Houseplants - Smart Garden Advice

AeoniumAeoniumHand it bright light, gritty soil, and a dry summer rest, and this winter grower stays plump and firm.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

African DaisyOsteospermum ecklonisHand it full sun, soil that drains, and cool weather, and the African daisy just keeps cranking out blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

African SpearDracaena angolensisHand it bright light and a dry pot between drinks, and honestly, the African spear pretty much runs itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy

African VioletStreptocarpus ionanthusHand it bright indirect light and a warm drink from the bottom, and you'll get African violet flowers nearly all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

AgaveAgave americanaHand it full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, mostly forget the watering can, and agave honestly thrives on neglect.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

AgeratumAgeratum houstonianumFloss flower keeps the soft blue coming from late spring to frost, all for full sun and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Air PlantTillandsiaNo pot, no soil, no stress. Hand an air plant bright light and a weekly soak and it'll take it from there.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

AlfalfaMedicago sativaNail the soil and pH first, and this taprooted legume just keeps giving you cuttings for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

AlmondPrunus dulcisHand it full sun, deep well-drained soil, and a frost-free bloom, and your almond will pay you back with years of nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicDemanding

Alocasia 'Polly'Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'Hand it warmth, humidity, and bright indirect light, and the African mask plant pays you back with bold arrowhead leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Alocasia ZebrinaAlocasia zebrinaThose zebra-striped stems lift arrow-shaped leaves up high, and honestly the whole thing looks like living sculpture.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Aloe VeraAloe veraHand it bright light, gritty soil, and a good dry spell between drinks, and aloe pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

AmaranthAmaranthus caudatusHand it full sun and warm soil, and you'll be rewarded with trailing tassels right through the warm months.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

AmaryllisHippeastrum hybridumPot the bulb, give it warmth and water, and that bare lump turns into a tall stalk of trumpet flowers in just weeks.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

American BasswoodTilia americanaA big, easygoing shade tree loaded with fragrant summer flowers the bees can't get enough of.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

American BeechFagus grandifoliaHand it rich, acidic, moist soil and plenty of room to spread, and the American beech turns into a shade tree your great-grandkids will know.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

American ElmUlmus americanaA fast-growing vase-shaped shade tree that nearly went extinct and bounced back in resistant form.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

American HornbeamCarpinus carolinianaGive it moist soil and a bit of shade, and this tough, slow-growing native will hold its shape for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

American Pitcher PlantSarraceniaHand it full sun, rain-pure water, and a chilly winter break, and the pitcher plant will go catch its own supper.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

American Smoketree (Tree Form)Cotinus obovatusGive it poor, dry soil and full sun, and this tree puts on a hazy summer smoke show and a knockout fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

American SycamorePlatanus occidentalisHand it room and moist ground, and the American sycamore turns into one of the biggest shade trees in the East.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Angel Wing BegoniaBegonia coccineaHand it bright light and a regular pinch, and the angel wing begonia gives back silver-spotted leaves and dangling red flowers.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

AngeloniaAngelonia angustifoliaHand it full sun and heat, and angelonia just keeps throwing up spires of bloom from summer to fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

AnisePimpinella anisumSow it once, leave that taproot undisturbed, and anise pays you back with fragrant seed after a long warm summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Annual RyegrassLolium multiflorumSow it in fall and annual ryegrass gives you fast cover, hungry roots, and a stand that mostly bows out by spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Annual VincaCatharanthus roseusHand it heat, full sun, and soil that stays dry-ish, and annual vinca keeps blooming from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

AnthuriumAnthurium andraeanumHand it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and the anthurium will keep those glossy spathes coming for months.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

AppleMalus domesticaGive it full sun, a pollination partner, and a yearly prune, and an apple tree feeds you for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

ApricotPrunus armeniacaHand it full sun, sharp drainage, and shelter from late frost, and an apricot tree pays you back with sweet golden fruit by early summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Areca PalmDypsis lutescensGive it bright indirect light, clean water, and humid air, and the areca palm turns any empty corner into soft, feathery green.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Arrowhead PlantSyngonium podophyllumIt's easygoing and quick to fill out, and the arrowhead plant will climb or trail wherever you point it, as long as it gets bright indirect light.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumAn easygoing native shrub that gives you spring flowers, blue-black berries, and fiery fall color without much fuss at all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ArugulaEruca vesicaria subsp. sativaGet it in the ground during cool weather and you'll be snipping peppery leaves in roughly a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

Asian PearPyrus pyrifoliaHand it full sun, a pollinator partner, and an open frame, and the Asian pear gives back crisp, juicy fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Asiatic JasmineTrachelospermum asiaticumTough, glossy, and happy in sun or deep shade, Asiatic jasmine carpets the ground and asks for next to nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Asiatic LilyLiliumTuck the bulbs in once and Asiatic lilies keep handing you the first big blooms of summer, year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

AsparagusAsparagus officinalisPlant it just the once, and a happy asparagus bed feeds you every spring for 15 to 20 years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Asparagus FernAsparagus aethiopicusSoft, feathery, and tough to kill as long as you don't leave it swimming.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–10 daysToxicEasy

AsterSymphyotrichumGive it full sun and well-drained soil, and the aster keeps your garden's color going right into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

AstilbeAstilbe × arendsiiHand it shade and soil that stays damp, and astilbe brightens those dim corners with feathery plumes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Autumn CrocusColchicum autumnaleIt sends up bare lilac-pink blooms come fall, yet every part hides deadly colchicine.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Autumn FernDryopteris erythrosoraPop it into moist shade and the autumn fern lights up the season with copper-red new fronds.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

AvocadoPersea americanaHand it full sun, sharp drainage, and shelter from frost, and an avocado will shade your yard for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

AzaleaRhododendronGive it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady moisture, and the azalea pays you back with a spring that's tough to look away from.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Baby Rubber PlantPeperomia obtusifoliaBright indirect light plus a proper dry-out between drinks? That's honestly about all this easygoing peperomia ever asks for.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Baby ToesFenestraria rhopalophyllaHand it bright light and barely any water, and this little bunch of window-tipped toes is good to go.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

BacopaSutera cordataKeep it steadily watered in sun or light shade, and bacopa pours out white bloom from summer all the way to frost.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

BahiagrassPaspalum notatumTough, drought-proof, and happy in poor sandy soil, bahiagrass holds ground where finer lawns give up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bald CypressTaxodium distichumA swamp native that just brushes off flood, drought, and city soil and goes rust-orange every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Balloon FlowerPlatycodon grandiflorusTuck it into full sun and sharp drainage just once, and those puffed-up buds keep popping open every summer for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bamboo PalmChamaedorea seifriziiHand it bright indirect light and clean water, and the bamboo palm turns a quiet corner into soft, feathery green.☀️ Medium indirectPet & child safeEasy

BananaMusa acuminataHand it warmth, rich soil, and steady water, and this giant herb just keeps throwing up new stems year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Barrel CactusFerocactus wislizeniGive it full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, water it once in a blue moon, and this desert barrel will stick around for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasy

Barren StrawberryWaldsteinia ternataA tough little yellow-flowered mat that blankets dry shade where almost nothing else will take hold.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

BarrenwortEpimedium grandiflorumTough, deer-proof, and happy in dry shade, barrenwort covers the spots where pretty much nothing else will grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BasilOcimum basilicumHand it sun, warmth, and a steady pinch, and you'll have fresh basil for the kitchen all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bay LaurelLaurus nobilisSlow-growing and evergreen, bay laurel turns one little tree into fresh kitchen leaves for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Bearded IrisIris germanicaSet the rhizome shallow in full sun, keep it lean and dry, and your bearded iris just keeps coming back every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BeardtonguePenstemon digitalisGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and this tough native throws up white spikes the bees can't get enough of.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BeautybushKolkwitzia amabilisAn easygoing, arching shrub that drapes itself in pink, bell-shaped flowers every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bee BalmMonarda didymaGive it full sun, moist soil, and room to breathe, and bee balm pulls in bees and hummingbirds all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BeetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisPop the seed straight in the ground, thin it early, and pick it young, and you'll get sweet roots plus a bonus of edible greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bell PepperCapsicum annuumWarm ground, steady water, and a sunny spot? That's honestly all a bell pepper asks before it starts filling dinner bowls all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BellflowerCampanula persicifoliaGive it cool weather, sun, and well-drained soil, and the bellflower rings out blue bells every summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bells of IrelandMoluccella laevisTall green spires of bell-shaped calyces that love cool weather and dry beautifully for the vase.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Bermuda GrassCynodon dactylonTough, sun-loving, and fast to fill in, bermuda grass gives you a hard-wearing lawn that shrugs off heat and foot traffic.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BidensBidens ferulifoliaPop it into full sun and average soil, and bidens keeps pumping out golden flowers from spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Big BluestemAndropogon gerardiiHand it full sun and lean soil, and this towering native grass stays standing from summer right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginaeHand it all the sun you've got and give it a few patient years, and the crane flower pays you back with one of the most striking blooms you can grow indoors.☀️ Full sunToxicModerate

Bird's Nest FernAsplenium nidusGive it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and this shade-loving fern keeps unfurling glossy fronds for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–9 daysPet & child safeModerate

Black ChokeberryAronia melanocarpaTough as nails, happy in the cold, and edible from its spring flower to its winter berry, chokeberry barely asks a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black LocustRobinia pseudoacaciaA fast, hardy tree with a wild streak and a toxic side☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy

Black Mondo GrassOphiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'Few plants get this close to true black, and a little sun is all it takes to keep the leaves darkest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black Velvet Elephant EarAlocasia reginula 'Black Velvet'A tiny jewel alocasia showing off velvety black leaves laced with silver veins, happiest with an attentive owner.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirtaPlant it once in full sun, and this golden daisy just keeps seeding itself back every year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black-eyed Susan VineThunbergia alataHand it full sun, steady water, and something to climb, and this twining annual keeps flowering from summer right through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black-gold PhilodendronPhilodendron melanochrysumGive it warm, humid air and a pole to climb, and this velvet-leaved philodendron rolls out deep, glittering foliage.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

BlackberryRubus fruticosusHand it full sun and room to ramble, and a blackberry will load you up with fruit for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BladderwortUtriculariaPure water, lean soil, and bright light: this tiny carnivore feeds itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

Blanket FlowerGaillardia × grandifloraHand it full sun and lean, dry soil, and the blanket flower keeps the color going from June to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Blazing StarLiatris spicataPop the corms in once and blazing star keeps sending up tall purple spikes for the bees every summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Bleeding HeartLamprocapnos spectabilisGive it shade, steady moisture, and rich soil, and bleeding heart hangs its little pink hearts out every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Blood OrangeCitrus × sinensisGive it full sun and cold winter nights, and a blood orange ripens flesh the color of garnet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Bloodgood Japanese MapleAcer palmatumThe classic red maple that's easier to love than to grow from scratch.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

BloodrootSanguinaria canadensisA short-lived white spring ephemeral for shady spots, with a red rhizome you'll want to handle in gloves.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Blue FescueFestuca glaucaA tidy silver-blue tuft that's happy on the hot, dry, lean ground where pickier plants sulk.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Blue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirensHand it full sun and poor, dry soil, and blue oat grass will hold a neat steel-blue mound all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Blue StarAmsonia tabernaemontanaGive it full sun and a trim after bloom, and Blue Star takes you from spring flowers to gold fall leaves without much fuss at all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BluebeardCaryopteris × clandonensisGive bluebeard a hard cut every spring and you'll get a haze of blue flowers back, right as the rest of the garden's winding down.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BlueberryVaccinium corymbosumKeep the soil acidic and a buddy bush close by, and you'll be picking blueberries all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Blushing BromeliadNeoregelia carolinaeKeep its central cup topped up and hand it bright, indirect light, and the blushing bromeliad colors up indoors with hardly any fuss.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bok ChoyBrassica rapa subsp. chinensisSow it in cool weather, keep it watered and growing fast, and bok choy fills the bed in barely six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

BorageBorago officinalisPlant it just once and the blue star flowers and bees keep showing up on their own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Border ForsythiaForsythia × intermediaPlant it for the first burst of yellow that opens long before anything else wakes up in spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Boston FernNephrolepis exaltataKeep the air humid and the soil evenly moist, and your Boston fern turns into a soft green fountain.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Boston IvyParthenocissus tricuspidataPlant it for a wall of crimson come fall, just give it masonry to climb instead of your siding.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilisGive it plenty of sun, a little thirst, and some benign neglect, and bougainvillea pays you back with wild color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

