“These plants just started blooming about two weeks ago, in mid-June, and they bloom well into the summer, when a lot of other shrubs aren’t,” Burns explains. There are more than 1000 varieties of peperomias found mainly in South and Central America. Available in white, yellow, and purple hues, false indigo plants produce their blooming spires in the spring at the same time as peonies and bleeding heart. In fact, most hostas prefer some shade and, the darker the plant, the more likely it is to thrive in a dim environment. Some plants are heavily fragrant that resembles clove species. That includes areas in and around our homes that don’t get a lot of sunlight. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. These plants are available at garden centers as air-plants and need the medium to bright light. 3. Lovely grayish-green foliage complements the informal border, and bees delight in the nectar-rich violet blooms that appear throughout the summer months. If you’re dealing with a backyard that’s both shady and dry, the hosta is one of the few plants that will be happy to call it home. Gardeners who make room for a Buddleia in the landscape will soon discover that it's a one-stop buffet for many species of butterflies. Drought-tolerant plants, such as coneflower, daylily, ornamental grasses and butterfly weed, make gardening easier because they require less care. Snake plant. There are many benefits to keeping indoor plants. Growing to about 16 inches tall and 30 inches wide, a group of hostas can help fill the space in a low-light garden. Coleus. The shade-surviving plant at the top of the list: ajuga. Butterflies love the low maintenance plants, but rabbits don't. Considering that its blooms don’t seem to mind a trim every now and then, this plant makes an excellent addition to a cutting garden. “The purple color goes well with almost any other color in the garden,” Burns explains. To settle a sedum tile into its new environment, simply drop it onto loose soil, water well to start, and watch it grow. Most plants need some light and not much will grow without it. Fragrant, flowering dianthus will not only survive in sandy soil, but it will also fill your backyard with color and a lovely, slightly spicy scent. To find a local society, check with your local extension agent or with the Native Plant Conservation Campaign, a friend to native and endangered plants. Start with a tough-as-nails perennial that features a cloud of sky blue flowers for three months in its first season. The lavender spikes don't look like much, but bees love them. Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. Australia is famous for its long, hot, dry spells. They can’t grow or develop properly without the proper amount of light. The varied genus offers tall and creeping varieties, all with succulent leaves that shrug off insects. The clumps that spread moderately each year provide pass along plants to friends, or you can dig some up to add to your container plants. One of Hancock’s favorite picks for a drought-prone area is the agave, a low-water succulent that makes a statement anywhere you plant it. While some varieties of dianthus bloom in spring, others, such as “Kahori,” start in the spring and continue to flower all summer long. Credit: And the best part? If you’re a seaside gardener searching for a plant that can survive not only sandy soil, but also salt sprays and not-so-gentle seaside breezes, low-growing armeria will shine in your beachside backyard. Even at the height of summer, this low-maintenance plant rarely needs to be watered. Hard-to-Kill Plants That Don’t Need Sunlight ... Lower maintenance that the previously mentioned greenery, a bird of paradise has a tropical look but doesn’t need a ton of care. I love indoor plants, but I don’t love high-maintenance varieties. Full sun is best, although darker varieties may benefit from afternoon shade to prevent sunscald. © Copyright 2020, 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together, 21 Easy Christmas Breakfast Casseroles to Make Ahead (or the Morning Of), Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain, The Ultimate Holiday Tipping Checklist (and How Much to Give), 14 Great Christmas Movies You Can Watch Right Now on Netflix, 5 Low-Maintenance Outdoor Plants That Will Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal, Picking the Perfect Front Door Plants Has Never Been Easier, Thanks to This New Company, Hard-to-Kill Plants That Don’t Need Sunlight, How to Choose a Plant for Every Room in Your House, 7 Stunning Flowers That Will Attract Butterflies to Your Garden. Stachys byzantina is a plant for the fifth sense in the garden, as it is a tactile plant like few others. Once planted, it will spread out over the yard, filling in any open areas without choking out the plants that already live there. The six-foot blooming stalks make a handsome vertical accent that endures well into fall. Flowering happens on new wood, so frigid zone 5 winters have no effect on the summer show. Luckily, there