Low-Maintenance Flower Choices

Low-maintenance usually means hardy, reliable, drought-tolerant once established, and will tolerate various weather conditions. These flowers come back year after year, shrug off pests, and don’t need constant fussing – perfect for those that want a beautiful garden but don’t have much time.

Here are some of the best picks of low-maintenance flowers – perfect whether you’ve got a cottage border or a modern garden.

Lavender

Why Lavender is easy:

• Loves sun and poor soil (no pampering required)
• Drought-tolerant once established
• Bees love it
• Just one trim after flowering keeps it neat

Best for: sunny borders, paths, gravel gardens, containers.

Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill)

Why Geraniums are easy:

• Suppresses weeds naturally
• Flowers for months
• Survives frost with no drama
• Thrives in sun or partial shade

Best for: filling gaps, under shrubs, cottage-style planting.

Sedum / Stonecrop

Why Stonecrops are easy:

• Handles drought and poor soil
• Late-season flowers = autumn colour
• Looks good even when dying back
• Practically ignores pests

Best for: sunny borders, modern schemes, gravel gardens.

Coneflower (Echinacea)

Why Echinacea is easy:

• Tough perennial once established
• Loved by pollinators
• Long flowering season
• Drought-resistant in summer

Best for: wildlife gardens, prairie-style borders.

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

Why Rudbeckia is easy:

• Brightens borders late in the year
• Rarely troubled by pests
• Clump-forming and sturdy
• Handles rain and wind well

Best for: mixed borders and bold colour schemes.

Verbena bonariensis

Why Verbena bonariensis is easy:

• Self-seeds gently year to year
• Airy, elegant look
• Very drought tolerant
• Butterflies love it

Best for: weaving through borders, naturalistic gardens.

Alliums

Why Alliums are easy:

• Bulbs = plant once, enjoy every spring
• Pest-resistant
• No staking needed
• Architectural wow-factor

Best for: spring displays, formal or contemporary borders.