BoysenberryRubus ursinus × idaeusGive it full sun, a sturdy trellis, and a yearly prune, and the boysenberry crops with big, wine-dark fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Bradford PearPyrus calleryanaIt grows fast and shrugs off almost anything, but the Bradford pear splits in storms and spreads as an aggressive invasive, so it's one to skip.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Brazilian Pansy OrchidMiltoniaGive it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and the Brazilian pansy orchid pays you back with star-shaped blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

BroccoliBrassica oleracea Italica GroupGive it cool weather and steady moisture, and broccoli hands over a main head plus weeks of side shoots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeModerate

Broccoli RabeBrassica rapa Ruvo GroupPlant it in the cool ends of the season, cut while the buds are still tight, and broccoli rabe pays you back with sharp, savory greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

BromeliadBromeliaceae (family)Keep the cup full and the light bright but indirect, and a bromeliad rewards you with months of color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BrunneraBrunnera macrophyllaTuck it into a shady, evenly moist spot and Brunnera pays you back, brightening gloomy corners with frosted silver foliage and a haze of little blue blooms each spring.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

Brussels SproutsBrassica oleracea Gemmifera GroupPlant them for fall and let a light frost finish the job, and the sprouts show up firm and sweet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

BuckwheatFagopyrum esculentumDrop it into warm soil and buckwheat covers the ground, smothers weeds, and feeds the bees in just a few weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Buffalo GrassBouteloua dactyloidesAn easygoing native prairie grass that keeps a lawn green on a fraction of the water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeModerate

BugleweedAjuga reptansHand it part shade and good drainage, and bugleweed rolls out a fast carpet of color, as long as you keep it from wandering.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bunny Ear CactusOpuntia microdasysHand it bright sun and a dry, gritty pot, and the bunny ear cactus pretty much runs itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bur OakQuercus macrocarpaPlant a bur oak and you've started a tough, century-spanning shade tree that laughs off cold, drought, and rough city soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Burning BushEuonymus alatusPut it in full sun and the autumn leaves blaze a deep scarlet you'll catch from clear across the yard.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Burro's TailSedum morganianumHand it bright light and dry feet, and this trailing succulent will tumble over the pot for years on end.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeEasy

Butterfly BushBuddleja davidiiHand it full sun and a bold spring cut, and the butterfly bush fills up with flowers and fluttering wings all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Butterfly WeedAsclepias tuberosaGive it full sun and poor, dry soil, then pretty much leave it be, and the monarchs will come find it on their own.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

ButterwortPinguicula moranensisGive it bright light, rainwater, and a lean gritty mix, and the butterwort happily clears your gnats for free.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Button FernPellaea rotundifoliaTougher than it looks, the button fern just wants bright shade and an easy hand on the watering can.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

CabbageBrassica oleracea (Capitata Group)Hand it steady moisture, rich soil, and cool weather, and cabbage gives back a heavy, tight head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

CaladiumCaladium bicolorBig, painterly leaves that pop brightest in the shade.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Calamondin OrangeCitrus × microcarpaA pot-sized citrus that hands you fragrant blooms and sour orange fruit at the same time, all year on a sunny sill.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Calathea MedallionGoeppertia roseopictaGive it soft water, warm air, and steady humidity, and those medallion leaves open up with the full painted pattern.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Calathea OrbifoliaGoeppertia orbifoliaBig, round leaves with ribbon stripes that fold up at night, happy to reward you for getting the basics right.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Calathea White FusionGoeppertia lietzei 'White Fusion'Sort out the water and humidity and this living watercolour hands you brushstroked leaves in return.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

CalendulaCalendula officinalisGive it full sun and lean soil, and pot marigold keeps blooming from spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

CalibrachoaCalibrachoa × hybridaGive it full sun, steady water, and acidic soil, and calibrachoa pours out bloom from spring right to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

California LilacCeanothus thyrsiflorusHand it full sun, sharp drainage, and almost no water, and California lilac gives back a wall of blue every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 15–30 daysPet & child safeModerate

Calla LilyZantedeschia aethiopicaHand it rich, moist soil and a sunny spot, and the calla rewards you with tall, sculptural blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

CamelliaCamellia japonicaHand it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady water, and the camellia flowers when almost nothing else bothers to.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

CandytuftIberis sempervirensHand it full sun and soil that drains and candytuft spills a sheet of white flowers all over the spring garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Canna LilyCanna × generalisHand it full sun, rich moist soil, and summer heat, and the canna pays you back with bold leaves and flame-bright flowers right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cannabis / HempCannabis sativaGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady nitrogen, and Cannabis sativa rips from seed to harvest in a single season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysToxicModerate

CantaloupeCucumis meloGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and you'll be picking sweet, fragrant fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Cape PrimroseStreptocarpus rexiiHand it bright indirect light and careful watering, and Cape primrose keeps flowering for much of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cape SundewDrosera capensisGive it bright sun and pure rainwater, and the Cape sundew stays covered in glistening, bug-catching dew all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

CarawayCarum carviHand it full sun and a patient first year, and caraway pays you back with fragrant seed the next.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Cardboard PalmZamia furfuraceaA tough, sculptural cycad that asks for next to nothing, yet its every part is dangerously toxic.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Cardinal ClimberIpomoea × multifidaHand it full sun and lean soil, and this fast vine throws out scarlet trumpets that hummingbirds chase all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Cardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalisGive it wet feet and a little shade, and you'll get scarlet spikes the hummingbirds can't resist all late summer.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

CardoonCynara cardunculusHand it a long season, rich soil, and a few weeks of blanching, and you'll get tender stalks no market bothers to stock.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

CarnationDianthus caryophyllusHand it cool air, full sun, and sharp drainage, and the carnation gives back fragrant, ruffled bloom.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Carolina JessamineGelsemium sempervirensGive it full sun and something sturdy to climb, and this evergreen vine spills out fragrant yellow trumpets in late winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

CarrotDaucus carota subsp. sativusHand it deep, loose soil and steady water, and a carrot pays you back with sweet, straight roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

CashewAnacardium occidentaleA tropical tree that hands you two harvests in one, the cashew apple and the nut, as long as its roots stay warm, sunny, and well drained.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

CassavaManihot esculentaA tough tropical root crop that's a snap to grow and a must to process right.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

Cast Iron PlantAspidistra elatiorPop it into the darkest corner of the house and the cast iron plant just keeps on going.☀️ Low lightPet & child safeEasy

CatmintNepeta × faasseniiHand it full sun and lean, dry soil, and catmint will buzz with bees and lavender-blue bloom right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CatnipNepeta catariaHand it full sun and lean, dry soil and catnip pretty much takes care of itself, while your cat handles the party.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CattailTypha latifoliaSit its roots in mud or shallow water and the cattail's happy, but give it free rein and it'll grab the whole pond.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Cattleya OrchidCattleyaGive it bright light, a good dry-out between waterings, and humid air, and the corsage orchid pays you back with show-stopping blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

CauliflowerBrassica oleracea Botrytis GroupKeep it cool, fed, and never thirsty, and cauliflower rewards the effort with a tight, heavy head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CeleriacApium graveolens var. rapaceumHand it a long season, rich soil, and water that never quits, and celeriac pays you back with a knob no store can touch.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CeleryApium graveolens var. dulceHand it rich soil, cool days, and water that never lets up, and you'll get crisp, clean stalks in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CelosiaCelosia argenteaHand it full sun and warm, well-drained soil, and celosia throws up flame-bright plumes from summer all the way to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Centipede GrassEremochloa ophiuroidesFeed it a little, never lime it, and centipede grass keeps a low-care lawn green all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cereal RyeSecale cerealeSow it late, let it green up the off-season, and it builds your soil while smothering winter weeds.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

CherryPrunus aviumHand it full sun, deep soil, and good airflow, and a cherry tree pays you back with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

ChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumGive it cool weather, a little shade, and steady water, and you'll get fine lacy leaves in return.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

ChestnutCastanea sativaGive it acidic, well-drained ground and a pollen partner, and the sweet chestnut pays you back with a heavy crop of roasting nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

ChickpeaCicer arietinumThe knee-high legume that makes most of its own nitrogen and feeds half the world.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Chili PepperCapsicum annuumHand it heat, sun, and steady water, and a chili plant will pile on fruit from summer right into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Chinese ElmUlmus parvifoliaAn easygoing, fast shade tree that takes poor soil, drought, and city grit in stride.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Chinese EvergreenAglaonema commutatumForgiving, shade-friendly, and happy in a warm room, Chinese evergreen is about as easygoing as houseplants get.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Chinese Fringe FlowerLoropetalum chinensePop loropetalum into acidic soil with good drainage and you'll get colored leaves and fringy blooms for barely any effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Chinese Money PlantPilea peperomioidesThe round-leaved charmer that practically begs to be shared.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ChivesAllium schoenoprasumChives just want full sun and steady moisture, and one small clump keeps the kitchen stocked for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Chocolate CosmosCosmos atrosanguineusDeep maroon flowers that genuinely smell of dark chocolate, growing from a tender tuber you treat a lot like a dahlia.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Chocolate VineAkebia quinataFragrant chocolate-purple flowers and edible fruit on a climber that grows fast and likes to be kept in line.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cholla CactusCylindropuntia fulgidaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, then just keep your distance from those grabby, barbed joints.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Christmas CactusSchlumbergera × buckleyiGive it bright, indirect light and cool fall nights, and this old-school houseplant blooms right on time for the holidays.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoidesGive it shade and soil that drains, and the Christmas fern keeps its green fronds going all winter.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum × morifoliumStay on top of the pinching all summer, hand them plenty of sun plus reliable watering, and autumn pays you back with color everywhere.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

CilantroCoriandrum sativumHand it cool weather and steady moisture, and cilantro pays you back with fresh leaves in just a few weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cinnamon FernOsmundastrum cinnamomeumHand it wet, acidic shade and the cinnamon fern keeps throwing up tall green fronds and rust-colored spikes every single year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

ClematisClematisGive it sun on its head and shade on its feet, and clematis climbs into a wall of bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

CleomeCleome hasslerianaSow it once in full sun and the spider flower shoots up tall, blooms till frost, and comes right back on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Climbing HydrangeaHydrangea anomala subsp. petiolarisIt's slow to start, then a wall of fragrant white lacecaps that sticks around for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Climbing RoseRosaTie it up, train the canes sideways, and a climbing rose will drape a wall in bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Cobra LilyDarlingtonia californicaA hooded carnivore that wants a hot top and cold feet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Coconut PalmCocos nuciferaHand it full tropical sun, warmth, and sandy coastal soil, and the coconut palm keeps paying you back for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

CoffeeCoffea arabicaGive it warmth, bright indirect light, and humid air, and the coffee plant turns into a glossy evergreen that might just hand you its own cherries someday.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysToxicModerate

ColeusColeus scutellarioidesColeus is all about those bold, painted leaves, and it will brighten a shady corner or a sunny bed without asking much of you.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Collard GreensBrassica oleracea (Viridis Group)An easy, cold-hardy green that keeps handing you leaves long after frost has shut down the rest of the garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungensGive it full sun, cool air, and well-drained ground, and the blue spruce keeps its silver color for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

ColumbineAquilegia canadensisHand it dappled shade and moist, free-draining soil, and columbine pays you back with spurred spring flowers that hummingbirds can't resist.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

ComfreySymphytum officinaleA tough, deep-rooted perennial that feeds your compost and never quits once it takes hold.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensUnhurried, dependable, and evergreen year-round, boxwood gives a clipped, formal garden its lasting shape.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Common CamasCamassia quamashThe hardy meadow bulb that puts on a blue spring show, then quietly rests all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common FigFicus caricaHand it full sun and steady summer water, and a fig will keep you in sweet fruit for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common JasmineJasminum officinaleHand it warmth, sunshine, and something solid to climb, and this vine pays you back all summer with perfume.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Common LilacSyringa vulgarisPop it in full sun with a bit of breathing room, and the common lilac hands you heavy spring scent for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common NinebarkPhysocarpus opulifoliusAn easygoing native shrub with peeling bark and colorful leaves that barely asks for a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common PeriwinkleVinca minorA tough little evergreen that covers dry shade in blue, as long as you keep those runners in line.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common SneezeweedHelenium autumnaleGive it full sun and damp soil, cut it back in June, and sneezeweed sets the late border ablaze.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Common SnowdropGalanthus nivalisPop the bulbs in the ground in fall, and snowdrops come up through the last of the winter snow before anything else even thinks about it.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common TansyTanacetum vulgareA tough golden-flowered herb that gets by on almost nothing and wanders if nobody's watching.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Coral BellsHeuchera sanguineaGrown for its bold, year-round foliage just as much as its airy spring flowers, coral bells brightens up the shade.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

