Easy-care plants - Garden and Plants

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

African DaisyOsteospermum ecklonisGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and cool weather, and the African daisy covers itself in blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

African SpearDracaena angolensisGive it bright light and dry soil between waterings, and the African spear all but takes care of itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy

African VioletStreptocarpus ionanthusGive it bright indirect light and a warm, steady drink from below, and the African violet blooms almost all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

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

AgeratumAgeratum houstonianumGive floss flower full sun and steady moisture, and it carries soft blue blooms from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Air PlantTillandsiaNo pot, no soil, no fuss. Give an air plant bright light and a weekly soak and it gets on with the rest.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

AlfalfaMedicago sativaGet the soil and pH right before you seed, and this deep-rooted legume keeps cutting for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

AlmondPrunus dulcisGive it full sun, deep well-drained soil, and a frost-free bloom, and the almond rewards you with years of nut harvests.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicDemanding

Alocasia 'Polly'Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'Give it warmth, humidity, and bright indirect light, and the African mask plant rewards you with striking arrowhead leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Alocasia ZebrinaAlocasia zebrinaThose striped, zebra-print stems carry arrow-shaped leaves that turn this houseplant into a living sculpture.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Aloe VeraAloe veraGive it bright light, gritty soil, and a dry rest between drinks, and aloe asks for almost nothing else.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

AmaranthAmaranthus caudatusGive it full sun and warm soil, and amaranth pays you back with trailing tassels from summer into fall.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

AmaryllisHippeastrum hybridumPot the bulb, add warmth and water, and a bare bulb becomes a tall stalk of trumpet flowers in weeks.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

American BeechFagus grandifoliaGive it rich, acidic, moist soil and room to spread, and the American beech becomes a shade tree for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

American ElmUlmus americanaA fast-growing, vase-shaped shade tree that survived its own near-extinction and is back in resistant form.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

American Pitcher PlantSarraceniaGive it full sun, rain-pure water, and a cold winter rest, and the pitcher plant catches its own dinner.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

American Smoketree (Tree Form)Cotinus obovatusGive it poor, dry ground and full sun, and the American smoketree throws up its hazy summer smoke and a blaze of fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Angel Wing BegoniaBegonia coccineaGive it bright light and a regular pinch, and the angel wing begonia rewards you with silver-spotted leaves and dangling red flowers.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

AngeloniaAngelonia angustifoliaGive it full sun and heat, and angelonia throws up spires of bloom from summer to fall without a second thought.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

AnisePimpinella anisumSow it once, leave the taproot undisturbed, and anise rewards a long warm summer with fragrant seed.☀️ 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 roseusGive it heat, sun, and dry-side soil, and annual vinca blooms from late spring straight through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

AnthuriumAnthurium andraeanumGive it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and the anthurium throws those glossy spathes 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 armeniacaGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and shelter from late frost, and an apricot tree drops 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 fills a corner with soft, feathery green.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Arrowhead PlantSyngonium podophyllumEasy-going and quick to fill out, the arrowhead plant climbs or trails wherever you point it, given bright indirect light.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumA tough native shrub that gives you spring flowers, blue-black berries, and fiery fall color with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ArugulaEruca vesicaria subsp. sativaSow it in cool weather and you can be cutting peppery leaves in about a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

Asian PearPyrus pyrifoliaGive it full sun, a pollinator partner, and an open frame, and the Asian pear hands you 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 almost nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

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

AstilbeAstilbe × arendsiiGive it shade and soil that never dries out, and astilbe lights up the dark corners with feathery plumes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

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

Baby Rubber PlantPeperomia obtusifoliaGive it bright indirect light and a long dry spell between waterings, and this easy peperomia all but grows itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Baby ToesFenestraria rhopalophyllaGive it bright light and almost no water, and this little cluster of window-tipped toes asks for nothing else.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

BacopaSutera cordataKeep it steadily watered in sun or light shade, and bacopa spills out white bloom from summer 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 shrugs off flood, drought, and city soil and turns rust-orange every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Balloon FlowerPlatycodon grandiflorusPlant it once in full sun and sharp drainage, and the puffed-up buds pop open every summer for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bamboo PalmChamaedorea seifriziiGive it bright indirect light and clean water, and the bamboo palm fills a corner with soft, feathery green.☀️ Medium indirectPet & child safeEasy

BananaMusa acuminataGive it warmth, rich soil, and steady water, and this giant herb throws up new stems for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Barrel CactusFerocactus wislizeniGive it full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, then water rarely, and this desert barrel keeps for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasy

Barren StrawberryWaldsteinia ternataA tough, low yellow-flowered mat that carpets dry shade where little else will grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

BarrenwortEpimedium grandiflorumTough, deer-proof, and happy in dry shade, barrenwort carpets the ground where little else will grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BasilOcimum basilicumGive it warmth, sun, and a regular pinch, and basil keeps the kitchen in fresh leaves all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bay LaurelLaurus nobilisSlow, steady, and evergreen, bay laurel turns one plant into a lifetime of fresh leaves for the kitchen.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Bearded IrisIris germanicaPlant the rhizome shallow in full sun, leave it lean and dry, and the bearded iris returns every spring for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

BeautybushKolkwitzia amabilisAn easy, 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.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BeetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisSow it straight in the ground, thin it early, and pick it young, and the beet rewards you with sweet roots and edible greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bell PepperCapsicum annuumGive it full sun, even water, and warm soil, and the bell pepper keeps the kitchen stocked all season.☀️ 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 prize cool weather and dry beautifully for the vase.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

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

BidensBidens ferulifoliaPlant it in full sun and average soil, and bidens throws golden flowers from spring straight through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Big BluestemAndropogon gerardiiGive it full sun and lean soil, and this towering native grass stands tall from summer into winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginaeGive it all the sun you can and a few patient years, and the crane flower rewards you with one of the most striking blooms indoors.☀️ Full sunToxicModerate

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

Black ChokeberryAronia melanocarpaTough, cold-hardy, and edible from spring flower to winter berry, chokeberry asks almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black LocustRobinia pseudoacaciaA tough, fast tree that fixes its own nitrogen and thrives where little else will, thorns, brittle limbs, and all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy

Black Mondo GrassOphiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'Few plants come this close to true black, and a little sun keeps the leaves their darkest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black Velvet Elephant EarAlocasia reginula 'Black Velvet'A small jewel alocasia with velvety black leaves and silver veins that rewards a careful hand.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

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

Black-eyed Susan VineThunbergia alataGive it full sun, steady water, and something to climb, and this twining annual flowers from summer 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 unfurls deep, glittering foliage.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

BlackberryRubus fruticosusGive it full sun and room to ramble, and a blackberry hands you buckets of fruit for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Blazing StarLiatris spicataPlant the corms once and blazing star sends 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 rows of pink hearts every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Bloodgood Japanese MapleAcer palmatumPlant it for the deep burgundy leaves and scarlet fall color, and a Bloodgood maple anchors a garden for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

BloodrootSanguinaria canadensisA fleeting white spring ephemeral for the shade, with a red rhizome best handled in gloves.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Blue FescueFestuca glaucaA neat silver-blue tuft for hot, dry, lean ground where fussier plants give up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Blue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirensGive it full sun and poor, dry soil, and blue oat grass holds a tidy steel-blue mound year round.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Blue StarAmsonia tabernaemontanaGive it full sun and a shear after bloom, and Blue Star turns from spring flowers to gold fall color with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BluebeardCaryopteris × clandonensisCut it back hard each spring and bluebeard answers with a haze of blue flowers when the rest of the garden is winding down.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BlueberryVaccinium corymbosumGet the soil acidic and a second bush nearby, and the blueberry rewards you with summers of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Blushing BromeliadNeoregelia carolinaeKeep its central cup full and give it bright, indirect light, and the blushing bromeliad colors up indoors with almost no 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 officinalisSow it once and the blue star flowers and bees keep coming back 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 exaltataGive it steady moisture and humid air, and the Boston fern unfurls into a fountain of soft green fronds.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Boston IvyParthenocissus tricuspidataPlant it for a wall of crimson in fall, but give it masonry to climb, not your siding.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilisKeep it sunny, thirsty, and a little neglected, and bougainvillea answers with a riot of 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 calleryanaFast-growing and tough, the Bradford pear also splits in storms and spreads as an aggressive invasive you're better off not planting.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Broccoli RabeBrassica rapa Ruvo GroupSow it in the cool ends of the season, cut while the buds are tight, and broccoli rabe rewards you 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 macrophyllaGive it shade and steady moisture, and Brunnera lights up the dark corners with silvered leaves and tiny blue spring flowers.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