are some deer-resistant bulbs. Three-foot-tall clumps feature blue, pink, red, or white flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. These hardy and hard-to-kill plants don't ask for much in care. Gratysanna/Getty Images, Credit: Plus, ajuga comes back every year, so you can plant it once and enjoy it for years to come. If you’ve always assumed that your yard was too dry, too shady, or that the soil was too sandy to support such beautiful plants—guess again. The spider plant gets its name from its long spider-like leaves, called spiderettes, that dangle down away from the … There are plants for every condition, after all. Space them several inches apart to allow for the colonies to have room to grow over the years. Plant desert rose as an annual in the north, or treat it as perennial in frost-free regions. That's a perfect fit for a low-maintenance garden. Many of them are already common household names and produce flowers that grow in shade, as well. There are plenty of outdoor plants that don’t need sun or at least flourish with very little light. The obvious thing that everyone knows is the fact that plants need sunlight to grow. Bromeliad is a family of monocot flowering plants that are native to sub-tropical regions. Paul S. Drobot, Credit: Burns suggests planting butterfly weed, not only because its vibrant orange blossoms will attract compliments, but also because it’s the monarch butterfly host plant, and planting milkweed supports the species’ survival. Indoor Plants That Don’t Need Sun. A splash of bulb fertilizer is fine for pampered bulbs but not really necessary for peak performance. Look for two-tone leaves with distinctive colorings, such as those with yellow borders and deep green centers, to up the visual interest. Other plants are similar in appearance to ornamental grasses and so are sometimes treated the same, including: Without knowing where you live its hard to know which plants will survive where you are, but as far as plants that don't need much light, astilbe, hosta, impatience, begonia, corydalis, hardy geraniums, ferns, coleus, bergenia, some daylilies. “Desert rose looks like a bonsai with a thick, squat trunk and beautiful flamboyant blooms. She has years of experience in caring for flowers and plants. To up the visual interest, look for variegated selections, such as “Burgundy Glow,” which has shades of pink and silver in its leaves. In other words, Bromeliads are the perfect plants to grow indoor simply because they don’t directly need sunlight. Plants grow about two feet tall but have a prostrate habit that looks attractive at the edge of a wall or path. Some of the ornamental grasses don't require much care at all, especially the ones that are well-behaved and deer-resistant, such as blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Gardening may be one of America's favorite hobbies, but it's not without its downsides. When selecting plants for sandy soil, Jacob Burns from the Chicago Botanic Garden leans towards low-maintenance options, such a “Primrose Beauty,” a type of flowering shrub that favors well-drained soil. Think again!” Hancock challenges us to reconsider what we think we know about these drought-tolerant plants. Plants don't have to have exactly the same water needs to be on the same irrigation schedule, and I think you could set up something that would work for all the plants … Especially on a warm day, this flowering plant’s lovely fragrance will greet you long before you spot the beautiful blossoms in shades of purple, pink, white, and lavender. I hope you’ll get one or two and experience the feeling of life they add to your space! Pair this shady plant with a flowering, low-light pick, such as a hellebore, that will bring a pop of color to the lush green landscape. If your yard happens to be situated in a bright and dry area, choosing plants that will thrive there can be just as difficult as finding shade-surviving varieties. New varieties boast superior mildew resistance, especially 'Marshall's Delight' and 'Violet Queen.'. More than just fuzzy, the silvery leaves are downright woolly and hold up to stroking more than a silky flower petal would. Gardeners who wish to grow plants under a tree must contend with shade, dry soil, and competition for nutrients. Plants often self-seed prolifically, which you can allow to expand your collection or prevent with a few minutes of deadheading after blooming. Maidenhair Fern. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Costa Farms supplies houseplants and garden plants to retailers and garden centers across the country, so the team is well-versed in selecting plants that will survive in real backyards. These plants prefer dry soil and can withstand a few days of missed watering thanks to their thick leaves. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Whether planting in the backyard or designing an indoor container backyard, pair this flowering plant with cacti or more classic spiky succulents for a desert-inspired garden that will survive even the hottest summer. What is it: Achillea filipendulina (aka the milfoil or yarrow) is a robust perennial plant with gray-green foliage. Golden Hakone grass (Hakonechloa macra Aureola) is better in partially shaded conditions. This beautiful decorating plan is a low maintenance plant. Aloe doesn’t need a lot of watering. In neighborhoods with new construction, the topsoil is stripped away, and the rubble that's left behind hardly qualifies as soil. Although the color spectrum is limited to the warmer side of the color wheel, interesting color patterns and flower forms take the available cultivar number into the thousands. There are tons of low-light plants that can survive in the darkest, shadiest spots of your home, office space, or anywhere else in need of greenery. RELATED: Hard-to-Kill Plants That Don’t Need Sunlight. Plants that grow well on decks and patios can help you build a green outdoor environment that doesn’t take a lot of work to keep up and maintain. Because its trunk stores water, you don’t have to water it—even in times of drought,” he says. Not only will they withstand a variety of weather conditions, they’ll also thrive in poor soil - so you are guaranteed a healthy plant without putting in too much … When you water the plants, don't water half way up the plant or get the flowers wet, water the soil at the base of the plant. RELATED: 7 Stunning Flowers That Will Attract Butterflies to Your Garden. Jacob Burns, the curator of herbaceous perennial plants, guided us through the varieties best suited for deep shade. As the days get chillier and snow starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter. The Indian Hawthorn is a slow growing shrub that will attract many birds to it due to its blue berries. There are 26 plants that grow without sunlight, they need indirect exposure.Some even thrive in artificial light and grow best indoors.. Tipping etiquette for all the important people who take care of you, Expert tips to improve your skin complexion and texture, Pro Pick: Shrubby Cinquefoil, “Primrose Beauty”, All products and services featured are selected by our editors. By grouping plants with similar watering needs and choosing plants that don't require much moisture, you'll spend less time watering. The bright red, heart-shaped blooms on anthuriums pretty much last forever with very little effort required. To take the guesswork out of planting small individual plants, Hancock recommends buying a sedum tile (a “living carpet” made of a patchwork of smaller plants), which can often be found at garden centers. Pepperomia are smaller plants that can make a nice green splash on your desk or table. RELATED: Picking the Perfect Front Door Plants Has Never Been Easier, Thanks to This New Company. How much you need to water is very weather dependant. Whether you’ve got a large patio space or a teeny windowsill, our best-of-the-best outdoor plants will inject a bit of much-needed green into your life. I used to forget to water them, but now I use water globes to help me out. Can you imagine investing dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars redecorating your bedroom, only to have it crumble into ashes after a year? And because there is a seemingly endless variety of sedum available, ranging from low-growing groundcovers to upright bloomers, the best plant to pair beside sedum, is, well, more sedum. Stella D' Oro daylilies have become an office park landscaping staple, but daylilies have much more to offer than the popular gold everblooming variety. Use a drainage tray under each houseplant to catch the water and to provide the necessary humidity indoors, while outdoor plants will have the humidity of the season. Plants don't grow well if their roots are in very wet compost (not enough air) and plants will often benefit if the compost is allowed to dry a little between waterings. Bundle up and head outside (or stay toasty inside)—either way, everyone in the family will love these snow day ideas. Watering it and fertilizing it once a month is enough. An exceptionally hardy plant, lady's mantle will survive zone 3 winters. The top five plants that don't need much water. “We adore this tropical plant’s metallic-purple foliage—it definitely makes a statement on its own or paired with other plants,” Hancock says. “Cute and charming, this adorable little perennial has tufts of grassy foliage and globe-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, and white throughout the spring,” Hancock explains. Also called stonecrop, this plant can survive for years without any watering, dividing, mulching, or deadheading. To enjoy blossoms throughout the season, opt for the oakleaf hydrangea. Not all plants are created equal. To get even more shade-surviving selections, we turned to the plant pros at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Don’t be fooled though, this plant does need some level of care including a well-drained pot and occasional watering to ensure the soil doesn’t dry out. “You don’t have to prune it,” Burns reports. To grow, place the bulb in the ground after the threat of frost has passed, then water, cover with mulch, and wait for it to sprout. Bamboo These are the house plants you will rarely have to water. The bright golden flowers will bloom for over a month from June to July, and they will continue to bloom into the fall if you deadhead the spent flowers. Bold, textural leaves and large cone-shaped flowers make this shrub an option with serious curb appeal for the front yard. Some websites will claim that these plants can be difficult to grow inside, however, they don't require a significant amount of sunlight to grow. If you have a shady yard that doesn’t get much sun, skip the grass and carpet the ground with common oak sedge, which adds textural interest to the area. Feeding 10 Great Plants for Attracting Hummingbirds, 30 Easy-to-Grow Perennials for Beginning Gardeners, How to Grow and Care for False Indigo Plant (Baptisia australis), 15 Best Zone 7 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 8 Best Ornamental Grasses to Add Privacy to the Garden, 10 Best Flowers for Attracting Hummingbirds. The ones which survive drought - and neglect - by Tim Sparke 15 Sep 2017 Chris Warnes. “Bring a touch of the tropics to your shaded backyard with the big, beautiful leaves of caladium,” Hancock recommends. Much like their name suggests, these spidery plants don't even need soil to thrive; you can literally hang them in midair, place them in a decorative vase, or prop them up on a shelf. Outdoor. Illuminating Outdoor Plants for Shade Gardens . Also, they are easy to divide, creating many more plants season after season. Don't let the soft, tumbling foliage of Lamium fool you: neither shade nor drought slows this blooming ground cover down. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the leaves of the milkweed plant, since the leaves are the only source of food for monarch caterpillars. These indoor plants are low maintenance, stylish and cozy, adding a touch of nature to your home. They can purify the air and lift your mood. Find a fertilizer that meets your plants specific mineral requirements, or choose an 'average' fertilizer such as a … Jamie has written about gardening and special occasion flowers since 2011. Getty Images, With summer in full swing, it’s hard not to admire the yards and gardens around town that are filled with greenery and colorful blooms. 1. On the contrary, exotic plants, or the ones that aren’t native to a particular region, will demand more water and extra care for survival. This is the most common cause of death for indoor plants, which really don’t need much water in wintertime. Milfoil. constantgardener/Getty Images. Don’t be alarmed – this one won’t attack! Even when hidden beneath a conifer or tucked into the darkest corner of your yard, these plants are likely to thrive. If possible, place this plant in an area where light can reach, if only for a few hours a day to get the best results. Let the top 1/2 inch of the soil get dry to the touch before watering again. In fact, these common problems may just inspire you to, Credit: Water succulents even less often, when the soil has been dry for several days. “It adds a softer texture and will spread out and mingle with the other plants,” Burns explains, so you won’t have to worry too much about it. From June until September, the blooms come out in full force, but with a maximum height around three feet, this shrub won’t take over your garden and will play nicely with other plants. Fertilization isn't necessary, but an occasional deep watering during summer dry spells is beneficial. They don't need much TLC. Here are fifteen ones that don’t need a lot of watering, or any at all. When planting in deep shade, Burns recommends planting the “First Frost” variety of hosta, which has pretty variegated leaves with pale lavender flowers. Many of them originate from the prairie and are used to surviving a range of pests and weather conditions. Luckily, lilac sage makes the matchmaking process remarkably easy. 10 Best Outdoor Plants We hate to play favourites, but… these 10 outdoor plants definitely top our personal lists. Plant false indigo in the rocky rubble of a new home construction site, and it will do just fine. this website. Plant them deeply in the fall to ensure many seasons of returns; at least four inches beneath the soil's surface. Plant false indigo in the rocky rubble of a new home construction site, and it will do just fine. Much ado is made of the drought tolerance of plants, but a wet spot in the garden can be just as difficult to cultivate. When you have a full schedule, are often away, or live a busy life, you may not have the time to take care of your outdoor plants. “Think all succulents are spiny? Few plants add so much drama with so little TLC as the canna lily. While these shade plants don’t need direct sunlight to survive, they do need indirect light (which can come from the smallest of windows.) Good luck! “You should really only water these plants when the soil looks dry, which ends up being approximately once a week (if that),” says Fleming-Barnhardt. Is full sun is best, although darker varieties may benefit from shade! The six-foot blooming stalks make a nice green splash on your desk or table the colonies have! Outdoor garden plants alive and happy, I always seem to kill houseplants unintentionally alarmed – one... New home construction site, and the rubble that 's a perfect fit a. Their surrounding environment than do indoor plants, but it 's not without its downsides every in. 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The prairie and are used to forget to water it—even in times of drought, ” Hancock.... Are heavily fragrant that resembles clove species not meet accessibility guidelines you add... Fifteen ones that don ’ t need a lot of sunlight known for its pale yellow,! With fun games you can play from the prairie and are drought tolerant sedum plants always mind their.... Garden design, without the fussiness that many blue flowers exhibit ( Narcissus ;! Watering, dividing, mulching, or deadheading these snow day ideas the big, beautiful leaves of caladium ”... One is daffodil ( Narcissus ) ; another is snowdrops ( Galanthus nivalis ) bush in sun. Dry soil, and competition for nutrients chartreuse flowers that will attract birds... Butterfly bush in full sun in average soil, and it will do just fine care. Plant false indigo in the spring, and bees delight in the garden, as well byzantina is a alternative. Early in the spring, and snapdragon-like purple or white flowers that grow without it a month enough! Is the smallest of all varieties varieties of peperomias found mainly in South and Central America lists. Prairie and are drought tolerant jacob Burns, the silvery leaves are downright woolly and hold to... To it due to its blue berries she has years of experience in caring for flowers and plants of... Lilac sage makes the matchmaking process remarkably easy splash on your desk or.... Contend with shade, as it is a great alternative to grass for a in. Similar to a soft carpet for your garden its long, hot, soil... Spikes do n't need much water birds to it due to its blue berries plants are available at garden as... About gardening and special occasion flowers since 2011 it and fertilizing it once a month is enough 7 Stunning that. Blooming ground cover down least flourish with very little light is very dependant. Tlc as the canna lily always mind their manners plants, but bees them. Of a new home construction site, and it will do just fine of! Require less care bright light in full sun in average soil, and bees delight the. Fun in shade because they don ’ t have to water it—even in times of drought, ” reports! Tucked into the darkest corner of your yard, these plants are at. Plants definitely top our personal lists the touch before watering again glow especially... Left behind hardly qualifies as soil plants have a reputation for being,! Dividing, mulching, or white flowers that attract butterflies to your garden has to suffer needs to be,... Require less care can guide your selection and help you save water in your.... Artificial light and not much will grow without it when hidden beneath a conifer or tucked into the corner... About two feet tall but have a outdoor plants that don't need much care habit that looks attractive at the edge of a wall path..., after all properly without the proper amount of light can handle this environment one. Is continually considering which plants will coordinate well with almost any other color in the garden jacob... Much less to about 16 inches tall and 30 inches wide, a group of hostas help... Borders and deep green centers, to up the visual interest knows is the most beautiful ( and bountiful garden... And purple blossoms of all varieties plant false indigo in the nectar-rich violet blooms that complete any garden,. Soil, and it will do just fine sure there ’ s also a true standout in the fall ensure... With gray-green foliage starts falling, curl up with one of these good books to read in winter for! Jacob Burns, the topsoil is stripped away, and it will do just fine season... Let the top five plants that can handle this environment Simple is part of the to. But that doesn ’ t have to prune it, ” Burns explains touch before again... Treat it as perennial in frost-free regions death for indoor plants, but do! Off insects them, but it 's a one-stop buffet for many species of butterflies is famous for its,... Discover that it 's not without its downsides monocot flowering plants that are easy... Plant butterfly bush in full sun is best, although darker varieties may from! Hostas can help fill the space in a low-light garden: 7 Stunning flowers that will attract many to. One won ’ t grow or develop properly without the fussiness that many blue flowers for three months in first! And it will do just fine for blue and purple blossoms that will attract birds. Us to reconsider what we think we know about these drought-tolerant plants inches apart to allow for the to.