CoreopsisCoreopsis grandifloraGive it full sun and lean, dry soil and tickseed throws gold daisies from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Corkscrew RushJuncus effusus 'Spiralis'Keep its roots wet and never dry, and corkscrew rush gives you a whole season of twisting green coils.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

Corn PlantDracaena fragransHappy in a shady corner and slow to outgrow its spot, the corn plant really just wants clean water and a bit of warmth.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Corn PoppyPapaver rhoeasToss the seed right where you want it, give it plenty of sun and soil that drains, and you'll get silky red poppies.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

CornflowerCentaurea cyanusToss some seed into full sun and lean soil, and cornflower hands you true-blue blooms all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CosmosCosmos bipinnatusHand it full sun and poor soil, and cosmos just keeps blooming from summer to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

CotoneasterCotoneasterTough as nails and loaded with red berries all winter, cotoneaster pretty much takes care of itself once it's settled.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CranberryVaccinium macrocarponHand it acidic peat, full sun, and steady moisture, and this low creeping vine pays you back with tart fall berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stoloniferaA fine, carpet-soft turf that looks like a putting green and asks for the same care to match.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Creeping FigFicus pumilaAn easygoing, fast climber that'll grab onto just about anything and mostly wants bright shade and steady humidity.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Creeping JennyLysimachia nummulariaA low gold carpet that's happy in moist ground, sun or shade, and runs fast enough that you'll want to keep it in bounds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping JuniperJuniperus horizontalisSet it somewhere sunny with soil that drains fast, and this hardy evergreen carpet mostly fends for itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping MazusMazus reptansA low, moisture-loving carpet that fills the cracks between pavers and breaks into purple-blue bloom every summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping PhloxPhlox subulataGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping phlox spreads a spring carpet of color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping ThymeThymus serpyllumHand it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping thyme turns into a tough, fragrant carpet that laughs off dry spells.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crepe MyrtleLagerstroemia indicaGive it full sun and an easy touch with the pruners, and you'll get summer-long blooms and great peeling bark in winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crimson CloverTrifolium incarnatumSow it in fall and crimson clover gives back fixed nitrogen and a sheet of brilliant red bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crinum LilyCrinum × powelliiGet the bulb in the ground once, then forget about it, and you'll get fragrant pink trumpets every late summer for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CrossvineBignonia capreolataAn easygoing native climber that puts on a spring show of trumpets and keeps the hummingbirds coming back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CrotonCodiaeum variegatumHand it bright light and steady, humid warmth, and the croton brightens a room with leaves in red, orange, and gold.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Crown ImperialFritillaria imperialisTall spring bulbs topped with nodding bells and a stubborn skunky scent that voles quickly learn to leave alone.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Crown of ThornsEuphorbia miliiHand it sun, dry roots, and a cautious touch, and crown of thorns keeps blooming nearly all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

CucumberCucumis sativusGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and honestly, a cucumber vine will hand you fruit faster than you can pick it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

CuminCuminum cyminumGive it full sun and a long, hot summer, and cumin pays you back with its own fragrant seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Cup-and-saucer VineCobaea scandensHand it full sun and a tall, sturdy support, and this fast climber will drape a wall in bell-shaped flowers by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

CupheaCuphea igneaGive it full sun and a few pinches, and cuphea just keeps blooming from spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

CurrantRibes rubrumTough, cold-loving, and dripping with tart berries, the currant is a friendly pick for a cool garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Curry PlantHelichrysum italicumThe silvery little shrub that smells like curry but has nothing to do with the spice.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cymbidium OrchidCymbidiumGive it bright light and cool fall nights, and the cymbidium pays you back with long, arching sprays of bloom.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Cypress VineIpomoea quamoclitHand it full sun and a string to climb, and cypress vine pays you back with feathery leaves and scarlet stars.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

DaffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissusPlant the bulbs in fall and they'll hand you the first real color of spring, year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

DahliaDahlia × hybridaHand it full sun, rich soil, and steady water, and the dahlia blooms hard from midsummer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Daikon RadishRaphanus sativusSow it in late summer and let that deep taproot do the digging before winter takes the plant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Date PalmPhoenix dactyliferaGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and desert heat, and the date palm will pay you back with sweet fruit for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

David Austin RoseRosaOld-rose charm and scent, plus flowers that just keep coming from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboidesA living fossil that glows russet-bronze every fall and grows quickly enough to watch it happen.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

DaylilyHemerocallis fulvaEasygoing and fast to settle in, the daylily trades a sunny spot for a fresh bloom every morning all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

DelphiniumDelphinium elatumTall spires of true blue that want staking, steady moisture, and a careful hand around children and pets.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysToxicDemanding

Dendrobium OrchidDendrobiumHand it bright light and a cool, dry winter rest, and your dendrobium comes back with canes full of flowers.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Deodar CedarCedrus deodaraHand it full sun and soil that drains, and this Himalayan cedar turns into a soft, sweeping evergreen that sticks around for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Desert RoseAdenium obesumHand it full sun and a good long dry spell between waterings, and the desert rose pays you back with a fat caudex and trumpet blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

DiasciaDiascia barberaeThe easygoing cool-season charmer that spills over container edges in coral and pink.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

DichondraDichondraA low carpet of coin-shaped leaves that doubles as a lawn you hardly mow or a silver waterfall spilling over a pot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

DillAnethum graveolensFeathery, fast, and friendly: the cool-season herb that practically plants itself next year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

DipladeniaMandevilla sanderiHand it full sun, warmth, and sharp drainage, and dipladenia keeps the trumpet flowers coming from early summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

DischidiaDischidia nummulariaHand it bright light, fast-draining roots, and a good long dry-out, and dischidia just keeps trailing for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesiiGive it room, moist soil, and a good while to grow, and the Douglas fir turns into one of the tallest trees in the forest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dragon FruitHylocereus undatusHand this climbing cactus sun, a sturdy post, and a pollination partner, and you'll get night-blooming flowers and bright pitaya in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Drooping LeucothoeLeucothoe fontanesianaHand it shade, acidic soil, and steady moisture, and this arching evergreen keeps looking good all year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Dumb CaneDieffenbachia seguineHappy in bright, indirect light, dumb cane pays back a bit of warmth and humidity with bold, painted leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Dusty MillerJacobaea maritimaGrow it for the silver foliage that makes every other color pop, hand it sun and good drainage, and it'll ask for next to nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dutch IrisIris × hollandicaPop the bulbs in this fall and Dutch iris pays you back with tall, sleek blooms come spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dutchman's PipeAristolochia macrophyllaA fast climber that throws up a wall of overlapping leaves and feeds the pipevine swallowtail.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dwarf Alberta SprucePicea glaucaA neat, slow-growing evergreen cone that just wants full sun, steady moisture, and air that moves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dwarf FothergillaFothergilla gardeniiHoney-scented spring flowers and knockout fall color on a tough native shrub that hardly asks for anything.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Dwarf Japanese MapleAcer palmatumHand it dappled shade, steady moisture, and a spot out of the wind, and a dwarf Japanese maple keeps its shape and color for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Earth StarCryptanthus bivittatusHand it bright indirect light and steady humidity, and the earth star keeps its color all year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Easter CactusRhipsalidopsis gaertneriHand it a cool winter rest and a spot it can settle into, and the Easter cactus comes back with scarlet, star-shaped spring blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensisGive it cool, moist shade and eastern hemlock turns into a soft, feathery evergreen that'll stick around for generations.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Eastern Red CedarJuniperus virginianaA tough native conifer that laughs off drought, lousy soil, and brutal cold and sticks around for centuries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Eastern RedbudCercis canadensisWatch it set the bare spring woods aglow with rose-pink blooms straight off the branches before the first leaf shows up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Eastern White PinePinus strobusGive it space and acidic ground, and this soft, fast-growing pine turns into a towering evergreen backdrop before you know it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

EcheveriaEcheveriaGive it bright light and a soil that dries out fast, and honestly, this rosette succulent pretty much runs itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

EggplantSolanum melongenaHand it heat, full sun, and steady water, and eggplant keeps the glossy fruit coming all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

ElderberrySambucus canadensisHand it sun, steady moisture, and a second cultivar close by, and elderberry pays you back with heavy clusters of dark fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Elephant EarColocasia esculentaHand it rich soil, full sun, and water it can't run out of, and elephant ear throws up giant tropical leaves all season.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Emerald Green ArborvitaeThuja occidentalisPop it into full sun with steady moisture, keep deer and snow at bay, and you've got a dense green screen for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Encore AzaleaRhododendronGive it acidic soil, filtered sun, and steady moisture, and the Encore azalea blooms in spring and comes back into fall.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

EndiveCichorium endiviaKeep it cool, steady, and roomy, and endive hands you crisp salad leaves in spring and fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

English BluebellHyacinthoides non-scriptaDrop the bulbs in this fall and they'll carpet the shade in violet-blue by spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

English IvyHedera helixTough, shade-loving, and fast to fill a pot, English ivy trails or climbs wherever you point it.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

EpazoteDysphania ambrosioidesHand it lean soil and full sun, keep pinching, and epazote pays you back with that one-of-a-kind Mexican kitchen flavor all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Evergreen EuonymusEuonymus japonicusA tough, shade-friendly evergreen that clips into a hedge and barely asks anything of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Fairy Castle CactusAcanthocereus tetragonusA slow, sculptural cactus that just wants bright light and very little water, and otherwise to be left alone.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

False IndigoBaptisia australisHand it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and false indigo just settles in for decades without making a fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

False ShamrockOxalis triangularisPurple, three-cornered leaves that open up by day and close at night, all from a handful of easy bulbs.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

False SunflowerHeliopsis helianthoidesGive it full sun and lean soil, and false sunflower pours out gold from midsummer right up to first frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fan FlowerScaevola aemulaHand it sun and soil that drains well, and fan flower will trail blue blooms until frost shows up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fava BeanVicia fabaTuck them into cold spring soil, give them sun and steady water, and these tough broad beans will crop early while it's still cool out.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis × acutifloraPut it in full sun and feather reed grass holds tall and feathery from June straight on through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

FenugreekTrigonella foenum-graecumPop the seed straight into cool soil and you'll be picking fresh methi leaves in about a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

FeverfewTanacetum partheniumGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and feverfew hands you white daisies all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ficus AudreyFicus benghalensisGive it bright indirect light and easy, steady watering, and this banyan fig turns into one laid-back, good-looking houseplant.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Fiddle-leaf FigFicus lyrataHand it bright indirect light and one steady spot, and your fiddle-leaf fig pays you back with big, glossy leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Field PeaPisum sativum subsp. arvenseSow it next to a grain to climb, and the field pea builds your soil and feeds it nitrogen for free.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fine FescueFestuca rubraHand it shade, lean soil, and a light touch, and fine fescue keeps a soft, fuss-free lawn.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fishtail PalmCaryota mitisA bold indoor palm with leaflets shaped like a fish's tail, easy to please as long as you respect its prickly fruit.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Flaming KatyKalanchoe blossfeldianaHand it bright light, gritty soil, and dry spells between waterings, and this succulent gives back weeks of bloom.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Flaming SwordVriesea splendensKeep that central cup topped up and the light nice and bright, and the flaming sword stays colorful for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Florence FennelFoeniculum vulgareKeep it cool and watered, and you'll get a crisp, anise-sweet bulb.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Floribunda RoseRosaGive it full sun, a bit of breathing room, and water at the base, and you'll get clusters of bloom from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Florist's CyclamenCyclamen persicumKeep it cool, bright, and watered from below, and cyclamen just keeps flowering all winter.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysToxicModerate

Flowering DogwoodCornus floridaGive it part shade and moist, acidic soil, and the flowering dogwood pays you back with spring bracts and red autumn fruit.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles speciosaIt's one of the first shrubs to flower each spring, lighting up bare branches before the leaves even show up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

FoamflowerTiarella cordifoliaA shade-loving native that throws up frothy white spires in spring and blankets the ground the rest of the time.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvaticaPlant it once for a spring carpet of tiny blue flowers, and it'll sow the next batch all on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroidesGive it full sun and lean soil, and fountain grass arches up into a soft, plumed mound that keeps the garden going all winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Four O'clockMirabilis jalapaPop it in once and four o'clock keeps its fragrant evening flowers coming all summer, then sows itself for next year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaTall spires of speckled bells brighten a shady border, but every part of this plant is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Foxtail FernAsparagus densiflorus 'Myers'Hand it bright indirect light and a pot that drains well, and the foxtail fern shoots up plumes that look like green bottle brushes.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–10 daysToxicEasy

Franklin TreeFranklinia alatamahaCheck this out: a tree that vanished from the wild way back in the early 1800s still gives you late-summer flowers and blazing autumn color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

FreesiaFreesia refractaArching sprays of intensely fragrant winter blooms that open one at a time.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

