Last Updated on July, 2025
If you’re looking to bring a bit of green into your garden, there’s nothing easier than low maintenance plants anyone can grow.
These hardy plants require minimal watering and thrive in poor soil conditions, giving you a low maintenance garden that practically takes care of itself. Whether you want to attract native wildlife, add flowers, or create attractive foliage with little effort, the right plants are out there.
All you need to do is choose the best plants for your site, and they’ll do the rest.
Quick Summary
- Low-maintenance plants thrive with minimal care, requiring little watering, tolerating poor soil, and often being drought-resistant. They’re perfect for busy gardeners, offering beauty and structure without constant upkeep.
- Top choices include hardy perennials like Snake Plant and ZZ Plant, flowering favorites like Black-Eyed Susan and Daylilies, and shrubs such as Blue Star Juniper. Edibles like Strawberries and herbs like Rosemary add function and charm with minimal effort.
- Match plants to growing conditions, use well-drained soil, and avoid overwatering. Focus on proper spacing and pest management with natural solutions. Local plants suited to your climate will thrive best, saving time and effort.
Matching Plants to Their Growing Conditions
Creating a beautiful outdoor space can be simple.
Choose minimal maintenance plants that match your growing conditions. For sunny areas, consider drought-tolerant varieties.
For spaces with light or partial shade, select plants that prefer indirect light. Different plants thrive in wet ground, while other plants prefer soil dry between waterings. With the right plant in the right place, your garden will look stunning with barely any upkeep.
Hardy Perennials That Practically Take Care of Themselves
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
This hardy plant is ideal for low-light settings, needing only minimal watering. Its delightful foliage and tolerance for indirect light make it a great plant for any room. This one plant requires almost no care—just place it where it can get a bit of light.
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
If you’re seeking something that can handle long periods without water, the ZZ plant is for you. This drought tolerant plant thrives with less water, even in low light, and brings a unique tropical look to your indoor or outdoor space.
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Perfect for light shade or part shade, this plant earns its name for its low maintenance needs. Simply place it in well-drained soil and give it little water. Its rich foliage stays green year round, making it a favorite plant for low-light areas.
Low Maintenance Flowering Favourites
If showy flowers that don’t require constant care are your thing, there are plenty of low maintenance plants that can brighten up your garden with bursts of colour.
- Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Known for its sunny yellow petals and dark centres, Black-Eyed Susan is a low maintenance plant that thrives in full sun and can tolerate poor soil. It’s also drought tolerant and requires only little watering.
- Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ (Wallflower)
A flowering favourite for border planting, this perennial offers purple blooms for much of the year and requires little more than occasional watering. It’s a perfect fit for a minimal maintenance garden.
- Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
With their vibrant blooms, daylilies thrive in full sun and can handle moisture less soil between waterings. Daylilies are excellent for mass planting in sunny areas and require little care beyond basic maintenance.
Shrubs and Grasses for Structure and Texture
Adding shrubs and ornamental grasses to your garden helps give structure, texture, and interest that lasts all year. Many of these hardy plants are also drought tolerant, so they won’t demand constant watering.
- Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata)
This evergreen shrub has unique blue needles, providing beautiful foliage and year-round colour. It’s low maintenance and needs only minimal watering.
- Magic Carpet Spirea
A great option for border planting, this hardy plant provides pink blooms and seasonal colour changes. It does well in full sun and requires only occasional pruning.
- Ornamental Grasses
Grasses like fountain grass and purple fountain grass are great for adding delightful foliage and require only basic care. They’re drought tolerant, pest-resistant, and don’t mind if the soil dries between waterings.
Easy Edibles: Fruit and Veggies for Minimal Effort
Want to try growing some edibles? These plants provide delicious rewards without much fuss.
- Strawberries
Strawberries are easy to grow, either in containers or garden beds, and need only a bit of tidying up in spring. They don’t mind a bit of shade and bring the bonus of fresh fruit to your garden.
- Rosemary
This herb grows well in pots or in the gardens. It needs less water and thrives in well-drained soil, making it a perfect low-maintenance addition to any outdoor area.
- Hostas
Great for shaded areas, hostas add lush greenery to your garden with their broad, foliage. They’re easy to grow, and you can divide mature plants to create new plants at almost no cost.
Useful guides:
Growing Tips for a Thriving Less Maintenance Garden
Once you’ve chosen your less maintenance plants, it’s time to get them settled in.
Start with cuttings or seedlings to save time, and aim to plant them in late spring, when the ground is warm.
Give each plant adequate area to grow so they’re not competing for soil nutrients, organic matter, or sunlight. This ensures they stay healthy and vibrant with less upkeep.
Most low-maintenance plants thrive on the “less is more” approach. Don’t overwater—let the soil dry out between waterings, as many species tolerate drought better than soggy soil.
For plants that prefer wetter soil, like sweetbay magnolia or inkberry, ensure that they’re placed in a naturally damp area to make watering easier.
Managing Pests With Minimal Effort
Even the toughest minimal maintenance plants can attract pests like aphids and spider mites. But keeping them at bay doesn’t have to be complicated.
Use natural pest control methods, like a homemade spray of dish soap, garlic, and water, or introduce predatory insects that suppress weed growth and manage pest populations naturally.
Selecting Plants for Your Growing Zone
To get the most out of your minimal maintenance garden, choose plants that are compatible with your USDA growing zone. Here’s a quick guide:
- Zone 5: Inkberry, Choisya
- Zone 6: Azaleas, Spirea
- Zone 7: Coral Bells, Rosemary, Roses
- Zone 8: Hostas, Jasmine
- Zone 9: Daylilies, Agave, Lantanas
When in doubt, local nurseries are a great resource to help you choose plants that will thrive in your area’s soil, sunlight, and climate.
Final Tips for Plant Success
- Buy Local
Supporting local growers not only helps your community but also ensures you’re buying plants already acclimated to your region. Local plants typically perform better, which means less work for you in the long run.
- Choose the Best Soil and Spacing
Even the toughest low maintenance plant needs the right start. Use well-drained soil and give each plant plenty of area for new growth. Proper planting practices help plants establish quickly and stay healthy.
- Enjoy Your Time, Not Just the Plants
With the right setup, you’ll have a garden that practically maintains itself. These plants give you more time to enjoy the gardens, rather than spending endless hours on upkeep.
Call Us for Professional Help
If you’re planning a minimal maintenance garden and need assistance in choosing the right setup, give us a call at 0483 980 897.
We’ll help you create a beautiful outdoor area that stays stunning with minimal effort. Enjoy a garden where birds, bees, and even butterflies can come and go, while you simply sit back and relax.
With this guide, you’ll see that achieving a vibrant, hassle-free garden doesn’t require a green thumb—just the right low maintenance plants for your space. Happy planting!