Brussels SproutsBrassica oleracea Gemmifera GroupPlant them for fall and let a light frost do the rest, and the sprouts come in firm and sweet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Buffalo GrassBouteloua dactyloidesA tough native prairie grass that gives you a green lawn on a fraction of the water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeModerate

BugleweedAjuga reptansGive it part shade and good drainage, and bugleweed lays down a fast carpet of color, so long as you keep it in bounds.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bunny Ear CactusOpuntia microdasysGive it bright sun and a dry, gritty pot, and the bunny ear cactus all but takes care of itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Burning BushEuonymus alatusPlant it in full sun and the fall foliage flares a deep scarlet you can spot from across the yard.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

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

Butterfly WeedAsclepias tuberosaPlant it in full sun and poor, dry soil, then leave it alone and let the monarchs find it.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

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

Button FernPellaea rotundifoliaTougher than it looks, the button fern asks for bright shade and a light hand with the watering can.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

CaladiumCaladium bicolorGive it warm soil, dappled shade, and steady moisture, and the caladium throws up heart-shaped leaves splashed in red, pink, and white.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Calamondin OrangeCitrus × microcarpaA pot-sized citrus that carries 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 the medallion leaves unfurl with their full painted pattern.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Calathea OrbifoliaGoeppertia orbifoliaBig, round, ribbon-striped leaves that fold up at night like praying hands and reward you for getting the details right.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Calathea White FusionGoeppertia lietzei 'White Fusion'Get the water and humidity right and this living watercolour rewards you with brushstroked leaves.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

CalendulaCalendula officinalisGive it full sun and lean soil, and pot marigold blooms 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 spills bloom from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Calla LilyZantedeschia aethiopicaGive it rich, moist ground and plenty of sun, and the calla rewards you with tall, sculptural blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

CamelliaCamellia japonicaGive it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady water, and the camellia answers with blooms when little else flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

CandytuftIberis sempervirensGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and candytuft spills a sheet of white flowers across the spring garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Canna LilyCanna × generalisGive it full sun, rich moist soil, and summer heat, and the canna throws bold leaves and flame-bright flowers until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

CantaloupeCucumis meloGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and cantaloupe ripens into sweet, fragrant fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Cape PrimroseStreptocarpus rexiiGive it bright indirect light and careful watering, and Cape primrose flowers 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 glitters with insect-catching dew all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

CarawayCarum carviGive it full sun and a patient first year, and caraway hands you a crop of fragrant seed the next.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Cardboard PalmZamia furfuraceaA tough, sculptural cycad that asks for little, but its every part is dangerously toxic.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

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

Cardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalisGive it wet feet and a little shade, and cardinal flower lights up late summer with scarlet spikes the hummingbirds chase.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

CardoonCynara cardunculusGive it a long season, rich soil, and a few weeks of blanching, and the cardoon hands you tender stalks no market sells.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

CarnationDianthus caryophyllusGive it cool air, full sun, and sharp drainage, and the carnation pays you back with fragrant, ruffled bloom.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

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

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

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

CassavaManihot esculentaGive it warmth, sun, and well-drained soil, and cassava feeds you through a long season once you know how to handle it safely.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

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

CatmintNepeta × faasseniiGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and catmint hums with bees and lavender-blue bloom all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CatnipNepeta catariaGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and catnip thrives on neglect while your cat does the rest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CattailTypha latifoliaStand its roots in mud or shallow water and the cattail thrives, but give it room and it will take 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 rewards you 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. rapaceumGive it a long season, rich soil, and water that never quits, and celeriac rewards you with a knob no store can match.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CeleryApium graveolens var. dulceGive it rich soil, cool weather, and water that never quits, and celery rewards the effort with crisp stalks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

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

Centipede GrassEremochloa ophiuroidesFeed it little, lime it never, 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 aviumGive it full sun, deep soil, and good airflow, and a cherry tree rewards you with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

ChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumGive it cool weather, shade, and steady water, and chervil rewards you with its fine, lacy leaves.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

ChickpeaCicer arietinumGive it full sun, a cool spring start, and lean soil, and the chickpea fixes its own nitrogen and feeds you by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Chili PepperCapsicum annuumGive it heat, sun, and steady water, and a chili plant loads up with fruit from summer into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Chinese ElmUlmus parvifoliaA tough, fast-growing 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 the houseplant for people who forget to fuss.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Chinese Fringe FlowerLoropetalum chinensePlant it in acidic soil with good drainage, and loropetalum gives you colored foliage and fringed blooms with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Chinese Money PlantPilea peperomioidesEasy, pet-safe, and generous with free pups, the Chinese money plant is the houseplant friends pass around.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ChivesAllium schoenoprasumGive chives full sun and steady moisture, and one small clump feeds the kitchen for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Chocolate CosmosCosmos atrosanguineusDeep maroon flowers that really do smell of dark chocolate, on a tender tuber you grow much like a dahlia.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Chocolate VineAkebia quinataFragrant chocolate-purple flowers and edible fruit on a climber that grows fast and needs a firm hand.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoidesGive it shade and well-drained soil, and the Christmas fern holds its green fronds straight through winter.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum × morifoliumPinch them through summer and give them full sun and steady water, and mums hand you a wall of color come fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Cinnamon FernOsmundastrum cinnamomeumGive it wet, acidic shade and the cinnamon fern throws up tall green fronds and rust-colored spikes year after 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 towers, blooms till frost, and comes back on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Climbing HydrangeaHydrangea anomala subsp. petiolarisSlow to start, then a wall of fragrant white lacecaps that lasts 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 californicaGive it full sun on top and cold, pure water at the roots, and the cobra lily rears up like its namesake.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

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

CoffeeCoffea arabicaGive it warmth, bright indirect light, and humid air, and the coffee plant grows into a glossy evergreen that may one day bear its own cherries.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysToxicModerate

ColeusColeus scutellarioidesGrown for its bold, painted leaves, coleus brings color to a shady corner or a sunny bed with almost no fuss.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Collard GreensBrassica oleracea (Viridis Group)An easy, cold-hardy green that keeps giving leaves long after frost has closed 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 holds its silver color for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

ColumbineAquilegia canadensisHand it dappled shade and moist, free-draining soil, and columbine answers with spurred spring flowers that hummingbirds chase.☀️ 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 sempervirensSlow, steady, and evergreen year-round, boxwood is the backbone of a clipped, formal garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Common CamasCamassia quamashPlant the bulbs in fall and camas lights up spring meadows in blue, then quietly steps aside for summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common FigFicus caricaGive it full sun and steady summer water, and a fig tree hands you sweet fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common JasmineJasminum officinaleGive it sun, warmth, and a sturdy support, and common jasmine fills the summer air with scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Common LilacSyringa vulgarisPlant it in full sun with room to breathe, and the common lilac repays you with heavy spring scent for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common NinebarkPhysocarpus opulifoliusA tough native shrub with peeling bark and colorful foliage that asks for almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common PeriwinkleVinca minorA tough evergreen groundcover that carpets dry shade in blue, just keep its runners in check.☀️ 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 nivalisPlant the bulbs in fall and snowdrops push up through the last of the winter snow to open before anything else.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common TansyTanacetum vulgareA tough golden-flowered herb that asks for almost nothing and spreads if you let it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Coral BellsHeuchera sanguineaGrown for its bold, year-round foliage as much as its airy spring flowers, coral bells light 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 throws out a season of twisting green coils.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

Corn PlantDracaena fragransForgiving in low light and slow to outgrow a room, the corn plant only asks for clean water and warmth.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Corn PoppyPapaver rhoeasSow it where it stands, give it full sun and sharp drainage, and the corn poppy paints the bed in silky red.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

