Pet & child safe plants

Non-toxic plants you can grow around cats, dogs, and curious toddlers without worry.

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 safeEasyAfrican 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 safeEasyAfrican 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 safeModerateAir 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 safeEasyAlfalfaMedicago sativaNail the soil and pH first, and this taprooted legume just keeps giving you cuttings for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateAmerican BasswoodTilia americanaA big, easygoing shade tree loaded with fragrant summer flowers the bees can't get enough of.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyAmerican 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 safeModerateAmerican ElmUlmus americanaA fast-growing vase-shaped shade tree that nearly went extinct and bounced back in resistant form.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateAmerican 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 safeEasyAmerican 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 safeModerateAmerican 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 safeEasyAmerican 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 safeModerateAngeloniaAngelonia angustifoliaHand it full sun and heat, and angelonia just keeps throwing up spires of bloom from summer to fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyAnisePimpinella 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 safeModerateAreca 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 safeEasyArrowwood 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 safeEasyArugulaEruca 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 safeEasyAsiatic 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 safeEasyAsterSymphyotrichumGive it full sun and well-drained soil, and the aster keeps your garden's color going right into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyAstilbeAstilbe × arendsiiHand it shade and soil that stays damp, and astilbe brightens those dim corners with feathery plumes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBaby 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 safeEasyBaby ToesFenestraria rhopalophyllaHand it bright light and barely any water, and this little bunch of window-tipped toes is good to go.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerateBacopaSutera 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 safeEasyBahiagrassPaspalum notatumTough, drought-proof, and happy in poor sandy soil, bahiagrass holds ground where finer lawns give up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBald 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 safeEasyBalloon 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 safeEasyBamboo PalmChamaedorea seifriziiHand it bright indirect light and clean water, and the bamboo palm turns a quiet corner into soft, feathery green.☀️ Medium indirectPet & child safeEasyBananaMusa 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 safeModerateBarrel 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 safeEasyBarren StrawberryWaldsteinia ternataA tough little yellow-flowered mat that blankets dry shade where almost nothing else will take hold.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBarrenwortEpimedium 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 safeEasyBasilOcimum 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 safeEasyBeardtonguePenstemon 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 safeEasyBeautybushKolkwitzia amabilisAn easygoing, arching shrub that drapes itself in pink, bell-shaped flowers every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBee 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 safeEasyBeetBeta 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 safeEasyBell 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 safeEasyBellflowerCampanula persicifoliaGive it cool weather, sun, and well-drained soil, and the bellflower rings out blue bells every summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBells of IrelandMoluccella laevisTall green spires of bell-shaped calyces that love cool weather and dry beautifully for the vase.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateBermuda 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 safeEasyBidensBidens 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 safeEasyBig 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 safeEasyBird'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 safeModerateBlack 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 safeEasyBlack 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 safeEasyBlack-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 safeEasyBlack-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 safeEasyBlackberryRubus 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 safeEasyBladderwortUtriculariaPure water, lean soil, and bright light: this tiny carnivore feeds itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerateBlanket FlowerGaillardia × grandifloraHand it full sun and lean, dry soil, and the blanket flower keeps the color going from June to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyBlazing StarLiatris spicataPop the corms in once and blazing star keeps sending up tall purple spikes for the bees every summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyBloodgood Japanese MapleAcer palmatumThe classic red maple that's easier to love than to grow from scratch.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateBlue 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 safeEasyBlue 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 safeEasyBluebeardCaryopteris × 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 safeEasyBlueberryVaccinium corymbosumKeep the soil acidic and a buddy bush close by, and you'll be picking blueberries all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateBlushing 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 safeEasyBok 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 safeEasyBorder 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 safeEasyBoston FernNephrolepis exaltataKeep the air humid and the soil evenly moist, and your Boston fern turns into a soft green fountain.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyBougainvilleaBougainvillea 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 safeModerateBoysenberryRubus 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 safeModerateBradford 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 safeEasyBrazilian 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 safeModerateBroccoliBrassica 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 safeModerateBroccoli 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 safeEasyBromeliadBromeliaceae (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 safeEasyBrunneraBrunnera 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 safeEasyBrussels 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 safeModerateBuffalo GrassBouteloua dactyloidesAn easygoing native prairie grass that keeps a lawn green on a fraction of the water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeModerateBugleweedAjuga 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 safeEasyBunny 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 safeEasyBurro'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 safeEasyButterfly 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 safeEasyButterwortPinguicula 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 safeEasyButton 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 safeEasyCabbageBrassica 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 safeModerateCalathea MedallionGoeppertia roseopictaGive it soft water, warm air, and steady humidity, and those medallion leaves open up with the full painted pattern.