Having a beautiful garden does not always require a considerable amount of your time and effort. If there are plants that desperately need your attention for them to survive and flourish, there are also plants that can grow even with your little care, like pruning and watering. These are called low-maintenance plants.
Aside from the numerous help these plants give off to the environment and health, it gives you more time for your priorities and personal life as it requires less attention.
These plants are ideal for people who are:
- Beginners in gardening
- Busy in their family, work, or household chores
- Old and with a disability
Examples of low-maintenance plants are:
1. Arkansas Blue Star
This low-maintenance plant will surely please your eyes with its gorgeous blue flower and foliage that changes with the season. It grows about one to three feet in height and is wide. It is deer and drought-resistant, which will lessen your worries.
2. Coral bells
Aside from offering you its colorful flower and leaves, coral bells do not need full sunlight. Once it is set, you will not spend hours daily on low-maintenance plants. You can also grow coral bells in containers.
3. Spotted Laurel
Spotted laurel is tolerant of different kinds of soil, wind, drought, and pollution. You won’t have to trim this plant frequently as it grows slowly, making it an ideal low-maintenance plant.
4. Marigolds
You can ensure that your marigolds will survive your yard without high maintenance work aside from planting them. These plants are not demanding on soil types and are only needed to be soaked under the sun.
5. Houseleek
This name refers to a wide and varying family of succulents. Houseleeks are surely low-maintenance due to their tolerance to drought, wind, and frost. Just ensure proper drainage for the plant. Once planted, it will not require more work from you. From its Latin name, “sempervivum,” which means “forever living.”
6. Dwarf Shrubs
Frequent pruning of your plants may not seem enjoyable when you are up to multiple projects, requirements, deadlines, and gatherings. If you are in a city or are living with limited space, consider growing dwarf shrubs. A Shrub has multiple stems and is a woody plant that makes it sturdy. Dwarf shrubs are also delightful low-maintenance plants as it requires less space and less pruning. Dwarf shrubs pertain to the types of small plants, even when it is fully matured. Most dwarf shrubs do not grow more than 3 feet. If you love plants but living in a small space at your home or yard, you might consider having dwarf shrubs.
Example of dwarf shrubs:
1. Cityline Paris Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Paris Rapa’)
This stunning dwarf shrub grows from 12 to 18 inches in height. For those living in a city, this dwarf shrub is tolerant of pollution. It is a disease-resistant plant and requires no pruning.
2. Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’)
A little smaller than the Cityline Hydrangea, this dwarf shrub, local in Japan, grows 6 inches in height. This shrub might look familiar to you as it is the basis for most Bonsai low-maintenance plants. Do not base its durability on its size, for even though it is small, it endures pollution, wind, high temperature, saltwater, and drought.
Adding to that, rabbits and deers do not munch and enjoy this Japanese Juniper. You won’t also have to worry about pruning its beautiful evergreen foliage because this plant is slow to grow.
3. Dwarf Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pumila’)
These dwarf shrubs reach approximately 2-3 ft. in height. Dwarf Norway Spruce stays small, that you can even try planting it in a container. It delights you with its globe shape and evergreen foliage.
4. Magic Carpet Spirea (Spirea japonica Magic Carpet ‘Walbuma’)
This plant’s foliage is red and turns to a vibrant gold as it becomes fully grown. Aside from its gorgeous and colorful foliage, it also produces pink flowers to set on spring. It extends from 18 to 24 inches in height. This shrub can be planted in a wide range of soil and tolerates light shade. Most Magic Carpet Spirea are deer and disease resistant.
5. Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’)
Low-maintenance plants like these dwarf, evergreen shrubs grow in climates with mild temperatures and can endure light to full sun. They can also be considered flowering houseplants as this type of plant is also ideal for containers. This variety grows only to 1 foot in height. Owning and taking care of plants does not have to be tiring and frequently done. You can now enjoy and relax with your plants without worrying about them too much.
