You don’t have to be a professional landscaper to make your garden look great. Anyone can do it, and the best part is that most of the plants you need can be grown from seed or cuttings. You’ll just need some basic tools and supplies (like gardening gloves) and at least one weekend day per month devoted to tending your plants.
The result will be a yard full of beautiful flowers and trees that will help reduce stress, improve mental health, increase happiness, lower blood pressure—and perhaps even extend your life span!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Choosing the right landscaping plants for your outdoor space can enhance its beauty. |
| 2. Sustainable landscaping practices can reduce your carbon footprint and make your outdoor space more eco-friendly. |
| 3. Low-maintenance plants are a great option for busy homeowners who want to enjoy a beautiful outdoor space without spending a lot of time maintaining it. |
| 4. Ensuring your landscaping plants get the right amount of sunlight and shade is crucial for their growth. |
| 5. There are plenty of resources online, including articles and guides, to help you transform your outdoor space into a beautiful oasis. |
Here are 15 easy-to-grow plants that will transform your outdoor space:
Dwarf conifers
If you’re looking for a small, hardy plant that will thrive in your yard and provide privacy, dwarf conifers are perfect for the job.
They can be grown as potted plants indoors or out, but they’ll need to be brought inside during winter months to prevent them from dying.
If you want them growing in an area where they won’t get enough sun, consider adding some shade cloth or creating a roof overhang so they can get enough light without burning up.
Dwarf conifers make excellent hedges or windbreaks when planted together with other similar species; they may also be used as border plants around larger trees if your goal is to create privacy barriers between properties or gardens.
If you’re looking to transform your outdoor space with beautiful landscaping plants, be sure to check out our guide on 10 Must-Have Landscaping Plants for your garden.
Hostas
Hostas are shade-loving perennials that can be used as ground covers, edging plants or in containers. They’re easy to grow and add a soft feel of the forest floor to your garden. Hostas come in a wide range of sizes, leaf shapes and colors (and even flowers).
The leaves range from tiny heart-shaped leaves on some varieties to flat heart-shaped leaves on others.
There are also hostas with narrow pointed tips, broad white edges and raised veins that give them an almost furry appearance. Some have greenish purple undersides that make them a two-tone plant when you look at them from above or below.
Top 5 Brands for Hostas
| Brand | Price | Size | Color | Sun Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mouse Ears Hosta | $19.99 | 1-Gallon | Blue | Partial shade to full shade |
| June Hosta | $24.99 | 2-Gallon | Blue-green to gold | Partial shade to full shade |
| Patriot Hosta | $18.99 | 1-Gallon | Dark green and white | Partial shade to full shade |
| Halcyon Hosta | $14.99 | 1-Gallon | Blue | Partial shade to full shade |
| Sum and Substance Hosta | $39.99 | 2-Gallon | Chartreuse | Partial shade to full shade |
Hostas are shade-loving plants that are known for their attractive foliage. Here are the top 5 brands for Hostas, including their prices, sizes, colors, and recommended sun exposure.
Hardy geraniums
Hardy geraniums are very easy to grow from seed. They can be grown in containers and as ground cover, but they do best in full sun or partial shade. Hardy geraniums also need a well-drained soil for optimal growth; planting them in a raised bed will help ensure proper drainage.
If you love the look of hardy geraniums but don’t have much time to water or tend your garden, consider growing them indoors instead! You can keep them on your kitchen window sill or porch, where they’ll thrive without any extra care.
Want to make your landscaping practices more sustainable? Our article on The Top 15 Sustainable Landscaping Practices provides expert tips and advice for making your outdoor space more eco-friendly.
Golden Bamboo
Golden bamboo is a great, low-maintenance addition to any garden. It can be used as a screen or hedge and will bring a tropical feel to your yard. Golden bamboo is an evergreen plant that prefers full sun and moist soil—but it’s fast growing, so you don’t have to worry about maintenance.
This plant grows up to 10 feet tall and has large leaves with a glossy texture on the outside and furry on the inside. It produces bright yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies!
The flowers also attract bees for pollination purposes; this makes for an interesting look when combined with other plants that have different flowering seasons throughout the year (like tulips).
Ornamental grasses
Ornamental grasses are a great choice for any landscape and can be used in a wide range of situations.
They’re useful for erosion control, adding privacy, screening, adding color, attracting wildlife, adding texture and height.
You’ll find ornamental grasses in a variety of textures and heights that make them perfect for creating structure or interest along your property lines; as well as adding height to beds and borders!
Selecting the right plants for your yard can be a challenge. Learn from the experts and check out our guide on Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Landscaping Plants to enhance the beauty of your outdoor space.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a popular choice for landscaping because they bloom in many different colors and sizes. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, these easy-to-grow shrubs will add some color to your yard or garden.
You can find hydrangeas in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9, so they’re ideal for most homeowners.
If you’re looking for an accent plant that stands out from the crowd, consider planting this pink variety called ‘Pink Diamond.’ The flowers grow to be about 3 inches across with showy petals that open very early in the morning (before 8 am).
Climbing hydrangeas
Climbing hydrangeas are the perfect plant to cover fences and walls. They’re also great for welcoming you home with their fragrant blooms, which can be pink, white or blue depending on the variety.
In addition to their beauty, they require very little maintenance—you only need to prune them once every few years!
The best part? You can train them in a variety of shapes and colors. For example:
- You can make a ball shape by training your climbing hydrangea around an old basketball hoop. It will look like an impressive piece of art when it’s finished!
- You can grow this plant as a bush if you prefer something more compact (or if you don’t have much space).
Ensuring your landscaping plants get the right amount of shade and sun can be crucial for their growth. Discover the top plants for shade and sun by reading our article on Discover the Top Landscaping Plants and make the most out of your outdoor space.
Magnolias
Magnolias are beautiful flowering shrubs that come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. They tolerate a wide range of growing conditions and are easy to grow, though they do need full sun to thrive. If you have the right conditions for your magnolia, it will bloom in the spring, summer and fall as a low-maintenance addition to your front yard or backyard space.
To plant your magnolia correctly and ensure its success from year to year:
Bleeding hearts
- Bleeding hearts are hardy perennials that can be grown in full sun or partial shade. They’re easy to grow, so you don’t need to worry about them being a nuisance in your garden.
- Bleeding hearts are beautiful during the spring, with their red stalks and pink flowers on top. This plant will fill up gaps in your garden during this time of year, making it look more complete.
- You may want to grow bleeding hearts because they make excellent cut flowers; they last up to three weeks after being cut if kept out of direct sunlight and watered regularly.
Top 5 Brands for Bleeding Hearts
| Brand | Price | Color | Bloom Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxuriant Bleeding Heart | $24.99 | Pink | Late spring to early summer | 12-18 inches |
| Burning Hearts Bleeding Heart | $19.99 | Deep red | Late spring to early summer | 18-24 inches |
| Alba Bleeding Heart | $29.99 | White | Late spring to early summer | 24-36 inches |
| Gold Heart Bleeding Heart | $39.99 | Gold foliage, pink flowers | Mid to late spring | 20-30 inches |
| Valentine Bleeding Heart | $24.99 | Red and white | Late spring to early summer | 18-24 inches |
Bleeding hearts are beautiful, shade-loving plants that produce heart-shaped flowers. Here are the top 5 brands for Bleeding Hearts, including their prices, colors, bloom times, and heights.
Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)
Agapanthus is a perennial plant with delicate, bell-shaped blue or white flowers. It blooms year-round and requires little care—it’s hardy, drought tolerant and easy to grow.
Agapanthus makes a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape design. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and grows up to 3 feet tall. You can use it as an accent or focal point in your garden, but it’s also perfect for containers and baskets on patios or decks—especially if you have limited space available!
Blueberries and other edible shrubs
Blueberries are a great choice for edible landscaping. They can be added to the garden in a variety of ways, including as groundcover, shrubbery and shrubs.
Other edible bushes include blackberries and raspberries. Blackberry and raspberry plants can grow up to 10 feet tall, but they make a lovely sight when pruned into smaller bushes that can be arranged in rows or clumps throughout your yard.
Blueberry bushes need lots of sun and acidic soil to thrive; however, if you’re growing them in containers on your deck or patio then you have more control over their environment—just make sure they get enough sunlight!
You’ll still want to plant them somewhere with plenty of drainage so that they don’t get waterlogged during rainy spells (blueberry roots don’t like standing water).
