Visit a Koi pond at Winterthur and get tips on implementing one at home
Winterthur Horticulturist Collin Hadsell presents a Koi pond and shares tips on how to implement and maintain water features in home gardens.
Gardening is fun for those with green thumbs, but it also takes time and hard work to put together. Whether you’re looking to make a fruit-full garden or a pollinator-friendly porch so your plants can thrive, there are plenty of low-maintenance plants that can help make your garden dreams a reality—with half the effort from you.
These low-maintenance plants flourish in open sunlight, fill warm patches of your garden and thrive in most USDA climate zones.
What is a USDA plant hardiness zone?
Before you begin your gardening activities, it’s helpful to know what your USDA zone is.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a USDA zone helps gardeners and growers determine which plants are most likely to thrive in their location.
Ohio’s USDA zones are between 6a and 7b. Zones are determined by the average historic extreme low winter temperature. In this case, zone 6a averages an extreme low between 5 and 10 degrees below zero, while zone 7b reaches an average low of 5–10 degrees.
1. Blanket flower (Gaillardia)
Looking for a bright and long-lasting flower? The blanket flower grows pretty fast and adds flair with its fiery colors.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 10
- Light: Full
- Water: Water until the soil is moist, but don’t overwater.
- Color varieties: Orange, red, yellow, and white
2. Cosmos
Cosmos are beautiful flowers that bring dimension and texture to your garden. This plant is easy to grow and can thrive in full sunlight.
- USDA Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Keep it moist as it grows. Once established, they can go for long periods without watering.
- Color varieties: Pink, white, red, purple, orange, and yellow
3. Marigolds
Marigolds are gold like the sun, and they can handle the heat. This flower is an excellent fit for the brightest areas of your garden.
- USDA Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Water them weekly while they grow; they become drought-tolerant when grown.
- Color varieties: Orange, yellow, pink, bi-colored, and red
4. Purple leaf sand cherry
It’s cherry blossom season. The purple leaf sand cherry is a heat-tolerant tree, with pretty colors and blossoms. The more sunlight it gets, the more beautiful its foliage becomes.
- USDA Zone: 2 to 8
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Consistent watering while growing, then water during arid periods.
- Color varieties: Flowers are pink and white.
5. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans are drought and pest-resistant and can be a beautiful complement to your garden; they look like mini sunflowers.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun (partial shade is OK)
- Water: Water lots during their first season; they will gain drought tolerance as they grow.
- Color varieties: Yellow, orange, and red
6. Milkweed
Pollinator-friendly AND low-maintenance? Yes, please.
Milkweed attracts butterflies and bees, essential pollinators for green environments to thrive. However, be mindful of where you plant milkweed, as it can spread quickly to other areas in your garden.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Only needs water in arid stretches.
- Color varieties: Pink and white
7. Yellow alyssum
The yellow alyssum thrives brilliantly in hot climates and can also be a perennial that pops out of the ground every spring.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 7
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Doesn’t need much watering, but moist soil is excellent for them.
- Color varieties: Yellow
8. Snow-in-Summer
Snow in July? Yes, metaphorically.
These crisp white flowers resemble snow (which is how they get their name, snow-in-summer). The snow-in-summer flowers enjoy full sunlit areas in your garden and don’t mind which soil you use.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 8
- Light: Full sun
- Water: They like to be dry and are drought-tolerant. After an extended drought, occasional watering is recommended.
- Color varieties: White
9. Aloe Vera
Are you a succulent fanatic? Aloe vera loves the full sun and doesn’t need much effort from you, much like other succulents. It will grow big and strong and be an excellent addition to your garden.
- USDA Zone: 10 to 12
- Light: Full to partial sun
- Water: Water the soil and allow it to dry before watering again. It doesn’t need watering in winter.
- Color varieties: Green
10. Zinnias
Zinnias can give your garden a low-effort rainbow look. Zinnias will emerge in bright patches of sunlight and will survive even in scorching temperatures.
- USDA Zone: 2 to 11
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Only needs occasional watering as they’re drought tolerant.
- Color varieties: Pink, red, yellow, orange, dark and light purple, and white
11. Yarrow
The yarrow is another pollinator-friendly flower that can shape your garden beds.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Drought-tolerant once grown, and it’s better to underwater them than overwater.
- Color varieties: Pink, orange, purple, yellow, white, and red
12. Russian Sage
If you love how lavender looks but want something that requires less effort from you, check out the Russian sage. This plant enjoys hours of direct sun and can live in a wide range of zones.
- USDA Zone: 3a to 9b
- Light: Full sun
- Water: This plant prefers drier conditions once it’s established.
- Color varieties: Purple flowers with silver-white stems and branches
13. Canna Lily
This plant will have colorful leaves and can bloom with lush petals. Though they prosper in sunlight, canna lily plants also need consistent watering to grow.
- USDA Zone: 6a to 10a
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Canna lilies need moist soil and consistent watering.
- Color varieties: Pink, orange, red, and yellow
14. Creeping juniper
The creeping juniper shrub, with its blue and green leaves, can add a nice touch of foliage to your garden. This shrub will flourish in full sunlight and add texture to your porch area.
- USDA Zone: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Consistent water is needed as it grows; once it does, it can handle infrequent watering.
- Color varieties: Green and blue-green leaves
More Stories
Conditional waivers granted for residential construction under overhead power lines | Thiruvananthapuram News
Trump’s tariffs are dragging down an already stalled housing market
How community gardens cultivate health, connection in Wilmington, NC