will help your plants grow well and be strong in the climate you have.

Can low-maintenance plants thrive in both sun and shade?

Yes, there are many plants that do well in both sun and shade. Some, like sedum and lavender, can grow in different amounts of light. These plants can add color and be strong, so you don't have to do much upkeep. If you pick these kinds of plants, you can have a nice garden that does not need a lot of work. This makes them good for many kinds of gardens.

Do low-maintenance plants require regular fertilizing?

Low-maintenance plants need very little fertilizer because they can grow well even in soil that does not have many nutrients. But if you feed them sometimes during the growing season, it can help them grow better and have more flowers. The right amount to use depends on the kind of plant you have and how good the soil is.

Looking for the best low-maintenance plants for landscaping?

If you're aiming for a beautiful yard without the constant upkeep, ShrubHub can help you design a landscape filled with low-maintenance plants. From hardy perennials and drought-tolerant shrubs to native grasses and evergreens, we’ll create a stunning outdoor space that thrives with minimal effort. Let our expert designers customize a plan that saves you time while keeping your landscape lush and vibrant year-round.

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