CornflowerCentaurea cyanusScatter the seed in full sun and lean soil, and cornflower rewards you with true-blue blooms all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CosmosCosmos bipinnatusGive it full sun and poor soil, and cosmos blooms its heart out from summer to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

CotoneasterCotoneasterTough, drought-proof, and covered in red berries through winter, cotoneaster asks for almost nothing once it takes hold.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stoloniferaA fine, carpet-like turf that looks like a putting green and demands the care of one.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Creeping FigFicus pumilaAn easy, fast climber that clings to anything and asks mainly for bright shade and steady humidity.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Creeping JennyLysimachia nummulariaA low gold carpet that thrives in moist ground and shade or sun, and runs hard enough that you have to keep it in bounds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping JuniperJuniperus horizontalisGive it full sun and soil that drains, and this tough evergreen mat looks after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Creeping PhloxPhlox subulataGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping phlox carpets the ground in spring color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping ThymeThymus serpyllumGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping thyme spreads into a tough, fragrant carpet that shrugs off drought.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crepe MyrtleLagerstroemia indicaGive it full sun and a light touch with the pruners, and the crepe myrtle blooms all summer and peels into handsome winter bark.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Crinum LilyCrinum × powelliiPlant it once and leave it be, and the crinum lily throws up fragrant pink trumpets every late summer for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CrossvineBignonia capreolataA tough native climber that throws up a wall of spring trumpets and keeps the hummingbirds coming back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Crown ImperialFritillaria imperialisStately spring bulbs crowned with drooping bells and a defiant skunky scent that voles learn to avoid.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Crown of ThornsEuphorbia miliiGive it sun, dry feet, and a careful hand, and crown of thorns flowers almost all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

CucumberCucumis sativusGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and a cucumber vine pumps out 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 rewards you with its own fragrant seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

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

CupheaCuphea igneaGive it full sun and a few well-timed pinches, and cuphea blooms nonstop from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

CurrantRibes rubrumTough, cold-hardy, and heavy with tart berries, the currant earns its keep in a cool-climate garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Curry PlantHelichrysum italicumGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and this silver Mediterranean subshrub fills the air with its curry-like scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

DahliaDahlia × hybridaGive 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 the 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 rewards you with sweet fruit for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

David Austin RoseRosaOld-rose looks and scent with modern repeat flowering from late spring right through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboidesA living fossil that turns russet-bronze each fall and grows fast enough to watch.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

DaylilyHemerocallis fulvaTough, fast, and almost foolproof, the daylily rewards full sun with a summer of fresh blooms every morning.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

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

Deodar CedarCedrus deodaraGive it full sun and ground that drains, and this Himalayan cedar grows into a soft, sweeping evergreen for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

DiasciaDiascia barberaeGive twinspur full sun, cool roots, and steady moisture, and it spills coral and pink from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

DillAnethum graveolensSow it straight in the ground, keep it cool and evenly watered, and dill hands you leaves all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

DipladeniaMandevilla sanderiGive it full sun, warmth, and sharp drainage, and dipladenia pours out trumpet flowers from early summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

DischidiaDischidia nummulariaGive it bright light, fast-draining roots, and a long dry-out, and dischidia trails happily for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesiiGive it room, moist soil, and decades of patience, and the Douglas fir grows into one of the tallest trees in the forest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dragon FruitHylocereus undatusGive this climbing cactus sun, a sturdy post, and a pollination partner, and it rewards you with night-blooming flowers and bright pitaya.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Drooping LeucothoeLeucothoe fontanesianaGive it shade, acidic soil, and steady moisture, and this arching evergreen earns its keep all year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Dumb CaneDieffenbachia seguineEasy in bright, indirect light, dumb cane rewards a little warmth and humidity with bold, painted leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Dusty MillerJacobaea maritimaPlant it for the silver foliage that sets every other color off, give it sun and sharp drainage, and it asks for almost nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dutch IrisIris × hollandicaPlant the bulbs in fall and Dutch iris answers with tall, sleek blooms the following spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dutchman's PipeAristolochia macrophyllaA fast, heavy 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 cone of evergreen that asks for full sun, steady moisture, and air that moves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dwarf FothergillaFothergilla gardeniiHoney-scented spring flowers and blazing fall color on a tough, low-care native shrub.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Dwarf Japanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and shelter from wind, and a dwarf Japanese maple holds its shape and color for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

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

Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensisPlant it in cool, moist shade and the eastern hemlock grows into a soft, feathery evergreen that lasts for generations.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Eastern Red CedarJuniperus virginianaA tough native conifer that shrugs off drought, poor soil, and bitter cold and lives for centuries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Eastern RedbudCercis canadensisIt lights up the bare spring woods with rose-pink flowers right on the branches before a single leaf appears.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Eastern White PinePinus strobusTall, soft, and fast-growing, eastern white pine builds a graceful evergreen backbone when you give it room and acidic ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

EcheveriaEcheveriaGive it bright light and a soil that dries out fast, and this rosette succulent looks after itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

EggplantSolanum melongenaGive it heat, full sun, and steady water, and eggplant rewards you with glossy fruit all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

ElderberrySambucus canadensisGive it sun, steady moisture, and a second cultivar nearby, and elderberry hands you heavy clusters of dark fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Elephant EarColocasia esculentaGive it rich soil, full sun, and water it can never run out of, and elephant ear throws up huge tropical leaves all season.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Emerald Green ArborvitaeThuja occidentalisPlant it in full sun with steady moisture, guard it from deer and snow, and it gives you 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 again into fall.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

EndiveCichorium endiviaGrow it cool, steady, and well-spaced, and endive gives you crisp salad leaves spring and fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

English BluebellHyacinthoides non-scriptaPlant the bulbs in fall and let them carpet the shade in violet-blue every 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 ambrosioidesGive it lean soil and full sun, pinch it often, and epazote hands you that unmistakable Mexican kitchen flavor all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Evergreen EuonymusEuonymus japonicusA tough, shade-friendly evergreen that shears into a hedge and asks for almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

False IndigoBaptisia australisGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and false indigo settles in for decades with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

False ShamrockOxalis triangularisPurple, three-cornered leaves that open by day and fold up at night, grown from easy little bulbs.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

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

Fan FlowerScaevola aemulaGive it full sun and soil that drains, and fan flower trails out blue blooms from summer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fava BeanVicia fabaSow them into cold spring soil, give them sun and steady water, and these hardy broad beans crop early while the weather is still cool.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis × acutifloraPlant it in full sun and feather reed grass stands tall and feathered from June clean through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

FenugreekTrigonella foenum-graecumSow it straight in the ground in cool weather and fenugreek hands you fresh methi leaves in a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Fiddle-leaf FigFicus lyrataGive it bright indirect light and one steady spot, and the fiddle-leaf fig rewards you with bold, glossy leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Field PeaPisum sativum subsp. arvenseSow it with 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 rubraGive it shade, lean soil, and a light touch, and fine fescue holds a soft, low-care 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 blossfeldianaGive it bright light, gritty soil, and dry spells between waterings, and this succulent rewards you with weeks of bloom.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Flaming SwordVriesea splendensKeep its central cup filled and the light bright but soft, and the flaming sword holds its color for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Florence FennelFoeniculum vulgareSow it cool, keep it watered, and fennel rewards you with a crisp, anise-sweet bulb.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Floribunda RoseRosaGive it full sun, room to breathe, and water at the base, and a floribunda blooms in clusters from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Florist's CyclamenCyclamen persicumKeep it cool, bright, and watered from below, and cyclamen blooms straight through the winter.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysToxicModerate

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

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles speciosaOne of the first shrubs to bloom each spring, flowering quince lights up bare branches with color before the leaves arrive.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvaticaPlant it once for a spring carpet of tiny blue flowers, and it sows the next generation for you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

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

Franklin TreeFranklinia alatamahaLate summer flowers and fiery fall color from a tree extinct in the wild since the early 1800s.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

FreesiaFreesia refractaPlant the corms in cool weather and freesia rewards you with arching sprays of intensely fragrant winter blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

