Pet & child safe plants
Non-toxic plants you can grow around cats, dogs, and curious toddlers without worry.
Type
Difficulty
Safety
A–Z
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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'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 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-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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
Grape HyacinthMuscari armeniacumPlant the little bulbs in fall and they answer with rivers of blue every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ImpatiensImpatiens wallerianaGive it shade and steady moisture, and impatiens floods a shady bed with color all summer.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy
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
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 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 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 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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Polka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaGive it bright filtered light and steady moisture, and the freckled leaves stay bold all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy
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
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
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
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
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-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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ServiceberryAmelanchier × grandifloraOne small tree that gives you white spring flowers, sweet June berries, and fiery fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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 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 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 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
SwitchgrassPanicum virgatumGive it full sun and lean soil, and switchgrass stands tall from summer right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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 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 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
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
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 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
Wishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriGive it shade and steady moisture, and wishbone flower blooms from summer to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy
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
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
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 
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