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalathea OrbifoliaGoeppertia orbifoliaBig, round leaves with ribbon stripes that fold up at night, happy to reward you for getting the basics right.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalathea White FusionGoeppertia lietzei 'White Fusion'Sort out the water and humidity and this living watercolour hands you brushstroked leaves in return.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalendulaCalendula officinalisGive it full sun and lean soil, and pot marigold keeps blooming from spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCalibrachoaCalibrachoa × 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 safeEasyCalifornia 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 safeModerateCamelliaCamellia 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 safeModerateCandytuftIberis 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 safeEasyCanna 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 safeEasyCantaloupeCucumis 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 safeModerateCape 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 safeEasyCape 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 safeModerateCardoonCynara 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 safeModerateCarrotDaucus 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 safeModerateCast Iron PlantAspidistra elatiorPop it into the darkest corner of the house and the cast iron plant just keeps on going.☀️ Low lightPet & child safeEasyCatmintNepeta × 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 safeEasyCattailTypha 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 safeEasyCattleya 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 safeModerateCauliflowerBrassica 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 safeDemandingCeleriacApium 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 safeDemandingCeleryApium 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 safeDemandingCelosiaCelosia 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 safeEasyCentipede 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 safeEasyCereal RyeSecale cerealeSow it late, let it green up the off-season, and it builds your soil while smothering winter weeds.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyChervilAnthriscus 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 safeModerateChestnutCastanea 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 safeModerateChickpeaCicer arietinumThe knee-high legume that makes most of its own nitrogen and feeds half the world.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerateChinese ElmUlmus parvifoliaAn easygoing, fast shade tree that takes poor soil, drought, and city grit in stride.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyChinese 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 safeEasyChinese Money PlantPilea peperomioidesThe round-leaved charmer that practically begs to be shared.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyChocolate 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 safeModerateChocolate 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 safeEasyCholla CactusCylindropuntia fulgidaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, then just keep your distance from those grabby, barbed joints.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyChristmas 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 safeEasyChristmas 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 safeEasyCilantroCoriandrum 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 safeEasyCleomeCleome 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 safeEasyClimbing RoseRosaTie it up, train the canes sideways, and a climbing rose will drape a wall in bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateCobra LilyDarlingtonia californicaA hooded carnivore that wants a hot top and cold feet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemandingCoconut PalmCocos nuciferaHand it full tropical sun, warmth, and sandy coastal soil, and the coconut palm keeps paying you back for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateCollard 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 safeEasyColorado 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 safeModerateCommon CamasCamassia quamashThe hardy meadow bulb that puts on a blue spring show, then quietly rests all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCommon 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 safeModerateCommon 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 safeEasyCommon NinebarkPhysocarpus opulifoliusAn easygoing native shrub with peeling bark and colorful leaves that barely asks for a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCoral 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 safeEasyCoreopsisCoreopsis grandifloraGive it full sun and lean, dry soil and tickseed throws gold daisies from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCorkscrew 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 safeEasyCornflowerCentaurea cyanusToss some seed into full sun and lean soil, and cornflower hands you true-blue blooms all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCosmosCosmos bipinnatusHand it full sun and poor soil, and cosmos just keeps blooming from summer to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyCranberryVaccinium 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 safeDemandingCreeping 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 safeDemandingCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping PhloxPhlox subulataGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping phlox spreads a spring carpet of color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCrepe 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 safeEasyCrimson 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 safeEasyCrossvineBignonia capreolataAn easygoing native climber that puts on a spring show of trumpets and keeps the hummingbirds coming back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCucumberCucumis 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 safeEasyCuminCuminum 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 safeDemandingCup-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 safeEasyCupheaCuphea 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 safeEasyCurrantRibes rubrumTough, cold-loving, and dripping with tart berries, the currant is a friendly pick for a cool garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCurry PlantHelichrysum italicumThe silvery little shrub that smells like curry but has nothing to do with the spice.