French TarragonArtemisia dracunculusGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and French tarragon hands you that warm anise note all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Garden AngelicaAngelica archangelicaA towering woodland-edge herb that gives you candied stems and architectural umbels, then bows out after a single bloom.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Garden GladiolusGladiolus × hortulanusPlant the corms in spring and gladiolus answers with tall spires of color from late summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Garden PhloxPhlox paniculataGive it sun, room to breathe, and steady moisture, and garden phlox crowns the border with color from midsummer on.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Garden SageSalvia officinalisGive it full sun and dry feet, and this tough Mediterranean herb keeps the kitchen in fresh leaves for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Garden SorrelRumex acetosaCut it young and often and garden sorrel keeps a steady supply of tangy, lemony leaves coming from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

GarlicAllium sativumPlant a clove in fall and forget about it until summer, when one bulb becomes a whole head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Garlic ChivesAllium tuberosumCut it again and again all season, and garlic chives 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 looks after itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 10–21 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

GauraGaura lindheimeriGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and gaura sends 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 throws bright blooms from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

German ChamomileMatricaria chamomillaGive it full sun and free-draining soil, and German chamomile fills the bed with apple-scented daisies all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Giant Ornamental OnionAllium giganteumPlant the bulbs in fall and giant allium rewards you with drumstick globes that float above the border by early summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysToxicEasy

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

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

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

Globe ArtichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymusGive it full sun, deep soil, and a winter chill, and the artichoke rewards you with tender buds.☀️ 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 that bees can't resist.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Glory-of-the-snowChionodoxa forbesiiOne of the first bulbs to bloom, glory-of-the-snow carpets the ground in blue before winter has fully let go.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Glossy AbeliaAbelia × grandifloraGive it sun and well-drained soil, and glossy abelia blooms from late spring until frost with almost no fuss.☀️ 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 in superfood berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Golden Barrel CactusEchinocactus grusoniiGive it bright sun and a sparing hand with the watering can, and this golden globe asks for almost nothing else.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Golden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculataA tough shade tree that lights up midsummer with sprays of yellow flowers and papery lantern pods.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

Grandiflora RoseRosaTall, long-stemmed, and built 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, sturdy support, and a hard yearly pruning, and it rewards you with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

Grape HyacinthMuscari armeniacumPlant the little bulbs in fall and they answer with rivers of blue every spring.☀️ 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.☀️ 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 vulgarisSow them straight in warm soil and green beans give you pods 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 pruinosaLet the husks dry, drop, and turn gold, and the ground cherry hands you a sweet treat all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ground OrchidBletilla striataA hardy orchid that lives right in the garden soil, throwing up pink blooms every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

GuavaPsidium guajavaGive it full sun, warmth, and protection from frost, and a guava tree pays you back with fragrant fruit for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

Hardy KiwiActinidia argutaA cold-hardy vine that hands you smooth, grape-sized fruit you eat whole, no peeling required.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Hart's Tongue FernAsplenium scolopendriumGive it deep shade, steady moisture, and a touch of lime, and this glossy strap-leaved fern holds its color 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 tough native fern that fills shade with soft, hay-scented fronds and asks for almost nothing.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

HazelnutCorylus avellanaGive it full sun, a compatible partner, and room to spread, and the hazel rewards you with nuts each fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Heartleaf PhilodendronPhilodendron hederaceumForgiving, fast, and happy in a shady corner, the heartleaf philodendron asks for little more than the odd drink.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

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

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

HelleboreHelleborus orientalisOne of the first flowers of the year, the hellebore opens through shade and snow when little else dares.☀️ Partial shadeMildly toxicEasy

Hen and ChicksSempervivum tectorumGive it sun, grit, and almost no water, and this tough little succulent looks after itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Hindu Rope HoyaHoya carnosa 'Compacta'Give it bright light and a dry-leaning watering hand, and this curly-leaved wax plant rewards you 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 nature make this fern an easy 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 hands you fragrant leaves all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Honey LocustGleditsia triacanthosTough, fast, and forgiving, the honey locust throws dappled shade over the worst urban ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

HoneyberryLonicera caeruleaPlant two cultivars together for 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 the honeydew rewards you 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 answers with coral flowers and a steady stream of hummingbirds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

HopsHumulus lupulusGive them full sun, deep soil, and something tall to climb, and hop bines rocket skyward for the brewing harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysToxicModerate

HorseradishArmoracia rusticanaPlant it once in deep, loose soil and this tough perennial hands you fiery roots every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

HorsetailEquisetum hyemaleStriking, jointed evergreen stems for a wet spot, but only ever inside a container that stops it running wild.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

HostaHostaGive it shade, steady moisture, and rich soil, and the hosta carpets the ground in bold leaves year after year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hummingbird MintAgastache foeniculumGive it full sun and soil that drains, and anise hyssop hums with bees and hummingbirds all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

HyacinthHyacinthus orientalisPlant the bulbs in fall and you get dense, sweet-scented spikes the moment spring arrives.☀️ 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 the hybrid tea rose returns long-stemmed blooms from summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–8 daysPet & child safeModerate

HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaGive it rich, moist soil and afternoon shade, and the hydrangea answers with armfuls of bloom all summer.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

HyssopHyssopus officinalisGive it full sun and lean, fast-draining soil, and hyssop rewards you 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 paints a low carpet of jewel-toned flowers all summer.☀️ Full sunSafety unverifiedEasy

ImpatiensImpatiens wallerianaGive it shade and steady moisture, and impatiens floods a shady bed with color all summer.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

Inkberry HollyIlex glabraA tough native shrub that takes wet ground, hard winters, and shade and stays green right through.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

IronweedVernonia noveboracensisGive it full sun and damp ground, and ironweed crowns late summer with deep purple flowers the pollinators chase.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Italian CypressCupressus sempervirensPlant it once in full sun and dry, well-drained soil, and this slim green column holds 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 lifts tidy rungs of foliage under spring-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

Japanese BarberryBerberis thunbergiiTough, thorny, and richly colored, but think hard 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 up blood-red from the tips down.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonicaGive it rich, moist soil and shelter 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 falling water.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese HollyIlex crenataGive it acidic soil and sharp drainage, and this evergreen shears into clean, lasting shape.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese IrisIris ensataGive it acidic soil, full sun, and summer water to spare, and Japanese iris answers with broad, butterfly-flat blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese KerriaKerria japonicaGive it dappled shade and well-drained soil, and Japanese kerria lights up spring with golden flowers on bright green stems.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese LaurelAucuba japonicaA tough, glossy evergreen that lights up deep shade where little else will grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and shelter from wind, and the Japanese maple repays you 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 carpets the ground in glossy evergreen for years.☀️ Full shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese Painted FernAthyrium niponicum var. pictumGive it dappled shade and steady moisture, and the painted fern lights up the darkest corner of the garden.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 4–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Japanese PierisPieris japonicaGive it acidic soil and shelter from wind, and andromeda hangs out drooping white flowers every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Japanese PittosporumPittosporum tobiraAn evergreen shrub that takes 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 the Japanese primrose answers with tiered candles of bloom every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

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

Japanese StewartiaStewartia pseudocamelliaSlow to give and worth the wait, it pays off with summer flowers, fiery fall color, and patchwork bark.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Japanese Umbrella PineSciadopitys verticillataA living fossil with soft, whorled needles that asks for little beyond patience and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Jewel OrchidLudisia discolorGrown for its velvet, vein-streaked leaves, the jewel orchid is the rare orchid you keep for the foliage.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 4–9 daysPet & child safeEasy

Joe Pye WeedEutrochium purpureumGive it full sun and damp soil, and Joe Pye weed towers over the late-summer border in a haze of pollinators.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

JuniperJuniperus chinensisGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and a juniper asks for almost nothing the rest of its long life.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

KalanchoeKalanchoeA tough little succulent that throws bright, long-lasting blooms on almost no fuss.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

KaleBrassica oleracea Acephala GroupCold-hardy and generous, kale keeps giving 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 knits into 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 rewards you with 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 all year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Knock Out RoseRosaGive it full sun and a yearly cleanup prune, and the Knock Out blooms from June to frost with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

KohlrabiBrassica oleracea Gongylodes GroupGrow it fast and cool, pick it small, and kohlrabi rewards you with a crisp, sweet bulb above 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 across all four seasons.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