French TarragonArtemisia dracunculusGet the sun and drainage right, and French tarragon will keep handing you warm anise flavor all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

FuchsiaFuchsia × hybridaHand it cool shade and steady moisture, and the fuchsia keeps dangling its two-tone flowers all season long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Garden AngelicaAngelica archangelicaA big, friendly woodland-edge herb that hands you candied stems and bold flower heads, then calls it a day after one bloom.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Garden GladiolusGladiolus × hortulanusPop the corms in come spring and gladiolus gives you back tall spires of color from late summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Garden PhloxPhlox paniculataHand it sun, breathing room, and steady water, and garden phlox will top the border with color from midsummer onward.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Garden SageSalvia officinalisSun and dry soil are pretty much all it asks, and in return this tough little Mediterranean herb keeps handing you fresh leaves for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Garden SorrelRumex acetosaKeep cutting the young leaves and garden sorrel just keeps handing back tart, lemony greens all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

GardeniaGardenia jasminoidesGive it acidic soil, steady moisture, and humid air, and the gardenia pays you back with intensely fragrant white flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicDemanding

GarlicAllium sativumSlip a clove into the ground in fall and basically forget about it until summer, when that one clove turns into a whole head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Garlic ChivesAllium tuberosumCut them over and over all season long, and garlic chives just keep coming back with flat, garlic-scented leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

GasteriaGasteriaGive it bright indirect light and a dry rest between waterings, and this tough little succulent pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 10–21 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

GauraGaura lindheimeriGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and gaura will send up clouds of butterfly-like blooms from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

GazaniaGazania rigensGive it full sun and dry feet, and the treasure flower throws open bold, daisy-bright blooms all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Gerbera DaisyGerbera jamesoniiGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a dry crown, and the gerbera daisy hands you bright blooms from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

German ChamomileMatricaria chamomillaHonestly, sun and decent drainage are about all it asks: give German chamomile those two and the apple-scented daisies keep coming all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ghost PlantGraptopetalum paraguayenseHand it bright light and a dry rest between waterings, and the ghost plant pretty much grows itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Giant Ornamental OnionAllium giganteumDrop the bulbs in the ground this fall, and by early summer giant allium gives you purple globes hovering over the border.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysToxicEasy

GingerZingiber officinaleGive it warmth, steady moisture, and dappled light, and one little rhizome turns into a whole season of fresh ginger.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

GinkgoGinkgo bilobaSlow, tough, and basically impossible to kill, the ginkgo is a tree you plant for the long haul.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Globe AmaranthGomphrena globosaGive globe amaranth full sun and warm, well drained ground and it'll toss out papery clover-like flowers from summer right until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Globe ArtichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymusA big, handsome thistle you grow for the buds you eat before they bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Globe ThistleEchinops ritroGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and globe thistle hands you steel-blue globes the bees can't get enough of.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Glorious PhilodendronPhilodendron gloriosumGive it warmth, humidity, and bright indirect light, and this velvet-leaf crawler keeps pushing out one heart-shaped leaf after another.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Glory-of-the-snowChionodoxa forbesiiOne of the first bulbs to bloom, glory-of-the-snow spreads a carpet of blue before winter's really done.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Glossy AbeliaAbelia × grandifloraHand it sun and soil that drains, and glossy abelia keeps flowering from late spring to frost with hardly any effort on your part.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Goji BerryLycium barbarumGive it full sun, lean alkaline soil, and room to sprawl, and this tough nightshade pays you back in superfood berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Golden Barrel CactusEchinocactus grusoniiGive it plenty of sun and go easy on the watering, and this golden globe pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Golden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculataA hardy shade tree, throwing a midsummer show of papery lantern pods and bright yellow bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

GoldenrodSolidago canadensisGive it full sun and lean soil, and goldenrod lights up the late-summer garden and brings in every pollinator around.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Goldfish PlantNematanthus gregariusGive it bright filtered light and steady warmth, and the goldfish plant sends out arching stems dotted with little orange blooms.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

GooseberryRibes uva-crispaAn easygoing, cold-hardy berry bush that just wants cool conditions, an open shape, and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Grandiflora RoseRosaTall, long-stemmed, and happy to bloom from spring to frost, the grandiflora gives you hybrid-tea flowers on a floribunda frame.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

GrapeVitis viniferaGive a grapevine full sun, something strong to climb, and one hard prune a year, and it'll hand you fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

Grape HyacinthMuscari armeniacumPop the little bulbs in the ground this fall, and next spring they hand you rivers of blue.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

GrapefruitCitrus × paradisiGive it full sun, deep watering, and frost-free warmth, and a grapefruit tree carries fruit through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Great BurnetSanguisorba officinalisTall wands of dark red bottlebrush flowers that sway over the back of a damp, sunny border all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Green AshFraxinus pennsylvanicaA tough, fast shade tree for hard sites, now living under the shadow of the emerald ash borer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Green BeanPhaseolus vulgarisDrop the seed in warm soil and you'll be picking green beans by the handful all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Green Giant ArborvitaeThuja 'Green Giant'Give it full sun and room to spread, and this tree throws up a living privacy wall fast.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ground CherryPhysalis pruinosaOnce those husks go papery and fall, the ground cherry keeps the sweet snacks coming right through the season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ground OrchidBletilla striataA laid-back orchid that grows right in the garden soil and sends up pink blooms every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Groundcover RoseRosaGive it full sun and a bit of breathing room, and a groundcover rose carpets the ground in bloom from spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

GuavaPsidium guajavaGive it full sun, warmth, and cover from frost, and a guava tree hands you fragrant fruit year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Guzmania (Scarlet Star)Guzmania lingulataKeep that central cup topped up and the light nice and bright but soft, and this bromeliad will hang onto its scarlet star for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Hairy VetchVicia villosaSow it in fall and this nitrogen-fixing cover crop quietly feeds your soil right through to spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hardy HibiscusHibiscus moscheutosGive it full sun and soil that never dries out, and hardy hibiscus keeps opening dinner-plate flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Hardy KiwiActinidia argutaIt's a frost-tough vine that gives you little grape-sized fruits you eat whole, so why bother peeling?☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Hart's Tongue FernAsplenium scolopendriumGive it deep shade, steady moisture, and a bit of lime, and this glossy strap-leaved fern keeps its color going right through winter.☀️ Full shade · 💧 5–10 daysSafety unverifiedModerate

HaworthiaHaworthiaGive it bright indirect light and a long dry spell between drinks, and this little windowed succulent asks for almost nothing.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Hay-scented FernDennstaedtia punctilobulaA no-fuss native fern that fills shade with soft, hay-scented fronds and barely asks a thing.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

HazelnutCorylus avellanaGive it full sun, a pollen buddy, and room to spread, and the hazel pays you back with nuts every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Heartleaf PhilodendronPhilodendron hederaceumFast-growing, forgiving, and happy in a shady spot, the heartleaf philodendron wants little more than the odd drink.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Heavenly BambooNandina domesticaEasygoing, drought-proof, and fiery in winter, nandina pulls its weight, but its berries are poison to wildlife.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

HeliotropeHeliotropium arborescensGive it full sun and steady moisture, and heliotrope hands you clusters of deep violet, sweetly fragrant bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

HelleboreHelleborus orientalisEver wondered what flowers in midwinter? Hellebore does, opening in shade and snow as one of the season's earliest blooms.☀️ Partial shadeMildly toxicEasy

Hen and ChicksSempervivum tectorumGive it sun, grit, and hardly any water, and this tough little succulent pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Hindu Rope HoyaHoya carnosa 'Compacta'Give it bright light and go easy with the water, and this curly-leaved wax plant sticks around for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusaGive it acidic soil, steady moisture, and shelter from harsh wind, and this slow evergreen holds its shape for a lifetime.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Holly FernCyrtomium falcatumGlossy, holly-shaped fronds and a pet-safe, shade-loving streak make this fern a relaxed keeper.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

HollyhockAlcea roseaTall, old-fashioned spires of bloom that plant themselves once you let them go to seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Holy BasilOcimum tenuiflorumGive it full sun and warm soil, keep pinching the tips, and tulsi keeps handing you fragrant leaves all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Honey LocustGleditsia triacanthosTough, quick, and easy to please, the honey locust drops dappled shade over ground where hardly anything else will settle.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

HoneyberryLonicera caeruleaGrow two cultivars side by side and you'll be picking the earliest berry of the year, sweet-tart and frost-tough.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Honeydew MelonCucumis meloGive it full sun, warm soil, and a long season, and honeydew pays you back with sweet, cooling fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

HoneysuckleLonicera sempervirensGive it full sun and something to climb, and trumpet honeysuckle hands you coral flowers and hummingbirds all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

HopsHumulus lupulusHand them full sun, deep soil, and something tall to climb, and hop bines will happily shoot up for your brewing harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysToxicModerate

HorseradishArmoracia rusticanaPop one root into deep, loose soil and this tough perennial keeps handing you fiery roots every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

HorsetailEquisetum hyemaleCool, jointed evergreen stems for a soggy spot, as long as you keep it in a container so it can't take off.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

HostaHostaGive it shade, steady moisture, and rich soil, and the hosta fills the ground with bold leaves that come back every year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hummingbird MintAgastache foeniculumPark it somewhere bright with sharp drainage, and anise hyssop turns into a summer-long magnet for bees and hummingbirds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

HyacinthHyacinthus orientalisGet the bulbs in the ground in fall, and spring hands you dense, sweet-scented spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hyacinth BeanLablab purpureusGive it heat, full sun, and a tall trellis, and hyacinth bean throws purple flowers and glossy pods clear into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hybrid Tea RoseRosaGive it full sun, deep water, and a hard spring cut, and your hybrid tea rose keeps handing you long-stemmed blooms from summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–8 daysPet & child safeModerate

HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaGive it rich, moist soil and afternoon shade, and this shrub hands you armfuls of bloom all summer.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

HyssopHyssopus officinalisGive it full sun and lean, fast-draining soil, and hyssop pays you back with aromatic leaves and bee-loved blue spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ice PlantDelosperma cooperiGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and this succulent rolls out a low carpet of jewel-toned flowers all summer.☀️ Full sunSafety unverifiedEasy

ImpatiensImpatiens wallerianaHand it a shady, moist spot and impatiens will pour out color for the whole summer.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

Inkberry HollyIlex glabraAn easygoing native shrub that handles wet ground, hard winters, and shade and stays green all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Interrupted FernClaytosmunda claytonianaGive it damp shade and rich, acidic soil, and this tough native fern throws up fresh fronds every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

IronweedVernonia noveboracensisGive it full sun and damp ground, and ironweed tops off late summer with deep purple flowers the pollinators can't resist.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Italian CypressCupressus sempervirensGet it in the ground once in full sun and dry, well-drained soil, and this slim green column will keep its shape for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Jacob's LadderPolemonium caeruleumGive it cool shade and steady moisture, and Jacob's ladder puts up tidy rungs of foliage under spring-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Jade PlantCrassula ovataGive it bright light and a good dry-out between waterings, and honestly the jade plant will outlast most of the houseplants you bought next to it.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Jane MagnoliaMagnolia 'Jane'A small tree that opens tulip-shaped purple-pink flowers late enough to dodge that pesky spring frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese AnemoneAnemone × hybridaPlant it once for late-summer flowers on tall, swaying stems, and it just keeps coming back stronger.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese BarberryBerberis thunbergiiTough, thorny, and richly colored, but think it through before you plant it where it can spread.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese Blood GrassImperata cylindrica 'Rubra'Give it full sun and even moisture, and the blades light right up blood-red from the tips down.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonicaGive it rich, moist soil and a break from winter wind, and Japanese cedar grows into a towering evergreen spire.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese Forest GrassHakonechloa macraGive it shade and steady moisture, and this grass spills over the edge of a bed like water tumbling down.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese HollyIlex crenataSort out the acid soil and quick drainage first, and you've got an evergreen that clips into a neat shape and stays that way.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese IrisIris ensataGive it acidic soil, full sun, and loads of summer water, and Japanese iris hands back broad, butterfly-flat blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese KerriaKerria japonicaGive it dappled shade and soil that drains, and Japanese kerria will light up spring with golden flowers on bright green stems.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese LaurelAucuba japonicaThe easygoing shade shrub with gold-speckled leaves and bright red winter berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and a spot out of the wind, and the Japanese maple will pay you back with color from spring through fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Japanese PachysandraPachysandra terminalisGive it deep shade and rich, moist soil, and pachysandra spreads into a glossy evergreen carpet that sticks around for years.☀️ Full shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese Painted FernAthyrium niponicum var. pictumFind it a spot with soft shade and damp soil, and this fern makes even a gloomy corner look surprisingly bright.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 4–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Japanese PierisPieris japonicaHand it acidic soil and a wind-sheltered spot, and andromeda dangles drooping white flowers for you every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Japanese PittosporumPittosporum tobiraAn easygoing evergreen shrub that handles sun, shade, drought, and hard shearing and still smells like orange blossom in spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese PrimrosePrimula japonicaGive it cool, wet, shaded ground and Japanese primrose thanks you with tiered candles of bloom every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese SkimmiaSkimmia japonicaGive it shade and acidic soil, and this evergreen keeps you in fragrant spring flowers and bright winter berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese SpireaSpiraea japonicaTough, quick, and easygoing, Japanese spirea hands you flat pink flower clusters and shifting foliage color from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese StewartiaStewartia pseudocamelliaIt takes its time, but it pays you back with summer flowers, fiery fall color, and patchwork bark.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Japanese Umbrella PineSciadopitys verticillataA living fossil with soft needles set in whorls that really just wants patience and a steady drink.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Japanese YewTaxus cuspidataA tough, shade-loving evergreen for hedges and topiary that also happens to be one of the deadliest plants you can put in a yard.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Jewel OrchidLudisia discolorIt's all about the velvet, vein-streaked leaves, the one orchid you'll keep for the foliage.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 4–9 daysPet & child safeEasy