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCymbidium 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 safeModerateDaikon 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 safeEasyDate 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 safeModerateDavid Austin RoseRosaOld-rose charm and scent, plus flowers that just keep coming from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateDawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboidesA living fossil that glows russet-bronze every fall and grows quickly enough to watch it happen.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasyDendrobium 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 safeModerateDeodar 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 safeModerateDiasciaDiascia barberaeThe easygoing cool-season charmer that spills over container edges in coral and pink.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyDichondraDichondraA 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 safeModerateDillAnethum graveolensFeathery, fast, and friendly: the cool-season herb that practically plants itself next year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyDouglas 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 safeModerateDragon 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 safeModerateDwarf 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 safeModerateDwarf 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 safeEasyDwarf 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 safeModerateEarth StarCryptanthus bivittatusHand it bright indirect light and steady humidity, and the earth star keeps its color all year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyEaster 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 safeModerateEastern 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 safeModerateEastern 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 safeEasyEastern 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 safeEasyEastern 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 safeModerateEcheveriaEcheveriaGive it bright light and a soil that dries out fast, and honestly, this rosette succulent pretty much runs itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyEndiveCichorium endiviaKeep it cool, steady, and roomy, and endive hands you crisp salad leaves in spring and fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasyFairy 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 safeEasyFalse 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 safeEasyFan 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 safeEasyFava 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 safeEasyFeather 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 safeEasyFenugreekTrigonella 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 safeEasyField 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 safeEasyFine 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 safeEasyFlaming 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 safeModerateFlorence FennelFoeniculum vulgareKeep it cool and watered, and you'll get a crisp, anise-sweet bulb.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateFloribunda 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 safeModerateFlowering 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 safeModerateFlowering 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 safeEasyFoamflowerTiarella 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 safeEasyForget-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 safeEasyFountain 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 safeEasyFranklin 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 safeDemandingFreesiaFreesia refractaArching sprays of intensely fragrant winter blooms that open one at a time.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateFrench 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 safeModerateFuchsiaFuchsia × 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 safeModerateGarden 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 safeModerateGarden 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 safeEasyGauraGaura 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 safeEasyGazaniaGazania 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 safeEasyGerbera 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 safeModerateGhost 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 safeEasyGingerZingiber 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 safeModerateGinkgoGinkgo bilobaSlow, tough, and basically impossible to kill, the ginkgo is a tree you plant for the long haul.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGlobe 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 safeEasyGlobe ArtichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymusA big, handsome thistle you grow for the buds you eat before they bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGlobe 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 safeEasyGlossy 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 safeEasyGoji 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 safeEasyGolden 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 safeEasyGolden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculataA hardy shade tree, throwing a midsummer show of papery lantern pods and bright yellow bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGoldenrodSolidago 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 safeEasyGoldfish 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 safeEasyGooseberryRibes uva-crispaAn easygoing, cold-hardy berry bush that just wants cool conditions, an open shape, and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGrandiflora 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 safeModerateGrape 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 safeEasyGreat 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 safeEasyGreen 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 safeEasyGreen 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 safeEasyGround 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 safeEasyGroundcover 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 safeEasyGuavaPsidium 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 safeEasyGuzmania (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 safeEasyHardy 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 safeEasyHardy 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 safeModerateHaworthiaHaworthiaGive 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 safeEasyHazelnutCorylus 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 safeModerateHen and ChicksSempervivum tectorumGive it sun, grit, and hardly any water, and this tough little succulent pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyHindu 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 safeEasyHinoki 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 safeModerateHolly FernCyrtomium falcatumGlossy, holly-shaped fronds and a pet-safe, shade-loving streak make this fern a relaxed keeper.