We all love a fabulous flower-filled garden, but not everyone has the time to baby their plants. If you want color and life in your garden without constant care, these ten flowering perennials are tough enough to thrive on neglect.
1. Coneflower (Echinacea) Coneflowers are North American natives that handle heat, drought, and poor soil with ease. They bloom all summer and attract pollinators. Deadheading helps prolong blooms, but even if you skip it, they’ll keep coming back strong.
2. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) Another native that loves the sun and poor soil, Black-eyed Susans bloom in cheerful yellow from mid-summer to fall. They reseed readily and form large clumps over time. Minimal watering and the occasional divide are all they need.
3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) With silvery foliage and tall spires of lavender-blue flowers, Russian Sage thrives in dry, hot conditions. It's deer-resistant and needs little more than a spring trim to keep it tidy.
4. Sedum (Stonecrop) Sedums are succulents, so they store water in their leaves and tolerate drought well. 'Autumn Joy' is a standout, offering pink blooms that deepen to rust as fall approaches. Virtually pest-free and happy in full sun.
5. Daylily (Hemerocallis) Daylilies are nearly indestructible. They grow in almost any soil, multiply fast, and bloom reliably each year. While each bloom only lasts a day, established clumps can produce flowers for weeks.
6. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) Gaillardia produces daisy-like blooms in fiery reds and yellows. It’s heat-tolerant, loves full sun, and blooms from early summer into fall with very little input. It self-seeds well and thrives in lean soil.
7. Catmint (Nepeta) Catmint is a hardy groundcover with soft, aromatic leaves and long-lasting lavender-blue flowers. It handles drought, poor soil, and heavy sun. Cut it back mid-season for a second flush of blooms.
8. Bee Balm (Monarda) Bee Balm brings bold color and attracts pollinators. It's a bit more tolerant of moisture than others on this list but still thrives with little fuss. Powdery mildew can be an issue, so choose resistant varieties.
9. Yarrow (Achillea) Yarrow’s feathery foliage and flat-topped clusters of blooms make it a great filler. It thrives in dry soil and full sun. Once established, it needs little water and spreads gradually without taking over.
10. Coreopsis (Tickseed) Coreopsis offers bright yellow or red blooms and is a workhorse in the garden. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but tolerates poor conditions and irregular watering.