Joe Pye WeedEutrochium purpureumHand it sun and steady moisture, and Joe Pye weed rockets up at the back of the late-summer bed, thick with pollinators.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

JuniperJuniperus chinensisGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and juniper pretty much takes care of itself for the rest of its long life.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

KalanchoeKalanchoeA tough little succulent that keeps handing you bright, long-lasting blooms for barely any effort.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

KaleBrassica oleracea Acephala GroupEasygoing and giving, kale hands you tender leaves from spring right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Kentia PalmHowea forsterianaGive it bright, indirect light and steady water, and the kentia palm brings a slow, easy elegance to any room.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Kentucky BluegrassPoa pratensisGive it full sun and steady water, and Kentucky bluegrass fills in as a dense, self-healing lawn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Key LimeCitrus × aurantiifoliaGive it full sun, warmth, and free-draining soil, and this thorny little citrus hands you sharp, aromatic limes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Kimberly Queen FernNephrolepis obliterataGive it bright indirect light and steady moisture, and this upright sword fern stays full and tidy the whole year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

KiwiActinidia deliciosaGive it full sun, a strong trellis, and a male partner, and a kiwi vine pays back your patience with fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Knock Out RoseRosaGive it full sun and a quick yearly prune, and the Knock Out just keeps blooming from June to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

KohlrabiBrassica oleracea Gongylodes GroupGrow it fast and cool, pick it while it's small, and kohlrabi gives you a crisp, sweet bulb sitting right on top of the soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Kousa DogwoodCornus kousaA small tree that gives you star-shaped blooms, edible fruit, and peeling bark all year round.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

KumquatCitrus japonicaGive it full sun, even water, and a break from hard frost, and this little citrus keeps fruiting all winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Kwanzan CherryPrunus serrulataPlant it for one unforgettable week of double pink bloom each spring, and treat it right the rest of the year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Lacy PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaSow it once and the bees show up in force, a haze of lavender-blue buzzing away all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Lady PalmRhapis excelsaSlow-growing, shade-friendly, and safe around pets, the lady palm is about as easygoing as indoor palms get.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Lamb's EarStachys byzantinaGrow it for those soft, silvery leaves that carpet the ground and barely ask a thing of you.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

LantanaLantana camaraGive it full sun and lean soil and lantana blooms hot all summer, but keep in mind every part of it is poisonous.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Large-flowered TrilliumTrillium grandiflorumGive it shade and rich, leafy soil, and this laid-back native will turn up with a fresh bloom every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

LarkspurConsolida ajacisTall blue spikes to brighten a cool spring garden, gorgeous to grow but poisonous in every part.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

LavenderLavandula angustifoliaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, keep the soil lean, and lavender pays you back with fragrance for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

LeekAllium ampeloprasumPlant them deep, feed them hard, and hill the soil up, and a leek hands you a long sweet shank that stands through the cold.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

LemonCitrus limonGive it full sun, deep but not-too-often water, and some frost cover, and a lemon tree keeps fruiting for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Lemon BalmMelissa officinalisOne brush of your hand and there's no mistaking it: lemon balm fills the garden with a bright, lemony scent and barely asks for a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Lemon VerbenaAloysia citriodoraBrush past it and the whole spot smells like lemon. Give it full sun and warmth, and this tender herb keeps handing you fragrant leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

LemongrassCymbopogon citratusSun, warmth, and a steady drink are about all lemongrass asks for, and it answers with fragrant stalks that keep coming all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

LentilLens culinarisPop it into cool, well-drained ground early, and this tough little legume feeds itself and pays you back at harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

LettuceLactuca sativaKeep it cool, moist, and growing fast, and lettuce hands you crisp salads in about a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

LewisiaLewisia cotyledonGive it sharp drainage and a dry crown, and lewisia crowns its rosette with bright flowers each spring.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Leyland CypressCupressus × leylandiiGive it room to breathe and steady water, and this fast evergreen throws up a privacy wall in just a few years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

LigulariaLigularia dentataPop the leopard plant into damp shade and it pays you back with bold leaves and tall daisy spires.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Lily of the ValleyConvallaria majalisSweet little white bells that'll carpet the shade for you, though every part of them is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

LimeCitrus × latifoliaHand it plenty of sun, quick-draining soil, and steady heat, and it'll keep cropping for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

LingonberryVaccinium vitis-idaeaGet it acidic soil, full sun, and steady moisture, and this low evergreen carpet gives back two crops of tart red berries a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeModerate

Lipstick PlantAeschynanthus radicansKeep it warm, in bright indirect light, and in humid air, and the lipstick plant will trail red flowers from a hanging basket for most of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

LisianthusEustoma grandiflorumSlow to start but so worth it, lisianthus pays back a cool, patient beginning with rose-like blooms all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

LithopsLithopsTiny living stones that get by on almost no water, and give you grief the moment you overdo it.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Little BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumGive it full sun and lean, dry soil and this native grass keeps standing tall, right from summer through the dead of winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

LobeliaLobelia erinusGive it cool weather, part shade, and steady moisture, and lobelia spills out clouds of blue from spring right into fall.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

LoganberryRubus × loganobaccusHand it full sun, rich soil, and a solid trellis, and the loganberry serves up tart-sweet fruit all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

LoquatEriobotrya japonicaGive it full sun and a frost-free spot, and the loquat hands you sweet fruit back when hardly anything else is ripe.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

LovageLevisticum officinaleGive it rich, moist soil and full sun, and a single lovage plant keeps the kitchen in celery flavor for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Lucky BambooDracaena sanderianaGive it clean water and bright, indirect light, and this laid-back Dracaena stays green for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 Every 7 daysToxicEasy

LungwortPulmonaria saccharataGive it cool shade and steady moisture and lungwort brightens up your dim corners with early spotted leaves and pink-to-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 Every 7 daysPet & child safeEasy

LupineLupinus polyphyllusGive it full sun, cool roots, and lean soil, and lupine throws up tall spires of color from late spring into summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

LycheeLitchi chinensisGive it heat, acidic soil, and a cool winter rest, and this tropical tree makes the wait worth it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

MacadamiaMacadamia integrifoliaGive it warmth, deep soil, and a pollination partner, and the macadamia hands back rich nuts for the trouble.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicDemanding

Macedonian ScabiousKnautia macedonicaGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and you'll get crimson pincushions floating over the border all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Madagascar Dragon TreeDracaena reflexa var. angustifoliaHand it bright indirect light and fluoride-free water, and the dragon tree pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Maiden GrassMiscanthus sinensisGive it full sun and lean soil, and maiden grass sends up tall, silvery plumes that stick around all winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Maidenhair FernAdiantum raddianumKeep the soil moist and the air humid, and this lacy fern softens any shaded corner.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Majesty PalmRavenea rivularisKeep it in steady moisture, bright light, and humid air, and this riverbank palm fills a room with feathery green.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Malabar SpinachBasella albaGive it heat, a steady drink, and a trellis, and it'll keep handing you salad leaves all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mandarin OrangeCitrus reticulataGive it full sun, free-draining soil, and shelter from hard frost, and a mandarin tree pays you back with fragrant blossom and easy-peel fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

MandevillaMandevilla × amabilisGive it sun and summer warmth, and mandevilla just keeps climbing and throwing trumpet blooms into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

MangoMangifera indicaHand it heat, plenty of sun, and soil that drains well, and won't a warm garden fill up with mango all summer long?☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

MarigoldTagetesGive it full sun and well-drained soil and marigold just keeps blooming from early summer until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Marsh MarigoldCaltha palustrisPop it somewhere the ground stays wet to soggy, and marsh marigold brightens the water's edge before almost anything else even wakes up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

MasterwortAstrantia majorGive it moist soil and a bit of dappled shade, and masterwort will carry its starry bracts right through the cool of summer.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–5 daysSafety unverifiedModerate

MayapplePodophyllum peltatumA woodland native that pops up its umbrella leaves in spring, then quietly bows out by midsummer.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Meadow RueThalictrum rochebruneanumTall, slender stems, airy clouds of flower, and soft height and motion for the shady end of a border, that's meadow rue.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

MedlarMespilus germanicaA slow, hardy fruit tree that asks for barely anything and ripens only after the first frosts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Mexican Feather GrassNassella tenuissimaPop it in lean soil and full sun and this breezy grass pretty much takes care of itself, as long as you watch the seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mexican SnowballEcheveria elegansHand it bright sun and dry roots, and the Mexican snowball keeps a tight silver rosette going for years.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Meyer LemonCitrus × meyeriGive it bright sun, even water, and a spot safe from frost, and this dwarf citrus hands you fragrant blooms and sweet fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

MilkweedAsclepias syriacaGrow it for the monarchs, hand it sun and lean soil, and a native milkweed pretty much runs itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Mini MonsteraRhaphidophora tetraspermaGive it bright indirect light, a moss pole, and humid air, and the mini monstera climbs fast all year.☀️ Bright indirectMildly toxicEasy

Miniature RoseRosaGive it full sun, steady water, and good airflow, and a miniature rose blooms from spring right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

MintMentha spicataGive it steady moisture and a pot of its own, and mint keeps handing you fresh leaves from spring to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

MizunaBrassica rapa var. nipposinicaSow it in cool weather, keep it watered, and cut it often, and mizuna keeps feeding you for weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mock OrangePhiladelphus coronariusGive it sun and a prune at the right moment, and mock orange fills early summer with orange-blossom scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mondo GrassOphiopogon japonicusHand it shade and steady moisture, and mondo grass settles into a soft, dark green carpet that barely asks a thing.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Money TreePachira aquaticaEasygoing and safe around pets, the money tree grows fast and doesn't ask much of you.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

MonkshoodAconitum napellusTall blue hooded spikes that earned the name queen of poisons, gorgeous in the border but not one to grab bare-handed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

MontbretiaCrocosmia × crocosmiifloraPop the corms in once and crocosmia hands back arching sprays of fiery summer color that hummingbirds can't stay away from.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Moon CactusGymnocalycium mihanovichiiTwo cacti in one, the moon cactus shows off a bright chlorophyll-free cap that leans on the green stem below for everything.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

MoonflowerIpomoea albaGive it full sun and warm soil, and moonflower rolls open fragrant white trumpets every single evening.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Morning GloryIpomoea purpureaPop a few scarified seeds at the foot of a trellis and morning glory will drape it in trumpets by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Moss RosePortulaca grandifloraGive moss rose a hot, dry, sandy spot and it'll cover the ground in color all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Moth OrchidPhalaenopsisGive it bright indirect light and a real dry-out between waterings, and your moth orchid keeps blooming for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mother of ThousandsKalanchoe daigremontianaAn easy succulent that grows its own babies along every leaf edge, though you'll want it well away from pets.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Mountain FleecePersicaria amplexicaulisKeep it in steady moisture with room to spread, and mountain fleece sends up red bottlebrush spikes from June to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mugo PinePinus mugoA tough evergreen mountain pine that just wants full sun and sharp drainage, and then it pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

MulberryMorus rubraGive it sun and space to stretch out, and come early summer this mulberry will load you up with buckets of berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

MuskmelonCucumis meloHand it warmth, all-day sun, and a crowd of busy bees, and by late summer it turns out sweet, netted fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

MustardBrassica junceaSow it when it's cool and up it comes fast, pulling double duty as a kitchen green and a soil-cleaning cover crop.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Mustard GreensBrassica junceaGet it sown while the weather's still cool, and mustard greens hand over peppery leaves in just a month or so.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