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyHollyhockAlcea roseaTall, old-fashioned spires of bloom that plant themselves once you let them go to seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyHoly 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 safeEasyHoney 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 safeEasyHoneyberryLonicera 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 safeEasyHoneydew 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 safeModerateHummingbird 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 safeEasyHybrid 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 safeModerateHyssopHyssopus 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 safeEasyImpatiensImpatiens wallerianaHand it a shady, moist spot and impatiens will pour out color for the whole summer.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasyIronweedVernonia 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 safeEasyItalian 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 safeEasyJacob'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 safeEasyJane 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 safeEasyJapanese BarberryBerberis thunbergiiTough, thorny, and richly colored, but think it through before you plant it where it can spread.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeModerateJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeDemandingJapanese 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 safeModerateJewel 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 safeEasyJoe 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 safeEasyJuniperJuniperus 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 safeEasyKaleBrassica oleracea Acephala GroupEasygoing and giving, kale hands you tender leaves from spring right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyKentia 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 safeEasyKentucky 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 safeModerateKimberly 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 safeEasyKiwiActinidia 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 safeModerateKnock 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 safeEasyKohlrabiBrassica 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 safeEasyKousa DogwoodCornus kousaA small tree that gives you star-shaped blooms, edible fruit, and peeling bark all year round.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateLacy 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 safeEasyLady PalmRhapis excelsaSlow-growing, shade-friendly, and safe around pets, the lady palm is about as easygoing as indoor palms get.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyLamb's EarStachys byzantinaGrow it for those soft, silvery leaves that carpet the ground and barely ask a thing of you.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyLemon 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 safeEasyLemon 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 safeModerateLentilLens 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 safeModerateLettuceLactuca sativaKeep it cool, moist, and growing fast, and lettuce hands you crisp salads in about a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasyLewisiaLewisia cotyledonGive it sharp drainage and a dry crown, and lewisia crowns its rosette with bright flowers each spring.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateLeyland 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 safeModerateLigulariaLigularia 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 safeModerateLingonberryVaccinium 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 safeModerateLipstick 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 safeEasyLisianthusEustoma 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 safeDemandingLithopsLithopsTiny living stones that get by on almost no water, and give you grief the moment you overdo it.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateLittle 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 safeEasyLoganberryRubus × 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 safeModerateLungwortPulmonaria 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 safeEasyLycheeLitchi 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 safeDemandingMacedonian 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 safeEasyMaiden 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 safeEasyMaidenhair FernAdiantum raddianumKeep the soil moist and the air humid, and this lacy fern softens any shaded corner.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingMajesty 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 safeModerateMalabar 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 safeEasyMangoMangifera 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 safeModerateMexican 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 safeEasyMexican SnowballEcheveria elegansHand it bright sun and dry roots, and the Mexican snowball keeps a tight silver rosette going for years.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyMiniature 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 safeModerateMizunaBrassica 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 safeEasyMock 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 safeEasyMondo 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 safeEasyMoney TreePachira aquaticaEasygoing and safe around pets, the money tree grows fast and doesn't ask much of you.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyMontbretiaCrocosmia × 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 safeEasyMoon 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 safeModerateMoth 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 safeEasyMountain 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 safeEasyMugo 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 safeEasyMulberryMorus 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 safeEasyMuskmelonCucumis 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 safeModerateMustard 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 safeEasyNasturtiumTropaeolum 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 safeEasyNemesiaNemesia strumosaGive it cool weather, steady moisture, and full sun, and nemesia floods a spring bed with color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyNerve 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 safeModerateNever-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 safeDemandingNew 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 safeEasyNew 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 safeEasyNorfolk 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 safeModerateNorthern 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 safeEasyNorthern 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 safeEasyNorway 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 safeEasyOatsAvena 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 safeEasyOkraAbelmoschus esculentusGive it heat, full sun, and steady moisture, and okra keeps the pods coming right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyOld 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 safeEasyOld 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 safeModerateOld 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 