Flowers are a joy to grow, but for many gardeners, time and energy are in short supply. That’s where perennials come in. These hardworking plants return year after year, offering beautiful blooms and lush foliage with minimal effort.
If you’re looking to create a garden that thrives without constant care, choosing the right perennials is key. The best ones handle heat, cold, poor soil, and even drought—while still putting on a show each season.
Below, you’ll find 20 of the most reliable, eye-catching flowers that require very little upkeep. Whether you’re working with full sun or shady corners, there’s something here to suit every space.
Table of Contents
1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
These golden-yellow flowers with bold black centers are a summer classic. Black-Eyed Susans bloom for weeks, attracting butterflies and bees to your garden.
They thrive in full sun, tolerate poor soil, and require minimal water once established. They’re also deer-resistant and self-seeding, so you’ll see them return stronger each year without effort.
2. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are standout perennials known for their daisy-like shape and bright pink, purple, or white flowers. These native plants are both drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, thriving in sunny, well-drained locations.
They’re ideal for pollinator gardens and are highly resistant to pests and disease. Plus, their seed heads provide winter food for birds.
3. Daylily (Hemerocallis)
If you’re after stress-free flowers, daylilies are unbeatable. Each bloom may last only a day, but with hundreds of buds per plant, they bloom continuously for weeks.
They adapt to nearly any soil, resist drought, and are virtually indestructible. Available in a wide range of colors, they add lively, low-maintenance beauty to any garden.
4. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender offers much more than lovely purple flowers. It brings fragrance, pollinators, and calm energy to your garden—and it asks for very little in return.
Once established, lavender is drought-tolerant, thrives in poor soil, and deters deer and pests. Its clean shape and minimal pruning needs make it perfect for tidy, low-effort borders.
5. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum, with its succulent-like leaves and star-shaped flowers, is one of the toughest perennials you can plant. It thrives in heat, poor soil, and drought conditions.
Choose between creeping groundcovers or tall varieties for visual interest. Either way, this plant handles neglect like a pro and returns every year with ease.
6. Hostas
Hostas are prized for their lush foliage more than their flowers, but they’re a top pick for shaded, low-maintenance gardens. Available in a wide range of greens, blues, and variegated patterns, they add rich texture to quiet corners.
They thrive in moist, well-drained soil and spread slowly over time. Once planted, hostas require little care—just occasional watering and mulch to hold in moisture.
7. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint produces soft, lavender-blue flowers and aromatic gray-green leaves. It’s an easy-going perennial that blooms for months and handles heat, drought, and poor soil with no complaints.
Catmint also resists deer and rabbits, making it ideal for urban or rural gardens. Its graceful shape pairs well with other sun-loving flowers like roses and coneflowers.
8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
For a touch of silver and sky-blue flowers, Russian Sage is a favorite. This tall, airy perennial thrives in full sun and dry soil, making it one of the best choices for hot, low-water gardens.
It doesn’t need fertilizing or frequent watering and rarely faces pest or disease issues. Its long bloom time keeps your garden lively from summer into fall.
9. Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Coreopsis offers a long display of cheerful, daisy-like flowers in yellow, orange, and red tones. It performs best in full sun and can thrive in less-than-ideal soils.
This low-maintenance bloomer is perfect for busy gardeners. It attracts pollinators, resists pests, and will often rebloom if deadheaded mid-season.
10. Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee Balm produces bold, tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, and purple—and it lives up to its name by attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in droves.
It’s easy to grow in both full sun and part shade, and mildew-resistant varieties make care even easier. Once it’s established, this perennial will fill your garden with both color and movement.
11. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow produces clusters of small, flat-topped flowers in white, yellow, pink, or red. It’s an incredibly tough perennial that thrives in hot, dry conditions and poor soil.
Once established, yarrow needs almost no maintenance. It attracts beneficial insects, resists deer, and spreads slowly over time, making it ideal for relaxed, cottage-style or naturalistic gardens.
12. Salvia (Perennial Sage)
Salvia brings long-lasting spikes of vibrant flowers in purple, pink, or white. It thrives in sunny, dry conditions and is well-known for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
This plant is both heat- and drought-tolerant, with strong resistance to pests and diseases. For even more color, trim it back after the first flush to encourage a second bloom.
13. Peonies
Peonies are a garden favorite, offering large, fragrant flowers in soft pinks, reds, and whites. While their bloom window is short in late spring, they’re incredibly long-lived and easy to maintain once established.
They prefer well-drained soil and full sun, and once settled in, they need very little from you—just space and time to shine.
14. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Blanket Flowers bring a burst of fiery reds, oranges, and yellows with long-lasting flowers that bloom from early summer to fall.
These drought-tolerant perennials thrive in poor, sandy soil and love the sun. Their carefree nature and bright personality make them perfect for adding color without the chore.
15. Astilbe
Astilbe offers fluffy, plume-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and red that stand tall above fern-like foliage. It’s one of the best choices for shade or part-shade gardens.
This plant prefers moist, rich soil and benefits from occasional watering during dry spells. Once established, Astilbe asks for little and gives a lot—especially in texture and contrast
16. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
Creeping Phlox is a low-growing perennial that forms a dense mat of colorful spring flowers in pink, white, purple, and blue. It’s a perfect ground cover for borders, slopes, and rock gardens.
This plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and once established, it requires almost no care. It also helps prevent soil erosion, making it both beautiful and functional.
17. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heuchera is grown primarily for its vibrant foliage, which ranges from deep purple to lime green—but it also sends up delicate flowers in late spring and summer.
It grows well in partial shade and well-drained soil, requiring little attention once planted. Its evergreen leaves add year-round interest, especially when paired with hostas or ferns.
18. Ornamental Grasses (e.g., Miscanthus, Feather Reed Grass)
Ornamental grasses bring movement, height, and texture to your garden. While they don’t produce traditional flowers, their feathery plumes add visual interest and seasonal charm.
They thrive in full sun, handle drought, and need minimal pruning—usually just a yearly trim in late winter. These low-maintenance plants are also great for filling space without crowding.
19. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)
Shasta Daisies are iconic white-petaled flowers with bright yellow centers. They bloom reliably from early summer through fall and are excellent for cutting.
They prefer sunny spots with well-drained soil, require very little fertilizer, and bounce back year after year with minimal fuss. Deadhead spent blooms to keep the show going longer.
20. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s Ear is known for its soft, velvety silver foliage, but it also produces small lavender flowers in early summer. It’s a great ground cover that thrives in full sun and dry soil.
This perennial is drought-tolerant, spreads slowly, and resists pests. Its unusual texture adds a playful element to borders and pathways, especially when mixed with flowering companions.
Conclusion: A Garden That Thrives with Less Work
If your goal is a garden filled with beautiful flowers that return every year without demanding constant attention, perennials are your best ally. The 20 low-maintenance plants listed above are not only resilient—they’re showstoppers.
Whether you’re working with full sun, shade, dry soil, or limited time, there’s a perennial that fits your space and lifestyle. These reliable flowers bring lasting beauty, support pollinators, and reduce the workload season after season.
So plant once, relax, and let your garden bloom back year after year—no green thumb required.