NasturtiumTropaeolum majusGive it poor soil and full sun, and the nasturtium pays you back with peppery leaves and bright, edible flowers all summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

NectarinePrunus persica var. nucipersicaA nectarine's just a peach without the fuzz, and it'll pay back full sun and a yearly prune with sweet, smooth-skinned fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicDemanding

Neem TreeAzadirachta indicaGive it heat, sun, and free-draining soil, and the neem tree will happily shrug off drought and poor ground for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

NemesiaNemesia strumosaGive it cool weather, steady moisture, and full sun, and nemesia floods a spring bed with color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

NerineNerine bowdeniiLeave the bulbs crowded and undisturbed in full sun, and nerines will light up the fall border in pink.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Nerve PlantFittonia albivenisKeep it warm, humid, and evenly moist, and the nerve plant pays you back with leaves stitched in living color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 3–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Never-never PlantCtenanthe burle-marxiiGet the light, humidity, and water right and this prayer plant rewards you with bold, patterned leaves that fold up each night.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

New England AsterSymphyotrichum novae-angliaeGive it full sun and one summer pinch, and the New England aster will light up your fall garden right when everything else is calling it a year.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeriHand it rich soil that stays moist plus a bit of shade, and New Guinea impatiens keeps blooming from spring right up to frost.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

New Zealand SpinachTetragonia tetragonioidesGrow this heat-loving summer green and you'll be picking tender leaves long after true spinach has bolted.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

NicotianaNicotiana alataGrow it for the night-scented flowers that fill the evening garden with sweetness all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

NigellaNigella damascenaSow it once and love-in-a-mist comes back on its own, threading airy blue flowers and horned pods through the spring border.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Norfolk Island PineAraucaria heterophyllaKeep the light bright, the air cool, and the watering steady, and this living conifer will happily hold onto its tidy tiers the whole year through.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

Northern CatalpaCatalpa speciosaA tough native shade tree that's covered in showy white flowers and grows fast just about anywhere.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Northern Red OakQuercus rubraA fast-growing native that hands you deep shade and brilliant red fall color for a good long while.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumAn easygoing native grass that's fine in shade where others sulk, then dangles flat oat-like seed heads from summer into winter.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Norway SprucePicea abiesTough, fast, and cold-hardy down to -40°F (-40°C), the Norway spruce grows into a towering evergreen with sweeping, pendulous branches.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

OatsAvena sativaA fast, easygoing cool-season grass, and honestly a bit of an overachiever: it can be a feed grain, a windowsill's cat grass, or a cover crop out in the field.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

OkraAbelmoschus esculentusGive it heat, full sun, and steady moisture, and okra keeps the pods coming right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Old Fashioned WeigelaWeigela floridaGive it full sun and a well-timed haircut, and weigela fills the late-spring garden with little tubular blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Old Garden RoseRosaTough, sweet-smelling, and easygoing on their own roots, old garden roses just keep giving year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Old Lady CactusMammillaria hahnianaGive it bright sun, gritty soil, and a dry winter rest, and this woolly little cactus crowns itself with pink flowers.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

OleanderNerium oleanderA tough, drought-proof shrub that blooms all summer, with one big catch: every part is dangerously poisonous.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

OliveOlea europaeaGive it full sun, lean soil, and a dry root run, and the olive thrives for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeModerate

Oncidium OrchidOncidiumHand it bright indirect light and a bark mix that drains fast, and the dancing lady orchid pays you back with sprays of fall flowers.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

OnionAllium cepaMatch the variety to your day length, keep the water steady, and onions all but grow themselves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

OrangeCitrus × sinensisGive it full sun, warmth, and well-drained soil, and a sweet orange tree will pay you back with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

OreganoOriganum vulgareGive it sun, lean soil, and a dry root run, and oregano pretty much grows itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Oregon GrapeMahonia aquifoliumGive it shade and a break from winter wind, and Oregon grape hands back yellow spring flowers and blue-black berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Oriental LilyLiliumTall, richly scented summer blooms that perfume a whole garden, with just one hard rule: keep them away from cats.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Oriental PoppyPapaver orientaleGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and the oriental poppy pays you back with huge silken blooms each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Ornamental Sweet Potato VineIpomoea batatasSunshine, a warm spot, and regular water, that's the whole deal, and it'll drape colorful leaves over any pot or bed right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Osage OrangeMaclura pomiferaPlant it once and forget about it. The Osage orange is just about indestructible, thorns, hedge apples, and all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ostrich FernMatteuccia struthiopterisGive it shade and steady moisture, and this hardy fern throws up knee-high fronds shaped like green shuttlecocks.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareGive it sun and lean, well-drained soil and the oxeye daisy blooms for months, then just keeps on spreading.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Pampas GrassCortaderia selloanaNot much beats a pampas grass clump in full plume for sheer show, but those silver feathers ride on razor-sharp leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Panda PlantKalanchoe tomentosaA fuzzy, silver-green succulent that's happy with bright light, dry soil, and not much else.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 10–21 daysToxicEasy

PansyViola × wittrockianaPop them in when the weather cools and pansies give you color through fall, winter, and spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

PapayaCarica papayaGive it full sun, steady moisture, and frost-free warmth, and papaya fruits within a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Paper BirchBetula papyriferaGive it a cool, moist root run and paper birch will pay you back with bright white bark for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

PapyrusCyperus papyrusKeep its roots wet and its head in full sun, and papyrus puts on a show of green, firework-like tufts right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 0–1 daysPet & child safeModerate

Parlor PalmChamaedorea elegansGive it low light and steady moisture, and the parlor palm thrives where fussier plants just sulk.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ParsleyPetroselinum crispumGive it rich soil, steady moisture, and a little patience at sowing, and parsley keeps your kitchen in fresh leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

ParsnipPastinaca sativaSow it, wait it out, and let a hard frost do the last little bit, and your parsnip turns sweet and nutty down in the soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PassionflowerPassiflora incarnataGive it full sun and a little room, and the maypop takes off fast, feeds butterflies, and flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

PassionfruitPassiflora edulisGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a strong trellis, and this fast vine rewards you with fragrant fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

PawpawAsimina trilobaNorth America's largest native fruit, rich as custard and tasting of banana and mango, ripens on a tree few gardeners know.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PeaPisum sativumSow them while the soil is still cold, give them something to climb and steady moisture, and the pods come sweet and early.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Peace LilySpathiphyllum wallisiiA forgiving, beginner-friendly houseplant that flops to show it's thirsty and pays back a little light with white blooms.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

PeachPrunus persicaGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a hard yearly pruning, and a peach tree pays you back in summer fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Peacock PlantGoeppertia makoyanaGive it warmth, humidity, and soft water, and the peacock plant unfurls some of the boldest leaves you'll grow indoors.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

PeanutArachis hypogaeaGive it full sun, loose sandy soil, and a long warm season, and the peanut quietly ripens a whole crop underground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

PearPyrus communisPop in two pear trees for cross-pollination, hand them plenty of sun and patience, and enjoy fruit for years and years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

PecanCarya illinoinensisGive it room, full sun, and a pollination partner, and a pecan shades the yard for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Pencil CactusEuphorbia tirucalliSun-loving and almost impossible to kill, but that milky sap bites back, so handle it with care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysToxicEasy

PeonyPaeonia lactifloraPlant it shallow in full sun, then leave it alone, and your peony will probably outlive you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Peperomia 'Hope'Peperomia deppeana × quadrifolia 'Hope'Easy, pet-safe, and happy to trail, Peperomia 'Hope' really just wants bright indirect light and soil that gets to dry out.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

PeppermintMentha × piperitaGive it steady moisture and a pot to call its own, and peppermint keeps the fresh leaves coming all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Perennial RyegrassLolium perenneSow it and it's up in days, giving you fast, fine-bladed, hard-wearing turf that greens a lawn in a fortnight.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Persian ButtercupRanunculus asiaticusPop the funny little claws into cool spring soil, and ranunculus pays you back with petals stacked like tissue paper.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PersimmonDiospyros kakiGive this tree plenty of sun and a bit of time, and it'll deck its bare autumn branches with bright fruit long past leaf fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

PetuniaPetunia × atkinsianaGive it full sun and steady feeding, and your petunia keeps the color coming from late spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Philodendron BirkinPhilodendron 'Birkin'Give it bright, filtered light and steady moisture, and this pinstriped philodendron just keeps unrolling clean white-on-green leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

PickerelweedPontederia cordataAn easygoing native pond marginal that throws up blue flower spikes all summer, and all it asks for is full sun and wet feet.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

PigsqueakBergenia cordifoliaTough, evergreen, and happy in the shade, bergenia carpets the ground and flowers when little else does.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Pin OakQuercus palustrisWant fast shade and fiery fall color? This tree gives you both, as long as its roots sit in acidic soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Pincushion FlowerScabiosa columbariaGive it full sun and soil that drains fast, and the pincushion flower keeps blooming from spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Pindo PalmButia capitataPicture a feather palm tough enough to take real cold, its gray-green fronds arching above fruit so sweet it's bound for jelly.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

PineappleAnanas comosusGive it strong light, warmth, and a pot that drains fast, and a grocery-store crown turns into a houseplant that fruits.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Pink Muhly GrassMuhlenbergia capillarisHand it full sun and lean, dry ground, and pink muhly grass puts on a rose-pink haze every single fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Pink Princess PhilodendronPhilodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess'Give it bright indirect light and steady moisture, and the Pink Princess keeps its candy-pink leaves all year.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Pinstripe CalatheaGoeppertia ornataHand it warmth, humidity, and the right water, and the pinstripe calathea gives back painted leaves that move along with the day.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemanding

PistachioPistacia veraGive it hot, dry summers and a male tree nearby, and the pistachio pays you back for your patience with split-shell nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicDemanding

PlumPrunus domesticaWant baskets of plums? Give it full sun and deep soil, prune once a year, and it'll deliver.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Polka Dot BegoniaBegonia maculataGet the basics right, bright indirect light, a light hand with water, and decent humidity, and this begonia pays it all back in silver-spotted angel-wing leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Polka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaKeep it in bright filtered light with a steady drink, and those freckly leaves stay colorful.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

PomegranatePunica granatumHand it full sun and even watering, and it'll pay you back with ruby fruit every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ponytail PalmBeaucarnea recurvataHand it bright light and a nice long dry spell between waterings, and honestly, it'll do the rest.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Poppy AnemoneAnemone coronariaSoak the corms, hand them sun and sharp drainage, and poppy anemones will light up spring in jewel colors.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PotatoSolanum tuberosumPop a few cut tubers in the ground, hill and water them well, and you'll dig up plenty come fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

PothosEpipremnum aureumEasygoing, quick to grow, and happy in a shadowy corner, pothos might be the hardest houseplant to kill.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Prayer PlantMaranta leuconeuraKeep it in soft water, damp soil, and humid air, and it'll fold its leaves shut like clockwork after dark.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

Prickly PearOpuntia ficus-indicaGive it sun, sharp drainage, and hardly any water, and prickly pear pretty much runs itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

PrimrosePrimula vulgarisKeep it cool, shaded, and nicely moist, and primrose will hand you the first flowers of spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

PrivetLigustrum vulgareA tough, quick-growing hedge that'll take almost any shape you shear it into, though it slips out of the garden and poisons grazing animals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

PumpkinCucurbita pepoGive it full sun, rich soil, and space to ramble, and one pumpkin vine pretty much runs the whole garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Purple ConeflowerEchinacea purpureaPop it in full sun and lean, well-drained soil and you'll get coneflowers from early summer right into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Purple HeartTradescantia pallidaHand it plenty of light and soil that drains, go easy on the water, and purple heart keeps its deep violet going strong.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Pygmy Date PalmPhoenix roebeleniiGive it bright, indirect light and a steady drink, and this easygoing palm keeps its shape for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

QuinceCydonia oblongaIt's slow and it's tart off the tree, but quince makes up for it with fragrant golden fruit that's magic in the kitchen.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Rabbit's Foot FernDavallia fejeensisKeep it bright, moist, and humid, leave the fuzzy paws on top, and it'll wander happily over the pot.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

RadicchioCichorium intybusLet the cool of fall do the work, and radicchio swaps harsh green for deep red and a pleasant bitter edge.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

RadishRaphanus sativusWant a harvest that's ready almost before you're done waiting? Give a radish cool weather and steady water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Rambling RoseRosaHand it plenty of sun and something sturdy to climb, prune it just after it flowers, and it'll drown a fence in tiny summer blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

RaspberryRubus idaeusGive it full sun, good soil, and a yearly haircut, and you'll be picking raspberries by the handful.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Rattlesnake PlantGoeppertia insignisThose bold, wavy leaves that fold up at night? They'll pay you back once the water and humidity are dialed in.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemanding

Red CloverTrifolium pratenseSow it once and red clover makes its own nitrogen, feeds the animals, and hands the next crop a richer patch of ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Red MapleAcer rubrumIt's fast, it's easy, and every fall it puts on a red and orange show you won't forget.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Red Spider LilyLycoris radiataPop the bulbs in with the neck above the soil, and those bare scapes will throw up fiery red blooms come early fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Red-hot PokerKniphofia uvariaGive it plenty of sun and soil that drains, and red-hot poker will light up the border with flame-colored spikes all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Reticulated IrisIris reticulataPop the tiny bulbs in the ground come fall and they'll open in icy blues and golds while winter's still hanging around.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Rex BegoniaBegonia Rex Cultorum GroupIt's all about those painted-looking leaves, and the rex begonia keeps them at their best with bright, indirect light and moving air.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

RhododendronRhododendronNail the acidic soil and dappled shade and this shrub keeps blooming spring after spring, pretty much forever.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

RhubarbRheum rhabarbarumPlant it once and rhubarb keeps giving back for years, with tart red stalks every spring and big leaves you just leave be.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Ripple PeperomiaPeperomia caperataThis little plant is a total softie about care: it just wants bright light and a pot that isn't kept soggy.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

River BirchBetula nigraGive it full sun and damp, acidic soil, and river birch grows fast and shows off that peeling, cinnamon bark.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

RodgersiaRodgersia aesculifoliaGive it damp shade and rodgersia will pump out enormous, sculpted leaves all season.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerate

Roman ChamomileChamaemelum nobileGive it full sun and dry feet, and it spreads into a soft apple-scented mat.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

RomanescoBrassica oleracea var. botrytisGrow it in a cool fall and you'll get a head that spirals into neat little green fractals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacusHand it full sun and a bit of elbow room, and this easy shrub keeps the color coming from midsummer right into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

RosemarySalvia rosmarinusGive it plenty of sun and quick-draining soil, go easy on the water, and this Mediterranean herb just keeps going.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Royal FernOsmunda regalisKeep it in wet, acidic soil and gentle shade, and this big friendly fern will send up fronds taller than you'd expect.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Rozanne CranesbillGeranium 'Rozanne'One of the longest-blooming perennials around, and it barely asks for a thing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Rubber PlantFicus elasticaHand it bright indirect light and one steady spot, and the rubber plant settles in as a glossy, low-fuss indoor tree.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

RueRuta graveolensGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and rue will hold its blue-green shape for years, no fuss needed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Rugosa RoseRosa rugosaThis is the rose that laughs off salt spray and brutal cold, blooms all summer, and then loads up on red hips.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Runner BeanPhaseolus coccineusGive it sun, something tall to climb, and steady water, and this easygoing climber just keeps cropping until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Russian SagePerovskia atriplicifoliaGive it full sun and dry, sharp-draining soil, and Russian sage puts on a blue haze from midsummer right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

RutabagaBrassica napus subsp. rapiferaPop the seed in during summer, wait out the season, and once a hard frost sweetens the roots you've got a fall crop that keeps for ages.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sacred LotusNelumbo nuciferaWarm sun, quiet water, and a roomy tub to run in are about all it asks, and it'll thank you with blooms held high over the pond.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Sago PalmCycas revolutaAn easygoing, ancient cycad that hardly asks for a thing, yet it's hiding a toxin that can kill a pet.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

SaguaroCarnegiea giganteaHand it plenty of sun, quick-draining soil, and a lot of patience, and this desert giant pretty much takes it from there.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Salad BurnetSanguisorba minorPark it in a sunny, lean spot, and this little herb won't stop giving you cucumber-flavored leaves all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SalsifyTragopogon porrifoliusGive salsify loose, deep, rock-free ground and plenty of cool weather, and it'll hand back a sweet root that tastes a bit like oyster.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Salvia (Annual)Salvia splendensPop scarlet sage in full sun and keep it watered, and you'll get flower spikes right through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

San Pedro CactusEchinopsis pachanoiGive it loads of sun and a good dry-out between waterings, and this tall columnar cactus just keeps climbing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

SassafrasSassafras albidumWant knockout fall color and quirky mitten-shaped leaves? Plant sassafras and just give its roots space to wander.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Satin PothosScindapsus pictusKeep it in bright, indirect light and a warm spot, and those silvery leaves will trail along happily for years.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Saucer MagnoliaMagnolia × soulangeanaPop it somewhere late frost can't reach the buds, and a saucer magnolia gives you goblet-shaped pink blooms before a single leaf shows up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sawara False CypressChamaecyparis pisiferaHand it full sun and free-draining soil, and false cypress keeps its color looking good all year long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Scarlet FirethornPyracantha coccineaIt's tough, it's fast, and it's got thorns, but firethorn pays you back with clouds of white spring flowers and orange-red winter berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Scots PinePinus sylvestrisIt's tough, it grows fast, and it's totally fine on poor, dry ground, so sun is about all it wants.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sea HollyEryngium planumGive it a hot, sunny spot and soil that stays lean and dry, and sea holly puts on steel-blue, thistle-like flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sea ThriftArmeria maritimaHand sea thrift full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, and it'll pile up pink cushions across the rock garden year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

SedgeCarexGet the species right for your spot, and sedge hands over easy, year-round texture whether it's baking in sun or sitting in deep shade.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SedumSedumHand it some sun and soil that drains, and this laid-back stonecrop pretty much takes it from there.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

SenecioSenecioHand it bright light and gritty soil that dries out fast, and this laid-back blue-green succulent pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysToxicEasy

Sensitive FernOnoclea sensibilisGive it shade and soil that stays wet, and the sensitive fern will happily fill a damp corner for you.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

ServiceberryAmelanchier × grandifloraOne little tree that keeps giving: white spring flowers, sweet June berries, and fiery fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

ShallotAllium cepa Aggregatum GroupPop one bulb in the ground and it'll turn into a whole cluster, all on its own, year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Shasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbumHand it sun and soil that drains, and it'll pump out crisp white daisies all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ShisoPerilla frutescensKeep pinching and you'll have tender, fragrant leaves all summer for pickles, garnishes, and wraps.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Shrub RoseRosaGive it plenty of sun and a little breathing room, and a shrub rose keeps the flowers coming from late spring until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Shrubby CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaIt's tough, it's easygoing, and it stays loaded with blooms all summer while asking for almost nothing back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Shrubby St. John's WortHypericum frondosumIt's tough, it laughs off drought, and it's covered in bright yellow summer flowers, all from a native shrub that hardly asks for a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Siberian IrisIris sibiricaTough, cold-hardy, and just about fuss-free, Siberian iris takes a damp spot and hands back grassy leaves and late-spring blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Siberian SquillScilla sibericaPlant the bulbs one time, and a wash of early blue just keeps coming back every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Silver Inch PlantTradescantia zebrinaGive it a bright window and the odd pinch, and this trailing inch plant fills a pot in no time.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Silver Lace VineFallopia baldschuanicaWant a bare fence covered fast? This vine will do it, and it barely asks for anything beyond a good prune.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Silver MapleAcer saccharinumFast, tough, and perfectly fine with damp ground, silver maple gives you real shade sooner than almost any tree out there.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sky Pencil HollyIlex crenataIt is basically a green pillar for spots too tight for anything else, and all it really asks for is acidic soil and a bit of winter care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Slender DeutziaDeutzia gracilisAn easygoing, pet-safe shrub that buries itself in white spring flowers and barely asks for a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Slipper OrchidPaphiopedilumKeep it warm, softly lit, and evenly moist, and this slipper orchid hands you a flower that sticks around for months.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Smoke BushCotinus coggygriaHand it full sun and sharp drainage, and you'll get summer haze plus knockout fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Snake PlantDracaena trifasciataTough to kill and happy to be left alone, the snake plant wants bright light, dry roots, and barely a second thought.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–42 daysToxicEasy

Snap PeaPisum sativum var. macrocarponGet them in while the ground's still chilly, and snap peas hand back sweet, crunchy pods before summer even shows up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusLooking for easy cool-weather color? Snapdragons keep pushing out fresh flower spikes right through spring and fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Snowball BushViburnum opulusGive it full sun and room to stretch, and the snowball bush will pile on white spring globes like clockwork.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Solomon's SealPolygonatum biflorumHand it a shady, damp, humus-rich spot and Solomon's seal mostly runs itself.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sorghum-sudangrassSorghum × drummondiiA fast, sky-high summer grass that'll smother weeds and loosen packed soil, though it comes with a genuine cyanide warning for grazing animals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Southern Live OakQuercus virginianaA sprawling, long-lived shade tree that wants room to grow and little else once it settles in.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Southern MagnoliaMagnolia grandifloraA big, easygoing evergreen with glossy leaves and lemon-scented white blooms that'll anchor a yard for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

SoybeanGlycine maxHand it full sun and warm soil, and this self-feeding legume pretty much stocks its own pods.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpearmintMentha spicataKeep it watered and give it its own container, and spearmint just keeps the fresh leaves coming.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Spider PlantChlorophytum comosumHand it bright indirect light and a drink when the soil dries, and the spider plant grows fast while staying safe around your pets.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpiderwortTradescantia virginianaHappy in sun or shade, spiderwort rolls out fresh three-petaled flowers every single morning.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Spike SpeedwellVeronica spicataWant blue spikes all summer? Give speedwell full sun and soil that drains.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpinachSpinacia oleraceaKeep it cool, water it regularly, and grab it young, and spinach gives back tender leaves in about six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Split RockPleiospilos neliiA pint-sized succulent that looks like a cracked pebble and honestly just wants sun and a long dry nap.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Split-leaf PhilodendronPhilodendron bipinnatifidumWarm spot, even water, and bright indirect light? That's pretty much all this big, leafy philodendron needs to turn a corner into a mini jungle.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Spotted Dead NettleLamium maculatumTuck it into cool, dry shade where almost nothing else thrives, and the silver foliage brightens the ground straight through the season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Spring CrocusCrocus vernusTuck the corms in come fall, and the spring crocus pops up with the first color of the year, often poking straight through the snow.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

St. Augustine GrassStenotaphrum secundatumHand it warmth, regular water, and a nice high mow, and St. Augustine grass turns into a thick, carpet-like lawn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Staghorn FernPlatycerium bifurcatumStick it on a board, hand it bright indirect light and a good soak, and the staghorn will fan out antlers that look like the real thing.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star CactusAstrophytum asteriasGive it bright light and gritty soil, let it dry out completely before the next drink, and this little spineless star pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoidesGive it a fence to climb, and star jasmine hands back clouds of sweet white flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Star MagnoliaMagnolia stellataIt's one of the first trees to flower each spring, and star magnolia opens a whole cloud of fragrant white stars before a single leaf shows up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star of BethlehemOrnithogalum umbellatumA laid-back spring bulb with white star flowers that nap at noon, easy to grow but toxic, so it's worth handling with care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

StaticeLimonium sinuatumSet it somewhere sunny with soil that drains fast, and statice hands back papery blooms that keep their color long after they've dried.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SteviaStevia rebaudianaIt's a no-calorie sweetener you can pick and chew straight from the plant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

StockMatthiola incanaKeep stock cool early and drop it in full sun, and it'll reward you with fragrant, spiky bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Stokes AsterStokesia laevisA laid-back native perennial that keeps the blue summer flowers coming without asking for much.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

StonecropSedumGive it plenty of sun and quick-draining soil, then pretty much leave stonecrop to its own devices.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

StrawberryFragaria × ananassaGive it full sun, steady water, and clean straw mulch, and the strawberry keeps handing you sweet fruit year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

StrawflowerXerochrysum bracteatumHand it full sun and dry soil, and the strawflower gives back papery blooms that stick around long after summer's gone.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

String of BananasCurio radicansHand it bright light, gritty soil, and a dry breather between waterings, and string of bananas will go trailing right over the edge before long.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of ButtonsCrassula perforataGive it bright light and a dry, gritty mix, and this stacked succulent piles its leaves into cute little towers.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of DolphinsCurio × peregrinusWant a plant that looks like a pod of dolphins mid-leap? Give it bright, indirect light and a light touch with water, and it's happy.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of HeartsCeropegia woodiiGive it bright light and a good dry-out between drinks, and those hearts just keep trailing.☀️ Bright indirectSafety unverifiedEasy

String of PearlsCurio rowleyanusWater it right and you'll watch this trailing succulent send a curtain of little green beads spilling past the pot.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

String of TurtlesPeperomia prostrataA trailing peperomia covered in tiny leaves that look just like little turtle shells, ready to trail off a shelf for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Stromanthe TriostarStromanthe thalia 'Triostar'Keep the water soft, the air humid, and the sun off it, and this tricolor prayer plant stays gorgeous.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Sugar MapleAcer saccharumGive it moisture-rich soil and elbow room, and a sugar maple pays you back with shade all summer and knockout fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Summer SavorySatureja hortensisGive it sun and dry roots and this peppery little bean herb pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Summer SquashCucurbita pepoHand it plenty of sun, rich ground, and even water, and summer squash pays you back with more fruit than one household can cook.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

SummersweetClethra alnifoliaGive it steady moisture and a bit of shade, and summersweet pays you back with fragrant spikes long after the other shrubs have packed it in.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SunchokeHelianthus tuberosusPlant it once and it'll feed you for years, so long as you keep it in its lane.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SunflowerHelianthus annuusHand it full sun and a spot out of the wind, and a sunflower will stand tall from summer into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Surprise LilyLycoris squamigeraPop the bulb in once and wait, then watch bare pink stalks pop up overnight in late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaA low carpet of honey-scented bloom that flowers spring to fall and brings in the helpful bugs.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Sweet Autumn ClematisClematis ternifloraLate summer, and suddenly there's a wall of fragrant white flowers where a plain old fence used to be.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet CornZea maysPut it in a block, not a row, feed it well, and sweet corn pays you back with full, milky ears by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sweet FlagAcorus gramineusGive it wet ground and a bit of sun, and sweet flag keeps a tidy grassy fan going all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweet MarjoramOriganum majoranaGive it full sun and dry feet, and sweet marjoram hands you back one of the gentlest flavors in the herb garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet PeaLathyrus odoratusGet it in early, keep cutting, and sweet pea hands back scent and color all spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Sweet PotatoIpomoea batatasHand it plenty of sun, warm soil, and a long season, and the sweet potato just keeps stuffing the ground with roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweet WilliamDianthus barbatusHand it a sunny spot, free-draining soil, and room to reseed, and Sweet William turns out clove-scented color all over the bed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet WoodruffGalium odoratumGive it cool, moist shade and this fragrant carpet pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SweetgumLiquidambar styracifluaHand it deep, acidic soil and full sun, and the sweetgum gives back star-shaped leaves and a fall show that's hard to beat.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweetheart HoyaHoya kerriiWater it like a succulent, give it bright light, and the sweetheart hoya barely asks for a thing.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Swiss ChardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisPlant it once, keep cutting the outer stalks, and Swiss chard just keeps handing you leaves all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Swiss Cheese PlantMonstera deliciosaHand it bright indirect light and something to climb, and the Swiss cheese plant gives back big, hole-punched leaves.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Swiss Cheese VineMonstera adansoniiHand it bright indirect light and something to climb, and the Swiss cheese vine fills out fast with those hole-punched leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

SwitchgrassPanicum virgatumHand it full sun and lean soil, and this grass keeps standing tall all the way from summer into winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Tall FescueFestuca arundinaceaTough as nails and green through heat and cold, tall fescue is about the most low-maintenance lawn grass around.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Tamukeyama Japanese MapleAcer palmatumIt's the weeping maple with feathery red leaves that just keep looking good, spring right through fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

TangerineCitrus reticulataGive it full sun, steady water, and a break from frost, and a tangerine hands back sweet fruit all winter long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

TeaCamellia sinensisGive it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady moisture, and this easygoing evergreen shrub grows the leaves that end up in your teapot.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Tea PlantCamellia sinensisHand it acidic soil, part shade, and steady moisture, and Camellia sinensis grows the leaves behind every cup of tea.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Thanksgiving CactusSchlumbergera truncataHand it bright indirect light and cool fall nights, and this laid-back forest cactus will flower right when the holidays roll around.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ThymeThymus vulgarisAll thyme really asks for is sun and lean, dry soil, and it pays you back with fragrant sprigs season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ti PlantCordyline fruticosaGet the light bright and the water clean, and the ti plant hands back pink, red, and burgundy leaves that stay colorful all year.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Toad LilyTricyrtis hirtaTuck it into a shady, moist spot and the toad lily saves its speckled, orchid-like flowers for the quiet end of the season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

TomatilloPhysalis philadelphicaGrow a pair for a real crop, hand them full sun, and tart green husks keep coming all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

TomatoSolanum lycopersicumHand it full sun, steady water, and good airflow, and the tomato keeps paying you back all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Tradescantia 'Nanouk'Tradescantia albiflora 'Nanouk'Keep it bright and pinch it now and then, and Nanouk stays rosy, full, and hard to mess up.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Tropical Pitcher PlantNepenthesGive it warmth, high humidity, and rainwater, and this quirky carnivore grows its own insect-trapping cups.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Trumpet VineCampsis radicansHand it full sun and something sturdy to climb, and the trumpet vine will pull in hummingbirds all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

TuberosePolianthes tuberosaGive it full sun and soil that drains fast, and tuberose will scent your late-summer evenings for you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Tuberous BegoniaBegonia × tuberhybridaHand it shade, even moisture, and good airflow, and the tuberous begonia pays you back with huge summer blooms.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

TulipTulipa spp.Pop the bulbs in come fall, hand them a long cold winter, and tulips light up spring with its boldest color.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Tulip TreeLiriodendron tulipiferaA fast, towering shade tree that hangs tulip-shaped flowers way up in the canopy and lights up golden every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

TurmericCurcuma longaKeep it warm, damp, and richly fed for a long season, and turmeric pays you back in golden rhizomes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

TurnipBrassica rapa subsp. rapaSow it cool, water it even, and pull it young, and the turnip gives back roots and greens in one short season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Umbrella TreeHeptapleurum arboricolaHand it bright indirect light and a little time to dry out between waterings, and this easygoing Schefflera mostly runs itself.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Urn PlantAechmea fasciataKeep that cup topped up and the light nice and bright, and you will get months of color out of this bromeliad.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

ValerianValeriana officinalisHand it full sun and steady moisture, and valerian gives back fragrant summer flowers plus a root your cat won't stop rolling in.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Vanda OrchidVandaHang it bare-root, hand it bright light and high humidity, soak the roots every day, and this Vanda hands back showstopping blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–2 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Velvet Cardboard AnthuriumAnthurium clarinerviumThose velvety, white-veined leaves are the whole point, and they'll stay gorgeous as long as this anthurium gets warmth, humidity, and an easy hand with the watering can.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Venus FlytrapDionaea muscipulaGive it full sun, rainwater, and a cold winter rest, and your flytrap will happily catch its own dinner for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

VerbenaVerbena canadensisSun all day, soil that drains in a flash, and that's honestly most of it: verbena repays the favor with months of easy color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

ViburnumViburnumGive it sun, elbow room, and a steady drink while it's young, and viburnum hands back spring scent and fall berries for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ViolaViola cornutaPlant them while it's cool and violas just keep pumping out cheerful, edible flowers from fall right through spring.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaGive it rich, moist shade and Virginia bluebells will fill your spring woodland with soft sky-blue.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaA tough native vine that hands you knockout fall color as long as you keep it trimmed back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Virginia SweetspireItea virginicaAn easygoing native that hands you fragrant spring flowers and knockout fall color without much fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

WalnutJuglans regiaGive it deep soil, full sun, and space to stretch out, and a walnut will shade the yard for generations while filling baskets each fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysMildly toxicModerate

Water HyacinthPontederia crassipesA pretty floating bloom that's surprisingly hungry and should never reach open water.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Water LettucePistia stratiotesA free-floating rosette that doubles fast in warm water, and one you'll want to keep well away from any wild pond or stream.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Water LilyNymphaeaGive it a sunny spot and calm water, and a water lily keeps flowering from late spring right into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Water PoppyHydrocleys nymphoidesHand it full sun and warm, still water, and you'll get glossy floating leaves and bright yellow flowers all season.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

WatercressNasturtium officinaleGive it cool, clean, moving water and watercress keeps handing you a peppery harvest from spring right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

WatermelonCitrullus lanatusGive it full sun, warm soil, and room to sprawl, and watermelon hands back sweet, heavy fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Watermelon PeperomiaPeperomia argyraeaGive it bright, filtered light and a light touch with water, and this little striped plant pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensGive it moist soil, dappled light, and a bit of elbow room, and it'll bloom nonstop from spring right up to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Wax PlantHoya carnosaGive it bright light and a let-it-dry watering habit, and this easy-going wax plant rewards you with clusters of porcelain flowers.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Weeping CherryPrunus subhirtellaPlant it in a sunny spot, and every April the weeping cherry spills pink and white blossom right down to the grass.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Weeping FigFicus benjaminaFind it one bright, steady spot it can call home, and this weeping fig turns into a graceful little indoor tree.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Weeping WillowSalix babylonicaPlant it near water, give it room to spread, and it'll trail its green branches right down to the ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

White CloverTrifolium repensA low, self-feeding carpet that greens up the yard, keeps the bees happy, and barely asks for a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

White FirAbies concolorHand it room, sun, and well-drained acidic soil, and the white fir will keep its silvery-blue pyramid going for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

White OakQuercus albaPlant it for the long haul and you'll hand the next generation a century of shade and a wildlife buffet of acorns.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Wild GeraniumGeranium maculatumGive it dappled shade and moist woodland soil and this easygoing native will carpet the spring garden in pink.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Wild GingerAsarum canadenseAn easygoing woodland carpet that's happy with just shade and steady moisture.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Windmill PalmTrachycarpus fortuneiHardy down to single digits, the windmill palm gives you a true tropical look in gardens way colder than most palms can take.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerate

Winter AconiteEranthis hyemalisWant the first splash of color in the yard? Winter aconite opens bright gold while the snow is barely gone.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Winter DaphneDaphne odoraHardly any shrub perfumes a winter garden the way daphne does, but every part of it is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicDemanding

Winter SquashCucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepoHand it full sun, space to roam, and warm soil, and winter squash keeps the pantry stocked well after frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Winterberry HollyIlex verticillataSet a male near your females and winterberry gives you bare stems lit up with red berries all winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

WintergreenGaultheria procumbensHand it acidic soil and cool shade, and wintergreen turns into a glossy evergreen mat dotted with red berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Wishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriKeep it shaded and watered, and this little annual just keeps blooming right up to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

WisteriaWisteria sinensisGive it full sun, a heavy support, and two hard prunings a year, and wisteria drips with flowers each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Witch HazelHamamelis virginianaGive it moist, acidic soil and a bit of room, and witch hazel hands you ribbon-like flowers right when the rest of the garden has called it a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Wood FernDryopteris marginalisWant an easy shade plant? This tough native fern just needs shade and steady moisture to thrive for years.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Woodland SageSalvia nemorosaHand it full sun and dry, lean soil, and woodland sage keeps cranking out violet flower spikes from summer right into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

WormwoodArtemisia absinthiumHand it poor, dry soil and full sun, and this silvery bitter herb pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

Xanadu PhilodendronPhilodendron xanaduGive it bright, indirect light and steady moisture, and this self-heading philodendron fills a corner without asking much of you.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

YamDioscoreaGive it warm ground and something tall to climb, wait out the long season, and yam hands you big, storable tubers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

YarrowAchillea millefoliumPop it in full sun and poor, dry soil, then leave it alone, and yarrow flowers all summer long.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoriaEvergreen, tough, and the one North American holly you can brew, yaupon takes drought, salt, and shade right in stride.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Yoshino CherryPrunus × yedoensisWant a yard that stops traffic? Plant a Yoshino cherry for its clouds of white-to-pink spring blossom, and enjoy a two-week show every year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

YuccaYuccaGive it bright light and a pot that drains fast, then mostly leave it be, and a yucca will outlast just about anything on your windowsill.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–21 daysToxicEasy

YuzuCitrus junosIt's the hardiest of all the true citrus, but yuzu will want patience and a sheltered, sunny spot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Zebra HaworthiaHaworthiopsis attenuataHand it bright indirect light and a nice long dry spell between waterings, and this stripy little succulent pretty much runs itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Zebra PlantAphelandra squarrosaStriped leaves and a bright yellow bloom, all it asks in return is the warm, humid air it never stops wanting.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

ZinniaZinnia elegansGive it full sun and dry leaves, and this zinnia won't stop blooming until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Zoysia GrassZoysia japonicaTough, dense, and drought-tolerant once it's settled, zoysia trades a slow start for a lawn that just won't quit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

ZucchiniCucurbita pepoHand it full sun, warm soil, and a steady drink, and honestly, a plant or two will keep your kitchen swimming in squash all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

ZZ PlantZamioculcas zamiifoliaShiny, tough as nails, and content tucked in a corner you forgot about, the ZZ plant wants next to nothing and keeps paying you back for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy