I have always been drawn to the magic of a colorful garden. My mamaw always had the most beautiful flower beds and I couldn’t wait to grow up and have one of my own. Fast forward to my first home and yikes… the green thumb gene had not been passed down to me. I killed everything. I read every guide, heeded all of my mamaw’s advice, watered… and tended… and weeded… and cared and yet, death to all my poor unsuspecting plants.
So I changed my approach and instead of looking for the prettiest flowers in existence, I started to look for the strongest. Now, dear friend, I share what I’ve learned with you, a fellow plant murderer. Don’t worry, you can’t hurt these lovely little survivors.
Hens and Chicks
My favorite little buddies! These cutie pies prefer well-draining rocky soil but have survived and even thrived when I put them in clay soil (because I can’t follow directions). They don’t need a lot of water and will do fine without it, but they do grow big and plump with the right amount. They like the sun but you can ignore them for months and they will be fine. I even leave mine outside throughout winter (in Kentucky) and the little boogers green back up in the spring. These also repopulate like crazy (hence the name) making a super easy gift for friends. All you need is to put one of the offspring into a cheap pot and BOOM! The perfect gift for anyone – a little baby from your garden.
Hosta
These little introverts don’t like a lot of attention. I forget I even have them and they grow bigger and more beautiful every year. They are actually the only plants in my garden that I walk past when I’m watering… not because they don’t need water but because if I get too tired by the time I’ve watered everything else, they will be just fine. They are not super into the sun but as long as you don’t put them in the hottest part of your yard, you’re good.
Asiatic Lily
Yet another plant in my garden that receives VERY little care and still loves me anyway… I mean, I assume it does because it comes back every year and brings new friends along with it. It’s a sunbather and does need water of course. With that being said, unless you’re in a month long drought, rain should suffice.
Sun Sparkler Sedum
These beautiful buddies add that pop of color you need in your bed and add a nice contrast from all the green. It’s a sunbather, so plop it in the ground in a sunny place and forget it exists… it’s not going anywhere.
Day Lily
These things are so tough they could almost be a weed. They will come back year after year as long as they are in a spot where they get a lot of sun. The rain can water them so you don’t have to. Heads up though, depending on the type of daylily, these suckers can grow up to 6 feet tall!
Himalayan Skies
Another beautiful sedum. Really you can’t go wrong with stonecrop, sedum, or succulents. They are so hardy and easy to keep alive. Plus they are adorable and unique! This plant is another little sun lover so this guy needs some rays. He, like all our favorite low maintenance plants, can survive off the rain as long as you’re not going more than a week without a drop.
Iris
These flowers appreciate a good day of sunning and will spread like mad. I actually prefer to keep mine in very large pots to contain the spread but it really just depends on the space you’d like to put them. You may want to consider their potential height though, these beauties can grow to be several feet tall which is great if you place them along a brick wall or other blank space. Several plant sites advise watering your iris at least once a week and to me, that translates to “let the rain take care of it.”
Shasta Daisy
This simple little daisy is also drought tolerant. AKA, rain takes care of it. They’re not picky about how much sun they get but for the best and most dazzling blooming experience, full sun is best. After you plant them, prepare to see them spread year after year in places you never expected.
Aloe
Oh the magical aloe plant! With great healing properties, choosing this plant for your garden is a no brainer. Aloe can soothe burns and rashes and some say its moisturizing properties can even prevent wrinkles. Added bonus, it will only need watering like once or twice a month. Aloe is not super picky about its sunlight intake, just don’t assume it’s like a cactus and wants to bake in a level 10 uv index. It wants sun, not an oven. Mature aloe plants will produce lots of “pups” so just like the Hens and Chicks, they make for great gifts when repotting. Would be an excellent gift idea for your little duckling’s teachers.
Dragon’s Blood Sedum
Similar to the Sunsparkler, this plant is super low maintenance, adds a lovely reddish color contrast to all the green, and loves the sun! Don’t worry though, he’s not temperamental. He’ll chill in the shade too.
English Ivy
Just like most of the other plants listed here, english ivy likes the sun but as I mentioned with Aloe, that doesn’t mean it wants to bake. If you live in a place that gets scorching try to find a little shade for our wandering friend. I have english ivy growing up my house that I didn’t plant and don’t tend to. My husband thought it was a weed and ripped it all off and the little sucker came back stronger than ever. I’ve never tended to it, not even once, and yet… it grows.
Autumn Joy
A new friend to my garden that I’m still learning about. The leaves of this plant almost look like cabbage but they surprisingly grow beautiful flowers from August to November. They are drought resistant so you don’t have to worry about watering them. They do prefer the sun but they won’t die if they get too much shade.
String of Pearls
With a super sweet name, this plant is an excellent choice if you’re into succulents. I think it kind of looks like a string of peas but that’s definitely not as appealing. This is a great plant for growing indoors or placing outside in indirect sunlight. I always prefer to keep my plants outside for 2 big reasons. 1. Because if not my kids will play in the potting soil and 2. So the rain can water them and I don’t have to. This plant will also follow the “let the rain do it” mentality. These little trailing plants are great for ground cover as their strings can reach 3 feet long.
All in all, we love a low maintenance plant friend and all 13 of these choices will survive and thrive without you having to lift a finger. Pop them in the ground and love them up close or from afar. Nature’s little survivors – these guys will bring life and color to your garden without bringing sweat to your brow.
