When landscaping your backyard, why not opt for something easy? Whether you’re a beginner gardener or want the streamlined satisfaction of a professional-looking outdoor space with minimal effort, there are loads of plants that fit the bill.
No matter your climate or growing conditions, these garden favorites are ready to inject color, texture, and interest into your outdoor space. Plus—bonus—each has its own “look” and is rated for its level of gardener difficulty, so even a newbie can find success without too much trouble.
Every editorial product is independently selected, so you know you’re getting consistency in quality regarding ratings and prices. So what are you waiting for? Shop one (or all thirteen) of these fuss-free standouts today before items run out.
Table of Contents
Here are 10 Best Plants for Backyard Garden
1. Smoke Tree
Smoke trees are beautiful assets to any outdoor area, boasting heights of up to 15 feet. Since their size makes them a bit overwhelming for smaller yards, a little pruning can be utilized to keep them trimmed and tidy.
This also optimizes the already stunning look of the plant. These sprawling plants have stunning rich-plum color foliage and unique, wispy pink seed clusters that attract attention from far away. In addition, many smoke tree varieties offer show-stopping flares with brilliantly red foliage in the fall.
Smoke trees are hardy shrubs that require very little maintenance and upkeep but provide an incredible statement piece for retailers and homeowners alike. Planting smoke trees on average often results in spectacular blooms year after year.
They provide us with excellent contrast and texture and can even be used as screens in areas where needed due to their tall stature when allowed to mature without pruning fully. They are truly lovely additions to any garden or yard.
2. Knockout Roses
Knockout roses are a great addition to any garden, especially for those looking to add a touch of color without having to do too much work. These roses are low maintenance and easy to care for, making them ideal for both beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
They have a long bloom period, typically lasting from May until November, and come in various colors to add variety to your garden. Knockout roses will do best in well-drained soil and full sun, although they can also tolerate some shade.
3. Hostas
Hostas are the ultimate garden champions, thriving under even the most challenging conditions, including partial shade or deep shade and various soil types. They come in various colors, from green to chartreuse, blue-gray to variegated, and their sizes range from mature plants that grow up to two feet wide to six-inch wide mini plants. With so much variety on offer, every gardener can find something that suits their taste – as long as they take proper care of them.
The good news is that hostas are very low maintenance regarding watering and pruning. The only thing to be aware of is slugs which will often make their home amongst the hosta leaves – fortunately, this can be remedied by laying down some tuna fish cans filled with beer near the plant. But otherwise, all you need to do is sit back and admire your beautiful hosta’s growth.
4. Lavender
Lavender is an iconic plant known for its fragrant aromas and purple-blue blooms. It’s a great addition to any garden, as it’s low maintenance and can be grown in both full sun and partial shade. It also has a range of uses; its essential oils can be used for aromatherapy, and its flowers can be used as a culinary herb.
Additionally, lavender is an excellent garden plant that’s attractive to bees and butterflies, so it will help to attract pollinators to your garden.
5. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan is an easy-care wildflower bringing cheerful floral displays to perennial beds and borders all summer long. Native to North America, it is especially esteemed for its heat tolerance and drought resistance, making it the perfect plant for drier gardens.
Its bold yellow-gold buds attract pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds while providing excellent nectar sources.
To keep the blooms coming throughout the season, all you must do is deadhead spent flowers. And don’t forget to plan ahead when planting these beauties in your garden since they also attract deer and rabbits; plant them near something pest resistant like rosemary or lavender for extra protection.
6. Houseleek
Houseleek succulents are the perfect easy-care plants for those who want a bit of greenery but lack a green thumb. Coming in various colors, textures, shapes, and sizes, there is sure to be a houseleek succulent that fits every garden’s aesthetic.
Not only do these plants look stylish, but they are extremely hardy, making them ideal for those with and without experience in gardening.
As long as their roots aren’t placed in waterlogged soil and drainage is optimal, houseleek succulents can survive drought, wind, and even frost – ensuring they last the test of time and extreme weather conditions.
7. Siberian Iris
The Siberian iris is a popular choice for gardeners for its ease of care and its beautiful appearance. With its unique, sword-shaped foliage that sticks around year-round and colorful blooms that appear in late spring and early summer, it adds a touch of beauty to any garden.
The flowers come in various shades, from classic white and lavender to deep blue. Such vibrant color is sure to brighten up any flower bed with low maintenance requirements – though some gardeners choose to trim the foliage at the end of the season for an extra polished look.
Every few years, the Siberian iris can also be divided as it will often become overcrowded; this makes it easier to care for plants while also providing you with free plants. Use this gorgeous plant as a border along fences or part of a larger flower scape in order to add a bit of color and texture to your landscape.
8. Virginia Spiderwort
Virginia Spiderwort is the perfect choice for gardens needing a bit of visual interest and reliable yet beautiful ground cover. Not only does it have a rigid adaptability to sun or shade, but its slender, spear-like leaves also add height and drama nearly year-round. In summer, the plant is truly enhanced by its deep blue, purple, and sometimes white blooms that give an extra level of soft color in otherwise dry-shaded places.
It is suited to naturalistic settings like up against rocks or tree stumps, providing the sense of the wild while still maintaining its medley of foliage shapes and sizes.
The recommended USDA Zone range is 4 through 9 – putting almost all US gardeners in easy reach of this low-maintenance perennial – making it an essential component for any low-water garden design.
9. Juniper
Juniper is an evergreen that carries an air of toughness, as it can grow in some of the driest and hottest soils around. Even better – it’s not usually a snack for deer, so you don’t have to worry about your plants falling victim to hungry browsers.
This impressive tree has more and more varieties emerging every year, giving you plenty of options for attractive textures and colors. Juniper is available in various forms, too; from mounding ground covers to towering shrubs, this evergreen tree can meet any number of landscape purposes.
To take full advantage of their diversity, use the upright varieties as a substitute for arborvitae if deer live nearby. For foundation plants, though, opt for the low-growing types for an impactful display. Whatever location you choose, you can be sure that junipers will bring reliable color and texture year after year.
10. Ice Plant
Ice plant is a highly sought-after succulent for beautiful and colorful dry landscaping. Despite its name, this plant is not quite tolerant of frost, but it is able to withstand hot temperatures like those typically found in dry climates.
Thanks to its low maintenance requirements, the Ice plant can go up to two weeks without needing water and will even brighten up the area with attractive flowers.
Adding an Ice Plant to your yard is an ideal way to bring some life and color into an otherwise dull and dry landscape. The delicate blooms are often cascading over containers or around the edges of patios, making it easy for anyone to create a stunning aesthetic effect.
If properly maintained, these plants will provide a dazzling display of beautiful colors throughout the years with little effort on your part.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. Should I Grow Vegetables from Seed or Transplants?
If you are new to gardening, deciding whether to grow vegetables from seed or transplants can be a tough decision. There are pros and cons to each approach, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference and what type of garden you are looking for.
2. Can you grow trees along a fence line?
Yes, you can grow trees along a fence line. Trees are a great way to add privacy and shade to your backyard garden. They also provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as create a pleasant, natural atmosphere in the landscape.
3. What is the most eco-friendly plant?
The carbon dioxide emitted by bamboo is twice as much as that of trees. In addition to its sustainability, bamboo absorbs twice as much CO2. A bamboo grove can act as a “carbon sink,” absorbing the environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions due to air pollution.
4. What flowers save the environment?
A good example of this is sunflowers. Sunflowers can absorb radioactive materials and other pollutants without harming them. Plants such as sunflowers, which help clean up the environment, may be planted in areas with high radiation levels.
5. What is the luckiest flower?
Chrysanthemum is considered a good luck flower throughout Asia. As well as being a symbol of longevity, they are also an important part of Chinese culture. Chrysanthemums in gold and yellow are considered lucky.
Conclusion
There are a variety of plants that can be used to create a beautiful backyard garden. Juniper is an evergreen that can thrive in various conditions and provide reliable color and texture year-round. Ice plant is a low-maintenance succulent that adds color and life to dry landscaping. No matter what you choose to plant, with the right care and maintenance, your backyard will have blooming all year alone.
