32 Low-Maintenance Perennial Flowers to Spruce Up Your Garden
These hardy plants require little care and provide years—even decades—of beauty.
Picture tulips lining the walkway, fragrant sage in the garden and rose bushes in the backyard that will continue to bloom year after year. Unlike annual flowers (plants that complete their life cycle in a single year), perennials establish deep root systems that are resilient to challenging weather conditions. While some flowers, like tulips, may return for only a few years, others (think peonies and hydrangeas) will pop up for decades, possibly even a century.
To help you grow a low-maintenance garden, we've rounded up the best perennial plants, complete with zone requirements, sunlight needs, ideal soil conditions, and average bloom times. When choosing a perennial, these factors are key—remember full sun means six or more hours of direct sun, partial sun is between 3 and 4 hours, and full shade receives minimal direct sun.
Most perennials have a relatively short bloom season, which ranges from a few days to a few weeks. If you grow perennials from seeds, the long-living blooms may take a few years to fully establish. That's why we recommend planting a mix of perennials and annuals to guarantee a flowering garden. A combination is ideal for a thriving garden—perennials act as the anchor of a garden design, while annuals (like summer flowers and fall foliage) do a beautiful job filling in the gaps.
Whether it's a small garden or expansive lawn, we've included easy-to-grow flowers in nearly every shade—from dainty white petals to deep purple spheres.
Russian Sage (Salvia Yangii)
This woody shrub has a weeping effect: It starts growing tall, but then falls over due to the weight of the long panicles of flowers. The pale blue flowers transform into a bright, cyan-blue throughout summer. Though the sun-loving plant has a sage-like aroma, the blooms are not edible.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Tolerates a variety of well-draining soils
Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall
RELATED: Plants That Will Attract Hummingbirds to Your Home Garden
Helenium Autumnale (Sneezeweed)
With sunny yellow, orange, and red flowers, this hardy perennial thrives in full sun and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Despite its name, the blooms shouldn't impact your allergies—the dried leaves and flowers were historically used by Native Americans to create a snuff.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Moist, acidic soil
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Platycodon (Balloon Flower)
Platycodon are an herbaceous flowering perennial that can thrive for decades in the right conditions (they prefer full sun and a hardiness zone between 3 and 8). They're nicknamed the balloon flower because of their puffy, round buds that turn into star-shaped flowers every summer.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Sunlight: Full sun, but can tolerate partial shade
Soil needs: Well-drained, loamy soil
Bloom time: Summer
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
This hardy ground cover plant pops up in shades of green, amber, burgundy, and more. In late spring to early summer, its small, bell-shaped flowers attract pollinators and hummingbirds. The colorful foliage works well as a border in woodlands or rock gardens.
Hardiness zones: 4-8
Sunlight: Full sun or part shade
Soil needs: Rich, well-draining soil
Bloom time: Spring to summer
Daffodils
Just when you're wishing winter away, these gorgeous yellow flowers begin to bloom. Aside from their cheerful color, daffodils provide nectar for bees and other early-season pollinators. Daffodils are known to multiply quickly and return to bloom each spring with little effort. They prefer sun, but can tolerate partial shade and they're not fussy about soil.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Soil needs: Loose, loamy soil that is slightly acidic
Bloom time: Late winter to early spring
Roses
A symbol of love, beauty, and romance, roses come in many varieties—like English roses, grandiflora roses, and garden roses. Rose bushes come back every year, but keep in mind that every rose variety may prefer slightly different conditions.
Hardiness zones: 5-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Loam soil
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn
RELATED: 85 Flower Meanings That Will Take Your Bouquet to the Next Level
Lupines
Lupines are frequently spotted in the wild, but you can also grow these spiky flowers in your garden at home. Throughout their short life—typically 3 to 4 seasons—stems can grow up to five feet tall, complete with red, white, yellow, pink, or purple blooms that resemble pea flowers.
Hardiness zones: 4-7
Sunlight: Full to partial sun
Soil needs: Well-draining, slightly acidic soil
Bloom time: Spring to summer
Allium
Believe it or not, these purple pom-pom flowers are actually a part of the onion family. Once planted, they can be left untouched for years, especially since rodents, deer, and pests tend to avoid them. Their skinny stems rise to 30 inches in height, making them stand out against ground covers and low-growing varieties.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Well-draining, slightly acidic soil
Bloom time: Summer to fall
Rudbeckia Hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)
Known for its deep yellow petals and dark brown center, the black-eyed Susan is popular for its long bloom period (flowers often last until the first frost). The perennial thrives in full sun, but can tolerate partial sun. They are deer resistant, yet attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Any soil that is well-draining
Bloom time: Early summer to winter
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas—a favorite among gardeners—have flowers that vary between pink, lavender, and blue, depending on the soil pH. Hydrangea shrubs have a longer blooming season, typically from late spring through early fall. To ensure that they live a full life (50 years!), plant them in spring after the last spring frost or in fall before the first fall frost.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Sunlight: Partial sun
Soil needs: Acidic, well-drained soil
Bloom time: Late spring to fall
RELATED: Best Fall Flowers to Transform Your Garden Into an Autumn Paradise
Bearded Iris
There are about 300 iris species, but the bearded iris is among the most popular. The striking blooms, which can range from deep purple and blue to yellow and white, prefer full sun and well-drained soil to thrive, but require minimal watering. The iris flower is a favorite among pollinators, especially bees that are drawn to its vibrant petals.
Hardiness zones: 3-10
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Achillea (Yarrow)
This hardy and versatile perennial is as carefree as it gets: Yarrow is pest-resistant, quick to spread, and a major pollinator. Since it grows quickly, use it as ground cover or to fill large spaces. Once the red, yellow, pink, or white flowers bloom, cut them (a.k.a. deadhead) when their color starts to fade to encourage more flower growth.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Any soil that is well-draining
Bloom time: Summer
Lavender
Lavender's fragrant blooms add vibrant color to any garden. Not to mention, the strong scent deters pests like mosquitoes, moths, and flies, making it a natural insect repellent. It grows especially well in areas with hot temperatures and little rain, making it a great addition for extreme climates.
Hardiness zones: 5-9
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Alkaline-rich, well-drained and sandy soil
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Astereae (Asters)
The star-shaped flower heads may give off the same look as daisies, but they're an entirely different type of perennial. The plants, which can grow anywhere from eight inches to eight feet in height, come to life in late summer, giving bees and butterflies an important late-season pollen supply.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Well-drained, loamy soil
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Monarda Didyma (Bee Balms)
This easy-to-grow plant has strong stems, large leaves, and bright flowers in shades of berry red, pink, and purple. Use them to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. The sun-loving plant requires a lot of water and the foliage can be cut back after flowering to encourage growth. Added bonus? When crushed, the flowers release a spicy fragrance that's perfect for tea.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Sunlight: Full or half sun
Soil needs: Rich, moisture-retaining soil
Bloom time: Early summer to early fall
Tulips
Not only are tulips possibly one of the easiest perennial flowers to grow, they're one of the most colorful. The elegant flower blooms in shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, and orange. Plant bulbs in the fall and you should see blooms by early spring. The only downside? Tulips may only come back for a few years before you need to plant new bulbs.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
Sunlight: Partial or full sun
Soil needs: Loose, well-draining soil with a neutral pH
Bloom time: Early spring
Solidago (Goldenrod)
Add some contrast to the grasses and greens in your garden with golden-yellow spikes. Some consider Goldenrod a weed—and that's because it grows quickly and can overtake your garden if not treated with care.
Hardiness zones: 2-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Any soil with decent drainage
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Peonies
One of the most common perennials, peonies make elegant cut flowers. The beautiful blooms come back every year and have been known to live for up to 100 years (yes, that means they may outlive you). They have a sweet scent and large, beautiful flowers that are most commonly pink but can also be white, red, orange, or yellow.
Hardiness zones: 2-8
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Digitalis Dalmatian (Foxglove)
Defined by its tall stems and bell-shaped blooms, the Foxglove comes in a few color variations: white, pink, red, yellow, and shades of purple. The short-lived perennials are ideal for pollinators, tolerate shade well, and attract hummingbirds, all while resisting rabbits and deer. If you're lucky, you'll have blooms in the first year, but most likely in the second.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
Soil needs: Well-draining, loamy soil
Bloom time: Early to mid-summer
Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
If your neighborhood deer nibble on everything in sight, consider planting a patch of Shasta Daisies. Along with being deer and rabbit-resistant, these short-lived perennials grow in clumps, filling up any empty spots with bright bursts of white and yellow. Bonus: You can cut the flowers at the stem for an instant vase filler or centerpiece, and they'll regrow in no time.
Hardiness zones: 5-8
Sunlight: Full sun, but tolerates some shade
Soil needs: Well-draining soil
Bloom time: Late spring to fall
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
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