safeEasyOliveOlea europaeaGive it full sun, lean soil, and a dry root run, and the olive thrives for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeModerateOncidium 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 safeModerateOregon 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 safeEasyOrnamental 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 safeEasyOsage 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 safeEasyPampas 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 safeEasyPansyViola × wittrockianaPop them in when the weather cools and pansies give you color through fall, winter, and spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyPapayaCarica papayaGive it full sun, steady moisture, and frost-free warmth, and papaya fruits within a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–4 daysPet & child safeModeratePaper 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 safeModeratePapyrusCyperus 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 safeModerateParlor PalmChamaedorea elegansGive it low light and steady moisture, and the parlor palm thrives where fussier plants just sulk.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPassionflowerPassiflora 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 safeEasyPeaPisum 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 safeEasyPeacock 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 safeDemandingPeanutArachis 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 safeModeratePeperomia '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 safeEasyPetuniaPetunia × 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 safeEasyPickerelweedPontederia 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 safeEasyPigsqueakBergenia cordifoliaTough, evergreen, and happy in the shade, bergenia carpets the ground and flowers when little else does.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyPincushion 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 safeEasyPindo 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 safeEasyPineappleAnanas 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 safeModeratePink 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 safeEasyPinstripe 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 safeDemandingPolka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaKeep it in bright filtered light with a steady drink, and those freckly leaves stay colorful.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPonytail PalmBeaucarnea recurvataHand it bright light and a nice long dry spell between waterings, and honestly, it'll do the rest.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPrayer 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 safeModeratePrickly PearOpuntia ficus-indicaGive it sun, sharp drainage, and hardly any water, and prickly pear pretty much runs itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPumpkinCucurbita 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 safeModeratePurple 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 safeEasyPygmy Date PalmPhoenix roebeleniiGive it bright, indirect light and a steady drink, and this easygoing palm keeps its shape for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyRabbit'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 safeModerateRadicchioCichorium 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 safeModerateRadishRaphanus 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 safeEasyRambling 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 safeModerateRaspberryRubus 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 safeModerateRattlesnake 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 safeDemandingRed 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 safeEasyRed-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 safeEasyRipple 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 safeEasyRiver 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 safeEasyRodgersiaRodgersia aesculifoliaGive it damp shade and rodgersia will pump out enormous, sculpted leaves all season.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerateRomanescoBrassica 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 safeDemandingRose 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 safeEasyRosemarySalvia 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 safeEasyRozanne CranesbillGeranium 'Rozanne'One of the longest-blooming perennials around, and it barely asks for a thing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyRugosa 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 safeEasyRunner 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 safeEasyRussian 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 safeEasyRutabagaBrassica 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 safeEasySacred 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 safeModerateSaguaroCarnegiea 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 safeDemandingSalad 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 safeEasySalsifyTragopogon 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 safeModerateSalvia (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 safeEasySan 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 safeEasySaucer 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 safeModerateSawara 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 safeEasyScots 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 safeModerateSea 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 safeEasySea 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 safeEasySedgeCarexGet 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 safeEasySedumSedumHand it some sun and soil that drains, and this laid-back stonecrop pretty much takes it from there.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyServiceberryAmelanchier × grandifloraOne little tree that keeps giving: white spring flowers, sweet June berries, and fiery fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyShasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbumHand it sun and soil that drains, and it'll pump out crisp white daisies all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasyShrub 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 safeEasyShrubby 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 safeEasySilver 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 safeEasySilver 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 safeEasySlender 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 safeEasySlipper 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 safeModerateSmoke BushCotinus coggygriaHand it full sun and sharp drainage, and you'll get summer haze plus knockout fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySnap 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 safeEasySnapdragonAntirrhinum majusLooking for easy cool-weather color? Snapdragons keep pushing out fresh flower spikes right through spring and fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySnowball 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 safeEasySouthern 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 safeModerateSoybeanGlycine maxHand it full sun and warm soil, and this self-feeding legume pretty much stocks its own pods.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasySpider 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 safeEasySpike SpeedwellVeronica spicataWant blue spikes all summer? Give speedwell full sun and soil that drains.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySpinachSpinacia 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 safeEasySplit RockPleiospilos neliiA pint-sized succulent that looks like a cracked pebble and honestly just wants sun and a long dry nap.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateSpotted 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 safeEasySt. 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 safeModerateStaghorn 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 safeModerateStar 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 safeModerateStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoidesGive it a fence to climb, and star jasmine hands back clouds of sweet white flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyStar 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 safeModerateStaticeLimonium 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 safeEasySteviaStevia rebaudianaIt's a no-calorie sweetener you can pick and chew straight from the plant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateStockMatthiola 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 safeModerateStokes AsterStokesia laevisA laid-back native perennial that keeps the blue summer flowers coming without asking for much.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyStonecropSedumGive it plenty of sun and quick-draining soil, then pretty much leave stonecrop to its own devices.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyStrawberryFragaria × 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 safeEasyStrawflowerXerochrysum 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 safeEasyString 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 safeEasyStromanthe 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 safeDemandingSugar 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 safeModerateSummer 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 safeEasySummer 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 safeEasySummersweetClethra 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 safeEasySunchokeHelianthus 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 safeEasySunflowerHelianthus annuusHand it full sun and a spot out of the wind, and a sunflower will stand tall from summer into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaA low carpet of honey-scented bloom that flowers spring to fall and brings in the helpful bugs.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySweet 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 safeModerateSweet 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 safeEasySweet 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 safeEasySweet WoodruffGalium odoratumGive it cool, moist shade and this fragrant carpet pretty much takes care of itself.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasySweetgumLiquidambar 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 safeEasySweetheart HoyaHoya kerriiWater it like a succulent, give it bright light, and the sweetheart hoya barely asks for a thing.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasySwiss 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 safeEasySwitchgrassPanicum 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 safeEasyTamukeyama 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 safeModerateTea 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 safeModerateThanksgiving 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 safeEasyThymeThymus 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 safeEasyToad 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 safeEasyTropical Pitcher PlantNepenthesGive it warmth, high humidity, and rainwater, and this quirky carnivore grows its own insect-trapping cups.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingTrumpet 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 safeEasyTuberosePolianthes 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 safeModerateTulip 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 safeModerateTurmericCurcuma 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 safeModerateTurnipBrassica 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 safeEasyUrn 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 safeEasyValerianValeriana 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 safeEasyVanda 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 safeDemandingVenus 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 safeDemandingVerbenaVerbena 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 safeEasyViburnumViburnumGive 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 safeEasyViolaViola cornutaPlant them while it's cool and violas just keep pumping out cheerful, edible flowers from fall right through spring.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyVirginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaGive it rich, moist shade and Virginia bluebells will fill your spring woodland with soft sky-blue.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateVirginia SweetspireItea virginicaAn easygoing native that hands you fragrant spring flowers and knockout fall color without much fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyWater LilyNymphaeaGive it a sunny spot and calm water, and a water lily keeps flowering from late spring right into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateWater 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 safeEasyWatercressNasturtium 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 safeEasyWatermelonCitrullus 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 safeModerateWatermelon 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 safeEasyWax 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 safeEasyWeeping 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 safeModerateWhite 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 safeEasyWhite 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 safeModerateWild 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 safeEasyWindmill 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 safeModerateWinter 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 safeModerateWishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriKeep it shaded and watered, and this little annual just keeps blooming right up to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyWitch 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 safeEasyWoodland 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 safeEasyZebra 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 safeEasyZebra 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 safeDemandingZinniaZinnia elegansGive it full sun and dry leaves, and this zinnia won't stop blooming until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyZoysia 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 safeModerateZucchiniCucurbita 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