Don’t have time for high-maintenance landscaping? Our article on The Best Low-Maintenance Landscaping Plants offers tips on selecting plants that are easy to care for without sacrificing beauty in your outdoor space.
Gardenias
Gardenias are a flowering shrub that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. They thrive in moist, acidic soil and require regular pruning to maintain the shape of the plant.
The gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) is a popular flowering shrub that thrives in USDA planting zones 8-10. Gardenias are commonly used as an ornamental trimming to make a beautiful border around your home or garden bed, but they also offer benefits for homeowners with allergies by creating a more comfortable indoor environment when planted outdoors as well.
Because they grow best outside during summer months, you can enjoy their beautiful flowers while they’re still blooming before bringing them indoors until next year!
Crepe myrtles
Crepe myrtles are a beautiful, easy-to-grow choice for the southern half of the United States. They have a long blooming season, tolerate drought and can be used as hedges or in mass plantings.
Crepe myrtles are not fussy about where they grow but need full sun to thrive. The flowers bloom on new wood, so pruning is needed every year after flowering to encourage new growth and flowers next year.
English boxwood hedges (Buxus sempervirens)
English boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens) are low-maintenance shrubs that look great both in the garden and as a container plant. With their attractive, glossy green leaves and finely cut stems, they’re a perfect addition to any outdoor space.
You can use them as a hedge or foundation plant to create privacy screens, or prune them into formal shapes like pyramids or balls. For added versatility, they also make great groundcovers!
Top 5 Brands for English Boxwood Hedges
| Brand | Price | Size | Growth Rate | Hardiness Zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Boxwood | $29.99 | 1-Gallon | 6-12 inches per year | 5-9 |
| Wintergreen Boxwood | $34.99 | 2-Quart | 3-6 inches per year | 5-9 |
| Green Velvet Boxwood | $39.99 | 2-Gallon | 8-12 inches per year | 5-8 |
| Baby Gem Boxwood | $44.99 | 2-Gallon | 3-6 inches per year | 5-9 |
| Sprinter Boxwood | $49.99 | 2-Gallon | 12-24 inches per year | 5-8 |
English Boxwood Hedges (Buxus sempervirens) are a popular option for creating beautiful, low-maintenance hedges. Here are the top 5 brands for English Boxwood Hedges, including their prices, sizes, growth rates, and hardiness zones.
Hibiscus shrubs
If you’re looking to add a little color to your outdoor space, hibiscus shrubs are the perfect choice. These plants offer a wide range of colors and sizes, making them easy on the eyes both during and after flowering. They also make great additions to landscape designs that feature bold pops of color.
Hibiscus shrubs are easy-to-grow plants that require little maintenance outside of watering during periods of drought.
Their colorful flowers also make them valuable in attracting bees and other pollinators, which will help improve the health of your garden as well as bring more beauty into your home!
Conclusion
Hopefully, this list will inspire you to start planting! We know that it can be overwhelming to choose plants for your garden, but don’t worry: just pick one or two of these beauties and give them a try.
If they turn out well, then consider adding more in the future. You’ll be surprised by just how much money you can save while getting some great greenery added to your yard.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you enhance your outdoor space:
Check out these 6 must-have plants to transform any outdoor space on Garden Goods Direct.
Get inspired with these easy garden ideas on Ideal Home to transform your outdoor space.
Discover 25 small garden ideas to transform your outdoor space on Floral and Hardy.
FAQs
What are some easy-to-care-for landscaping plants for beginners?
There are several low-maintenance plants that are easy to care for, including succulents, lavender, and hostas.
What are some sustainable landscaping practices?
Sustainable landscaping practices include using native plants, reducing water consumption, and utilizing organic gardening methods.
How do I choose the right plants for my outdoor space?
Consider the amount of sunlight and shade in the area, the type of soil, and the climate when selecting plants for your outdoor space.
What are some landscaping ideas for small outdoor spaces?
Vertical gardens, container gardens, and raised beds are all great options for small outdoor spaces.
How can I make my outdoor space more eco-friendly?
Use sustainable landscaping practices, such as reducing water consumption, using organic gardening methods, and using native plants to make your outdoor space more eco-friendly.
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m a landscape designer in Los Angeles. I’ve been working with homeowners and businesses to help them improve the look of their properties for over 10 years.