KumquatCitrus japonicaGive it full sun, even water, and shelter from hard frost, and this little citrus fruits right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Lacy PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaSow it once and watch the bees arrive, a haze of lavender-blue that pulls in pollinators all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Lady PalmRhapis excelsaSlow, shade-tolerant, and safe around pets, the lady palm is one of the easiest indoor palms to live with.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Lamb's EarStachys byzantinaPlant it for soft, silvery leaves that carpet the ground and ask almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

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

Large-flowered TrilliumTrillium grandiflorumGive it deep shade and rich woodland soil, and this slow native rewards your patience each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

LavenderLavandula angustifoliaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, leave 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 infrequent water, and protection from frost, and a lemon tree fruits for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Lemon BalmMelissa officinalisBrush past it once and you'll know it: lemon balm fills the garden with a bright, lemony scent and asks for almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Lemon VerbenaAloysia citriodoraBrush past it and the air turns to lemon. Give it full sun and warmth, and this tender herb pays you back in fragrant leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

LemongrassCymbopogon citratusGive it full sun, steady moisture, and warmth, and lemongrass hands you fragrant stalks all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

LentilLens culinarisSow it early into cool, well-drained ground, and this hardy legume feeds itself and gives 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 barely 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 × leylandiiPlant it with 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 dentataPlant it in damp shade and the leopard plant rewards you with bold leaves and tall daisy spires.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Lily of the ValleyConvallaria majalisSweet, nodding white bells that carpet the shade, and every part of them is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

LimeCitrus × latifoliaGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and steady warmth, and a lime tree fruits for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Lipstick PlantAeschynanthus radicansGive it warmth, bright indirect light, and humid air, and the lipstick plant trails red flowers from a hanging basket for much of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

LisianthusEustoma grandiflorumSlow to start and worth the wait, lisianthus rewards a cool, patient beginning with rose-like blooms all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

LithopsLithopsTiny living stones that ask for almost no water and punish you the moment you give them too much.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Little BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and this native grass stands tall from summer through the depths 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 into fall.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

LoganberryRubus × loganobaccusGive it full sun, rich soil, and a sturdy trellis, and the loganberry hands you a long summer of tart-sweet fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

LovageLevisticum officinaleGive it rich, moist soil and full sun, and one lovage plant feeds your kitchen with celery flavor for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Lucky BambooDracaena sanderianaGive it clean water and bright, indirect light, and this easygoing Dracaena keeps its green for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 Every 7 daysToxicEasy

LungwortPulmonaria saccharataGive it cool shade and steady moisture, and lungwort lights up the 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 rewards the patience it demands.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

MacadamiaMacadamia integrifoliaGive it warmth, deep soil, and a pollination partner, and the macadamia rewards your patience with rich nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicDemanding

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

Madagascar Dragon TreeDracaena reflexa var. angustifoliaGive it bright indirect light and fluoride-free water, and the dragon tree shrugs off almost everything else.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Maiden GrassMiscanthus sinensisGive it full sun and lean soil, and maiden grass throws up tall, silvery plumes that hold 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 rivularisGive it 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, steady water, and a trellis to climb, and this vine keeps the salad bowl full 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 rewards you with fragrant blossom and easy-peel fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

MandevillaMandevilla × amabilisGive it full sun and summer warmth, and mandevilla climbs and blooms in trumpets right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

MangoMangifera indicaGive it heat, sun, and well-drained soil, and a mango tree turns a warm garden into a summer of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Marsh MarigoldCaltha palustrisPlant it where the ground stays wet to soggy, and marsh marigold lights up the water's edge before almost anything else blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

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

Meadow RueThalictrum rochebruneanumAiry clouds of flower on tall, slender stems, meadow rue brings soft height and motion to a part-shade border.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Mexican Feather GrassNassella tenuissimaPlant it in lean soil and full sun and this airy grass shimmers all season, but keep its seed in check.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

MilkweedAsclepias syriacaPlant it for the monarchs, give it sun and lean soil, and a native milkweed mostly takes care of 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 to call home, and mint hands 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 full sun and a prune at the right time, and mock orange floods early summer with orange-blossom scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mondo GrassOphiopogon japonicusGive it shade and steady moisture, and mondo grass settles into a soft, dark green carpet that asks for almost nothing.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Money TreePachira aquaticaForgiving, pet-safe, and happy in bright corners, the money tree asks for little and grows fast.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

MonkshoodAconitum napellusTall blue hooded spikes that earn the name queen of poisons, beautiful in the border and deadly in the hand.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

MontbretiaCrocosmia × crocosmiifloraPlant the corms once and crocosmia answers with arching sprays of fiery summer color that hummingbirds can't resist.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Moon CactusGymnocalycium mihanovichiiTwo cacti grafted into one, the moon cactus trades a brilliant chlorophyll-free cap for a life that leans entirely on the green stem below.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

MoonflowerIpomoea albaPlant it in full sun and warm soil, and the moonflower unrolls fragrant white trumpets every evening.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Moss RosePortulaca grandifloraGive it scorching sun and dry, sandy soil, and moss rose blankets the ground in color all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

Mother of ThousandsKalanchoe daigremontianaAn easy succulent that raises its own babies along every leaf edge, but keep it well away from pets.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

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

Mugo PinePinus mugoA tough, evergreen mountain pine that asks for full sun and sharp drainage, then looks after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

MulberryMorus rubraGive it full sun and room to spread, and the mulberry hands you berries by the bucketful every early summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

MuskmelonCucumis meloGive it heat, full sun, and busy bees, and the muskmelon ripens sweet and netted by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

MustardBrassica junceaSow it in cool weather and it comes up fast, working as a kitchen green and a soil-cleaning cover crop in one.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Mustard GreensBrassica junceaSow it in the cool of spring or fall and mustard greens give you peppery leaves in barely a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

NectarinePrunus persica var. nucipersicaA nectarine is a peach without the fuzz, and it pays 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 shrugs 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 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 rewards you 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 a midsummer pinch, and the New England aster lights up the fall garden when everything else is fading.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeriGive it rich, moist soil and a little shade, and New Guinea impatiens blooms from spring straight through to frost.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

New Zealand SpinachTetragonia tetragonioidesPlant this heat-loving summer green and pick tender leaves long after true spinach has bolted.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

NicotianaNicotiana alataPlant it for the night-scented flowers that perfume the evening garden all summer long.☀️ 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 heterophyllaGive it bright light, cool air, and steady moisture, and this living conifer keeps its tidy tiers indoors all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

Northern CatalpaCatalpa speciosaA tough native shade tree that throws showy white flowers and grows fast almost anywhere.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Northern Red OakQuercus rubraA fast-growing native that throws deep shade and brilliant red fall color for a century or more.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumA native woodland grass that thrives in shade other plants sulk in, 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, forgiving cool-season grass that doubles as a cover crop, a feed grain, and the cat grass on your windowsill.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Old Garden RoseRosaTough, fragrant, and easygoing on their own roots, old garden roses earn their keep 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 with summer-long bloom and a warning attached: 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 OrchidOncidiumGive it bright indirect light and a bark mix that drains fast, and the dancing lady orchid rewards you 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 rewards you with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Oregon GrapeMahonia aquifoliumGive it shade and shelter from winter wind, and Oregon grape rewards you with 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 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 throws out huge silken blooms every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Ornamental Sweet Potato VineIpomoea batatasGive it sun, warmth, and steady water, and this vine spills color over beds and pots all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Osage OrangeMaclura pomiferaPlant it once and walk away. 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 unfurls 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 will flower for months, then keep right on spreading.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Pampas GrassCortaderia selloanaFew plants put on a bigger show than a pampas grass clump in full plume, but those silver feathers ride on razor-sharp leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Panda PlantKalanchoe tomentosaA fuzzy, silver-green succulent that asks for bright light, dry soil, and almost nothing else.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 10–21 daysToxicEasy

PansyViola × wittrockianaPlant them when the weather turns cool and pansies hand 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 the papaya fruits within a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

PapyrusCyperus papyrusKeep its feet in shallow water and full sun, and papyrus throws up a stand of green fireworks all 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 sulk.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

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

ParsnipPastinaca sativaSow it, wait, and let a hard frost do the last bit of work, and the parsnip turns sweet and nutty under the soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PassionflowerPassiflora incarnataGive it full sun and room to roam, and the maypop climbs 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 wallisiiAn easy, forgiving houseplant that tells you when it's thirsty and rewards 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 can grow indoors.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

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

PearPyrus communisPlant two trees for cross-pollination, give them sun and patience, and a pear tree feeds you for decades.☀️ 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 tirucalliTough, sun-loving, and nearly impossible to kill, but its milky sap bites back, so handle it with care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysToxicEasy

PeonyPaeonia lactifloraPlant it shallow in full sun, leave it be, and a peony will outlive the gardener who set it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Peperomia 'Hope'Peperomia deppeana × quadrifolia 'Hope'Easy, pet-safe, and happy to trail, Peperomia 'Hope' asks only for bright indirect light and a soil that's allowed to dry out.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

PeppermintMentha × piperitaGive it steady moisture and a pot to call its own, and peppermint hands you fresh leaves 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 asiaticusPlant the little claws in cool spring soil and ranunculus answers with layer on layer of papery petals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PersimmonDiospyros kakiGive it full sun and patience, and the persimmon hangs the orchard with fall color long after the leaves drop.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

PetuniaPetunia × atkinsianaGive it full sun and steady feeding, and the petunia pours out color from late spring until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

PickerelweedPontederia cordataA tough native pond marginal that throws up blue flower spikes all summer, asking only for 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 palustrisA fast-growing shade tree with fiery fall color, as long as you keep its feet in acidic soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Pincushion FlowerScabiosa columbariaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and the pincushion flower blooms from spring straight through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Pindo PalmButia capitataA cold-hardy feather palm with arching gray-green fronds and fruit sweet enough 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 capillarisGive it full sun and lean, dry ground, and pink muhly grass turns to a cloud of rose-pink haze every 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 holds its candy-pink leaves all year.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Pinstripe CalatheaGoeppertia ornataGive it warmth, humidity, and the right water, and the pinstripe calathea rewards you with painted leaves that move with the day.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemanding

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

PlumPrunus domesticaGive it full sun, deep soil, and a yearly pruning, and a plum tree pays you back with baskets of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Polka Dot BegoniaBegonia maculataGive it bright indirect light, careful watering, and humid air, and the polka dot begonia rewards you with spotted, silver-flecked leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Polka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaGive it bright filtered light and steady moisture, and the freckled leaves stay bold all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

PomegranatePunica granatumGive it full sun and steady water, and the pomegranate rewards you with jewel-red fruit each fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ponytail PalmBeaucarnea recurvataGive it bright light and a long dry spell between drinks, and the ponytail palm asks for almost nothing else.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

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

PotatoSolanum tuberosumPlant a few cut tubers, hill the soil, keep it watered, and dig a heavy crop come fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

PothosEpipremnum aureumForgiving, fast, and happy in a dim corner, pothos is the hardest houseplant to kill.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Prayer PlantMaranta leuconeuraGive it soft water, steady moisture, and humid air, and the prayer plant folds its leaves shut every night like clockwork.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

Prickly PearOpuntia ficus-indicaGive it sun, sharp drainage, and very little water, and prickly pear practically grows itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

PrimrosePrimula vulgarisGive it cool shade and steady moisture, and the primrose opens the garden's first color each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

PrivetLigustrum vulgareA tough, fast hedge that shears into almost any shape, but one that escapes the garden and poisons grazing animals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

PumpkinCucurbita pepoGive it full sun, rich soil, and room to roam, and a single pumpkin vine fills half the garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Purple ConeflowerEchinacea purpureaGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and purple coneflower blooms from early summer into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Purple HeartTradescantia pallidaGive it strong light and dry-leaning soil, and purple heart rewards you with deep violet foliage and almost no fuss.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Pygmy Date PalmPhoenix roebeleniiGive it bright indirect light and an even drink, and this slow, elegant palm holds its shape for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

QuinceCydonia oblongaSlow to grow and tart off the tree, the quince rewards patience with fragrant golden fruit that comes alive in the kitchen.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Rabbit's Foot FernDavallia fejeensisGive it bright indirect light, steady moisture, and humid air, and those furry paws will crawl right over the pot.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

RadicchioCichorium intybusTime it for cool fall weather and radicchio turns from harsh and green to deep red and bittersweet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

RadishRaphanus sativusFew crops move faster: give it cool weather and steady water, and a radish is ready in weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Rambling RoseRosaGive it full sun, a strong support, and a prune at the right moment, and a rambler will smother a fence in early summer flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

RaspberryRubus idaeusGive it full sun, rich soil, and a yearly prune, and the raspberry repays you with berries by the handful.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Rattlesnake PlantGoeppertia insignisBold, wavy leaves that fold up at night reward you for getting the water and humidity right.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemanding

Red CloverTrifolium pratenseSow it once and red clover fixes its own nitrogen, feeds livestock, and feeds the soil for the crop that follows.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Red MapleAcer rubrumFast-growing and easy, the red maple lights up fall with brilliant red and orange leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

Red-hot PokerKniphofia uvariaHand it full sun and dry feet, and red-hot poker sends up torches of flame-colored spikes all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Reticulated IrisIris reticulataPlant the little bulbs in fall and they open in icy blues and golds while winter still lingers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Rex BegoniaBegonia Rex Cultorum GroupGrown for leaves that look painted, the rex begonia rewards bright, indirect light and air that keeps moving.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

RhododendronRhododendronGet the acidic soil and dappled shade right, and a rhododendron rewards you with spring trusses for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

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

Ripple PeperomiaPeperomia caperataSlow, compact, and pet-safe, ripple peperomia asks for bright light and a light hand with the watering can.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

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

RodgersiaRodgersia aesculifoliaGive it wet feet and cool shade, and rodgersia rewards you with huge, sculpted leaves all season.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerate

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

RomanescoBrassica oleracea var. botrytisGrow it as a cool-weather fall crop and you get a head spiraling into perfect green fractals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacusGive it full sun and room to breathe, and this tough shrub throws color from midsummer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

RosemarySalvia rosmarinusGive it full sun and fast-draining soil, then water rarely, and this Mediterranean herb keeps giving for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Royal FernOsmunda regalisGive it wet, acidic soil and dappled shade, and this stately fern unfurls fronds taller than most people.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Rozanne CranesbillGeranium 'Rozanne'One of the longest-blooming perennials you can plant, and it asks for almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Rubber PlantFicus elasticaGive it bright indirect light and a steady spot, and the rubber plant grows into a glossy, easygoing tree indoors.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

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

Rugosa RoseRosa rugosaTough enough for salt spray and bitter cold, the rugosa rose blooms all summer and ends it draped in red hips.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Runner BeanPhaseolus coccineusGive it full sun, a tall support, and steady water, and the runner bean climbs fast and crops until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Russian SagePerovskia atriplicifoliaGive it full sun and dry, sharp-draining soil, and Russian sage rewards you with a haze of blue from midsummer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

RutabagaBrassica napus subsp. rapiferaSow it in summer, let the first hard frosts sweeten the roots, and rutabaga rewards you with a long-keeping fall harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sacred LotusNelumbo nuciferaGive it still water, full sun, and room to spread, and the lotus lifts its flowers clear above the pond.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Sago PalmCycas revolutaAn ancient, easy-going cycad that asks for little, but holds a toxin that can kill a pet.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

SaguaroCarnegiea giganteaGive it scorching sun, sharp drainage, and decades of patience, and the saguaro becomes a desert giant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Salad BurnetSanguisorba minorGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and salad burnet hands you cucumber-flavored leaves from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SalsifyTragopogon porrifoliusGive it deep, stone-free soil and a long cool season, and salsify hands you a sweet, oyster-flavored root.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Salvia (Annual)Salvia splendensPlant it in full sun with steady water and scarlet sage throws up flower spikes from summer straight to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

San Pedro CactusEchinopsis pachanoiGive it full sun and a long dry spell between waterings, and this tall columnar cactus climbs fast for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

SassafrasSassafras albidumPlant it for fiery fall color and mitten-shaped leaves, and give its wandering roots room to roam.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Satin PothosScindapsus pictusGive it bright, indirect light and steady warmth, and the silver-dusted leaves trail for years.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

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

Sawara False CypressChamaecyparis pisiferaGive it full sun and free-draining soil, and false cypress holds its color through every season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Scarlet FirethornPyracantha coccineaTough, fast, and armed with thorns, firethorn pays out clouds of white spring flowers and orange-red winter berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Scots PinePinus sylvestrisTough, fast, and happy on poor, dry ground, the Scots pine asks for sun and little else.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sea HollyEryngium planumGive it full sun and poor, dry soil, and sea holly throws up steel-blue, thistle-like flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sea ThriftArmeria maritimaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and sea thrift cushions a rock garden in pink for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

SedgeCarexMatch the species to the spot and sedge gives you easy, year-round texture in sun or deep shade.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SedumSedumGive it sun and sharp drainage, then mostly leave it alone, and stonecrop just keeps going.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

SenecioSenecioGive it bright light and gritty soil that dries out fast, and this blue-green succulent looks after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysToxicEasy

Sensitive FernOnoclea sensibilisGive it shade and soil that never dries out, and the sensitive fern fills a damp corner all on its own.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

ShallotAllium cepa Aggregatum GroupPlant one bulb and harvest a whole cluster, the shallot quietly multiplies itself every season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Shasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbumGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and the Shasta daisy throws clean white blooms all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ShisoPerilla frutescensPinch it often for tender, fragrant leaves all summer, and it pays you back in pickles, garnishes, and wraps.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Shrub RoseRosaGive it full sun and good airflow, and a shrub rose blooms from late spring to frost with barely any fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Shrubby CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaTough as nails and flowering all summer, shrubby cinquefoil asks for almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Shrubby St. John's WortHypericum frondosumTough, drought-proof, and topped with bright yellow summer flowers, this native shrub asks for almost nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Siberian IrisIris sibiricaTough, cold-hardy, and almost carefree, the Siberian iris rewards a damp spot with grassy foliage and elegant late-spring blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Siberian SquillScilla sibericaPlant the bulbs once and a sheet of early blue comes back every spring, all on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Silver Inch PlantTradescantia zebrinaGive it bright light and a pinch now and then, and this trailing inch plant fills a pot in a hurry.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Silver Lace VineFallopia baldschuanicaCover a fence in a single season with a vine that asks for almost nothing but a sharp pair of loppers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Silver MapleAcer saccharinumFast, tough, and happy with wet feet, the silver maple throws up shade quicker than almost any other tree.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sky Pencil HollyIlex crenataA slim green exclamation point for tight spaces, asking only for acidic soil and a little winter care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Slender DeutziaDeutzia gracilisAn easygoing, pet-safe shrub that smothers itself in white spring flowers and asks almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Slipper OrchidPaphiopedilumKeep it in steady warmth, soft light, and evenly moist compost, and a slipper orchid rewards you with a bloom that lasts for months.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Smoke BushCotinus coggygriaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and a smoke bush rewards you with summer haze and fiery fall leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Snake PlantDracaena trifasciataHard to kill and easy to ignore, the snake plant asks for bright light, dry soil, and not much else.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–42 daysToxicEasy

Snap PeaPisum sativum var. macrocarponSow them while the ground is still cold and snap peas pay you back with sweet, crunchy pods before summer even arrives.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusPlant it for cool spring and fall color, and the snapdragon throws up spire after spire of bloom.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Snowball BushViburnum opulusGive it full sun and room to spread, and the snowball bush crowns itself in white globes every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Solomon's SealPolygonatum biflorumGive it deep shade and rich, moist soil, and Solomon's seal arches up year after year with almost no fuss.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sorghum-sudangrassSorghum × drummondiiA fast, towering summer grass that smothers weeds and busts compaction, with a real 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 grand evergreen with glossy leaves and lemon-scented white blooms that anchors a landscape for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

SoybeanGlycine maxGive it full sun and warm soil, and this self-feeding legume fills its pods with little fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpearmintMentha spicataGive it moist soil and a pot to call its own, and spearmint will hand you fresh leaves all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

SpiderwortTradescantia virginianaEasygoing in sun or shade, spiderwort opens fresh three-petaled blooms morning after morning.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Spike SpeedwellVeronica spicataGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and speedwell sends up blue spikes all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpinachSpinacia oleraceaPlant it cool, water it steady, and pick it young, and spinach hands you tender leaves in barely six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Split RockPleiospilos neliiA succulent that looks like a cracked pebble and asks for almost nothing but sun and a dry rest.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Split-leaf PhilodendronPhilodendron bipinnatifidumGive it warmth, steady moisture, and bright indirect light, and this big-leaved philodendron turns a corner into a small jungle.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Spotted Dead NettleLamium maculatumDrop it into cool, dry shade where little else will grow, and the silver foliage lights up the ground all season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Spring CrocusCrocus vernusPlant the corms in fall and the spring crocus pushes up the first color of the year, often right through the snow.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

St. Augustine GrassStenotaphrum secundatumGive it warmth, steady water, and the right mowing height, and St. Augustine grass knits into a thick, carpet-like lawn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Staghorn FernPlatycerium bifurcatumMount it on a board, give it bright indirect light and a regular soak, and the staghorn throws out antlers like a living trophy.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star CactusAstrophytum asteriasGive it bright light, gritty soil, and a long dry spell between waterings, and this little spineless star asks for almost nothing else.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoidesTrain it up a fence or wall and star jasmine pays you back with clouds of fragrant white flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Star MagnoliaMagnolia stellataOne of the first trees to flower, star magnolia opens a cloud of fragrant white stars before its leaves unfurl.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star of BethlehemOrnithogalum umbellatumAn easy spring bulb with white star flowers that nap at noon and a toxic streak you can't ignore.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

StaticeLimonium sinuatumGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and statice rewards you with papery blooms that dry to keep their color for months.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SteviaStevia rebaudianaGrow your own no-calorie sweetener from a leaf you can chew right off the plant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

StockMatthiola incanaGive stock a cool start and full sun, and it answers with tall spikes of sweetly scented bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Stokes AsterStokesia laevisA tough native perennial that hands you fringed blue blooms all summer for almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

StonecropSedumGive it full sun and sharp drainage, then mostly leave it alone and the stonecrop thrives.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

StrawflowerXerochrysum bracteatumGive it full sun and dry feet, and the strawflower hands you papery blooms that last long after the season ends.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

String of BananasCurio radicansGive it bright light, gritty soil, and a dry rest between drinks, and string of bananas spills over the pot in no time.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of ButtonsCrassula perforataGive it bright light and a dry, gritty mix, and this stacked succulent climbs into neat little towers.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of DolphinsCurio × peregrinusHang it in bright, indirect light, water it sparingly, and watch a pod of tiny dolphins spill over the pot.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of HeartsCeropegia woodiiGive it bright light and a dry-out between drinks, and the hearts trail on for years.☀️ Bright indirectSafety unverifiedEasy

String of PearlsCurio rowleyanusGet the watering right and this trailing succulent spills a curtain of green pearls over the pot edge.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

String of TurtlesPeperomia prostrataA trailing peperomia whose tiny leaves look like a shell of little turtles, happy to spill over a shelf for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Stromanthe TriostarStromanthe thalia 'Triostar'Give it soft water, warm humid air, and bright indirect light, and those pink-striped leaves stay flawless.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Sugar MapleAcer saccharumGive it deep, moist soil and room to spread, and the sugar maple pays you back with shade and fire-bright fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Summer SavorySatureja hortensisGive it full sun and dry feet, and this peppery bean herb stays tender all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Summer SquashCucurbita pepoGive it full sun, rich soil, and steady water, and summer squash buries you in fruit by midsummer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

SummersweetClethra alnifoliaGive it steady moisture and a little shade, and summersweet rewards you with fragrant spikes when most shrubs have quit for the year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SunchokeHelianthus tuberosusPlant it once and it feeds you for years, so long as you keep it where you want it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SunflowerHelianthus annuusGive it full sun and a sheltered spot, and the sunflower stands tall from summer into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Sweet Autumn ClematisClematis ternifloraA wall of fragrant white bloom every late summer, on a vine that needs a firm hand to keep it in bounds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

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

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

Sweet PeaLathyrus odoratusSow it early, cut it often, and the sweet pea pays you back with scent and color all spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Sweet PotatoIpomoea batatasGive it warm soil, full sun, and a long season, and the sweet potato fills the ground with storage roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweet WilliamDianthus barbatusGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a yearly chance to self-sow, and Sweet William fills the garden with clove-scented color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet WoodruffGalium odoratumA fragrant shade carpet that all but grows itself once the soil stays cool and moist.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SweetgumLiquidambar styracifluaGive it deep, acidic soil and full sun, and the sweetgum repays you with star-shaped leaves and blazing fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweetheart HoyaHoya kerriiTreat it like a succulent, give it bright light, and the sweetheart hoya asks for almost nothing.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Swiss ChardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisPlant it once for leaves all season, cut the outer stalks, and Swiss chard keeps coming back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Swiss Cheese PlantMonstera deliciosaGive it bright indirect light and a pole to climb, and the Swiss cheese plant rewards you with big, hole-punched leaves.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

SwitchgrassPanicum virgatumGive it full sun and lean soil, and switchgrass stands tall from summer right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Tall FescueFestuca arundinaceaTough, deep-rooted, and green through heat and cold, tall fescue is the lawn grass that asks for the least.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Tamukeyama Japanese MapleAcer palmatumA weeping laceleaf maple that pours out deep red, finely cut foliage from spring to a fiery fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

TangerineCitrus reticulataGive it full sun, steady water, and shelter from frost, and the tangerine hands you sweet fruit through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

TeaCamellia sinensisGive it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady moisture, and this evergreen shrub grows the leaves behind every cup of tea.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Tea PlantCamellia sinensisGive 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 truncataGive it bright indirect light and cool fall nights, and this forest cactus blooms right on time for the holidays.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ThymeThymus vulgarisGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and thyme rewards you with fragrant sprigs for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ti PlantCordyline fruticosaGive it bright indirect light and clean water, and the ti plant pays you back with bold pink, red, and burgundy leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Toad LilyTricyrtis hirtaGive it shade and steady moisture, and the toad lily saves its orchid-like flowers for the quiet end of the season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

TomatilloPhysalis philadelphicaPlant two together for fruit, give them full sun, and you'll be pulling tart green husks all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Tradescantia 'Nanouk'Tradescantia albiflora 'Nanouk'Give it a bright window and the odd pinch, and Nanouk stays pink, full, and easy.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

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

Trumpet VineCampsis radicansGive it full sun and a sturdy support, and the trumpet vine draws hummingbirds all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

TuberosePolianthes tuberosaGive it full sun and fast-draining soil, and tuberose fills late summer evenings with its famous scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

TulipTulipa spp.Plant them in fall, give them a long cold winter, and tulips open the boldest color of spring.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Tulip TreeLiriodendron tulipiferaA fast, towering shade tree with tulip-shaped flowers high in the canopy and golden fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

TurmericCurcuma longaGive it warmth, rich moist soil, and a long season, and turmeric hands you a crop of 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 you roots and greens in a single short season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Umbrella TreeHeptapleurum arboricolaGive it bright indirect light and a chance to dry out, and the umbrella tree is one of the most forgiving plants you can keep.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Urn PlantAechmea fasciataKeep the central cup filled and the light bright, and this bromeliad rewards you with months of color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

ValerianValeriana officinalisGive it full sun and steady moisture, and valerian rewards you with fragrant summer flowers and a sedative root cats can't resist.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Vanda OrchidVandaHang it bare-root in bright light and high humidity, soak the roots daily, and the Vanda rewards you with knockout blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–2 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Velvet Cardboard AnthuriumAnthurium clarinerviumThose velvety, white-veined leaves earn it a spot, but this anthurium wants warmth, humidity, and a careful hand with the watering can.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

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

VerbenaVerbena canadensisGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and verbena keeps the color coming from spring right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

ViburnumViburnumGive it sun, room, and a steady drink while young, and viburnum returns spring fragrance and fall berries for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ViolaViola cornutaPlant them in cool weather and violas pour out cheerful, edible flowers from fall right through spring.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaPlant it in rich, moist shade and Virginia bluebells carpets the spring woodland in soft sky-blue.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaA tough native vine that trades brilliant fall color for a constant need to keep it in bounds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Virginia SweetspireItea virginicaA tough native shrub that handles wet soil, deep shade, and hard winters while putting on a long fall show.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

WalnutJuglans regiaGive it deep soil, full sun, and room to spread, and a walnut shades the yard for generations while it fills baskets each fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysMildly toxicModerate

Water HyacinthPontederia crassipesA beautiful floating bloom with a dangerous appetite that must never reach open water.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Water LettucePistia stratiotesA free-floating rosette that doubles fast in warm water, and one you must keep far from any wild pond or stream.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Water LilyNymphaeaGive it a sunny pond and still water, and the water lily floats out flowers from late spring to fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Water PoppyHydrocleys nymphoidesGive it full sun and warm, still water, and the water poppy floats out glossy leaves and bright yellow blooms all summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

WatercressNasturtium officinaleGive it cool, clean, moving water, and watercress hands 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 the watermelon rewards you with sweet, heavy fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Watermelon PeperomiaPeperomia argyraeaGive it bright, filtered light and a careful hand with water, and this little striped beauty looks after itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensGive it moist soil, dappled light, and room to breathe, and the wax begonia blooms nonstop from spring 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 for the spring cascade of pink and white, and the weeping cherry pours blossom over your garden every April.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Weeping FigFicus benjaminaGive it steady light, warmth, and a stable spot, and the weeping fig settles into a graceful indoor tree.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Weeping WillowSalix babylonicaPlant it by water with room to spread, and the weeping willow sweeps the ground in green.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

White CloverTrifolium repensA low, self-feeding carpet that greens up the lawn, feeds the bees, and asks for next to nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

White OakQuercus albaPlant it for the long haul and a white oak gives you a century of shade and acorns for the wildlife.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Wild GingerAsarum canadenseA quiet woodland groundcover that asks for shade and steady moisture and little else.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Winter AconiteEranthis hyemalisOne of the first flowers of the year, winter aconite lights up bare ground with gold while the snow is barely gone.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Winter DaphneDaphne odoraFew shrubs scent a winter garden like daphne, but every part of it is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicDemanding

Winter SquashCucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepoGive it full sun, room to ramble, and warm soil, and winter squash fills your pantry well past the first frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Winterberry HollyIlex verticillataPlant a male alongside the females and winterberry hands you bare stems lit with red berries all winter long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Wishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriGive it shade and steady moisture, and wishbone flower blooms from summer 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 room to spread, and witch hazel rewards you with ribbon-like flowers when the rest of the garden has gone to sleep.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Wood FernDryopteris marginalisGive it shade and steady moisture, and this tough native fern fills the shadiest corner for years.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Woodland SageSalvia nemorosaGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and woodland sage throws up violet spikes from June into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

WormwoodArtemisia absinthiumGive it poor, dry soil and full sun, and this silver-leaved bitter herb all but grows 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 with little fuss.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

YamDioscoreaGive it heat, a tall trellis, and a long season, and the yam rewards you with heavy, storable tubers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoriaTough, evergreen, and the one North American holly you can brew, yaupon shrugs off drought, salt, and shade alike.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Yoshino CherryPrunus × yedoensisPlant it for the clouds of white-to-pink spring blossom, and a Yoshino cherry turns a whole yard into an event for two weeks each year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

YuzuCitrus junosHardiest of the true citrus, yuzu trades easy fruit for patience and a sheltered, sunny spot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Zebra HaworthiaHaworthiopsis attenuataGive it bright indirect light and a long dry spell between waterings, and this striped little succulent asks for almost nothing.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Zebra PlantAphelandra squarrosaStriped leaves and a golden flower spike, in return for the warm, humid air it never stops asking for.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

ZinniaZinnia elegansGive it full sun and dry leaves, and the zinnia blooms hard from summer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Zoysia GrassZoysia japonicaTough, dense, and drought-tolerant once it takes hold, zoysia trades a slow start for a lawn that wears like iron.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

ZucchiniCucurbita pepoGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and one or two plants will keep your kitchen in squash all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

ZZ PlantZamioculcas zamiifoliaGlossy, near-indestructible, and happy in a forgotten corner, the ZZ plant asks for almost nothing and gives back for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy