Houseplants - Smart Garden Guru

AeoniumAeoniumOffer it bright light, gritty soil, and a quiet summer rest, and this cool-season grower keeps its rosettes plump and firm.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

African DaisyOsteospermum ecklonisOffer it full sun, free-draining soil, and cool air, and your African daisy rewards you with bloom after bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

African SpearDracaena angolensisBright light and a dry pot between waterings are nearly all this easygoing spear ever asks for.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy

African VioletStreptocarpus ionanthusTreat it to soft indirect light and a calm sip from the saucer, and your African violet will thank you with blooms nearly all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

AgaveAgave americanaGive it full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, set the watering can aside, and this forgiving plant will reward your light touch.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

AgeratumAgeratum houstonianumFloss flower is forgiving and generous, lifting soft blue blooms from late spring to frost with very little fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Air PlantTillandsiaNo pot and no soil to fuss over. Hand an air plant bright light and a weekly soak and it happily takes care of the rest.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

AlfalfaMedicago sativaSettle the ground and its pH before sowing, and this deep-rooted legume will keep giving you cuttings for season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

AlmondPrunus dulcisOffer it full sun, deep well-drained soil, and a frost-free bloom, and your almond will thank you with many seasons of nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicDemanding

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

Alocasia ZebrinaAlocasia zebrinaArrow-shaped leaves ride high on stems patterned like a zebra, turning this houseplant into a piece of living art.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Aloe VeraAloe veraOffer it a bright spot, gritty soil, and a proper dry spell between drinks, and your aloe will happily look after itself.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

AmaranthAmaranthus caudatusOffer it plenty of sun and warm soil, and amaranth will thank you with trailing tassels right through summer and fall.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

AmaryllisHippeastrum hybridumSettle the bulb in, give it warmth and water, and within weeks a bare bulb rises into a tall stalk of trumpet flowers.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

American BasswoodTilia americanaA big, forgiving shade tree crowned with fragrant summer flowers the bees adore.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

American BeechFagus grandifoliaOffer it rich, acidic, moist soil and plenty of elbow room, and the American beech will grow into a shade tree your grandchildren can sit beneath.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

American ElmUlmus americanaA quick-growing vase-shaped shade tree that came back from the brink of extinction and now returns in resistant form.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

American HornbeamCarpinus carolinianaGive it moist soil and a little shade, and this easygoing native tree will keep its shape for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

American Smoketree (Tree Form)Cotinus obovatusHand it lean, dry soil and plenty of sun, and the American smoketree rewards you with its soft summer haze and a warm rush of fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Angel Wing BegoniaBegonia coccineaOffer it bright light and a friendly pinch now and then, and the angel wing begonia thanks you with silver-flecked leaves and dangling red flowers.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

AngeloniaAngelonia angustifoliaGive it full sun and heat, and angelonia will reward you with spires of bloom from summer to fall, no fuss required.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

AnisePimpinella anisumTuck the seed in once, leave the taproot undisturbed, and anise thanks you with fragrant seed after a long warm summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Annual RyegrassLolium multiflorumSow it in fall and annual ryegrass rewards you with fast cover, hungry roots, and a stand that mostly steps aside by spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Annual VincaCatharanthus roseusSet it in heat, full sun, and soil that drains fast, and annual vinca will keep flowering from late spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

AnthuriumAnthurium andraeanumOffer it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and your anthurium will reward you with those glossy spathes month after month.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

AppleMalus domesticaOffer it full sun, a pollination partner, and a yearly prune, and an apple tree feeds you for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

ApricotPrunus armeniacaOffer it full sun, sharp drainage, and shelter from late frost, and an apricot tree will hand you sweet golden fruit by early summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Areca PalmDypsis lutescensOffer it bright indirect light, clean water, and humid air, and the areca palm will repay you by softening a corner with feathery green.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Arrowhead PlantSyngonium podophyllumForgiving and quick to fill in, the arrowhead plant will climb or trail wherever you guide it, as long as it gets bright indirect light.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumA forgiving native shrub that hands you spring flowers, blue-black berries, and fiery fall color for very little effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Asian PearPyrus pyrifoliaOffer it full sun, a pollinator partner, and an open frame, and the Asian pear will reward you with crisp, juicy fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Asiatic JasmineTrachelospermum asiaticumTough, glossy, and happy in sun or deep shade, Asiatic jasmine carpets the ground and asks almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Asiatic LilyLiliumSet the bulbs in the ground just once, and Asiatic lilies reward you with the first big blooms of summer, year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

AsparagusAsparagus officinalisPlant it just once, and a happy asparagus bed will feed you every spring for 15 to 20 years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Asparagus FernAsparagus aethiopicusSoft, feathery, and wonderfully forgiving as long as you never let it sit in water.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–10 daysToxicEasy

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

AstilbeAstilbe × arendsiiGive it shade and soil that stays damp, and astilbe will fill your dark corners with feathery plumes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Autumn FernDryopteris erythrosoraTuck it into moist shade and the autumn fern rewards you with copper-red new fronds that brighten the season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

AvocadoPersea americanaOffer it full sun, sharp drainage, and a little frost shelter, and your avocado can shade the yard for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

AzaleaRhododendronOffer it acid-leaning soil, soft broken shade, and even watering, and each spring your azalea will repay that small kindness with a bloom worth waiting for.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Baby Rubber PlantPeperomia obtusifoliaOffer it bright indirect light and a good long dry spell between waterings, and this easygoing peperomia nearly looks after itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Baby ToesFenestraria rhopalophyllaSet it in bright light and water it rarely, and this tiny cluster of window-tipped toes will be content for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

BacopaSutera cordataKeep it steadily watered in sun or light shade, and bacopa will spill out white bloom from summer right up to frost.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

BahiagrassPaspalum notatumTough, drought-proof, and content in poor sandy soil, bahiagrass keeps its footing where finer lawns give up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bald CypressTaxodium distichumA swamp native so forgiving of flood, drought, and city soil that almost anyone can grow it, and it glows rust-orange each fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Bamboo PalmChamaedorea seifriziiOffer it bright indirect light and clean water, and the bamboo palm will softly fill a corner with feathery green.☀️ Medium indirectPet & child safeEasy

BananaMusa acuminataOffer it warmth, rich soil, and steady water, and this gentle giant of an herb will keep sending up new stems for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Barrel CactusFerocactus wislizeniSet it in full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, water it only now and then, and this easygoing desert barrel will keep you company for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasy

Barren StrawberryWaldsteinia ternataAn easygoing, low yellow-flowered carpet that thrives in dry shade where most plants give up.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

BasilOcimum basilicumOffer it sun, warmth, and a gentle pinch, and basil will fill your kitchen with fresh leaves all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bay LaurelLaurus nobilisPatient and evergreen, bay laurel rewards a little care with a lifetime of fresh kitchen leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Bearded IrisIris germanicaSet the rhizome shallow in full sun, keep it lean and dry, and your bearded iris will come back faithfully every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BeardtonguePenstemon digitalisGive it full sun and sharp drainage and this easygoing native will reward you with white spikes the bees adore.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BeautybushKolkwitzia amabilisA forgiving, arching shrub that wraps itself in soft pink, bell-shaped flowers each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bee BalmMonarda didymaGive it full sun, moist soil, and room to breathe, and bee balm will pull in bees and hummingbirds all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BeetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisDrop the seed straight into the soil, thin it early and lift it young, and the beet hands back sweet roots and tasty greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bell PepperCapsicum annuumGive it full sun, even water, and warm soil, and the bell pepper will keep your kitchen happily stocked all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

BellflowerCampanula persicifoliaOffer it cool weather, sun, and well-drained soil, and your bellflower will happily ring out blue bells every summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bells of IrelandMoluccella laevisTall green spires of bell-shaped calyces that love cool weather and dry beautifully for the vase.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

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

BidensBidens ferulifoliaSettle it into full sun and average soil, and forgiving bidens rewards you with golden flowers from spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Big BluestemAndropogon gerardiiOffer it full sun and lean soil, and this towering native grass will hold itself tall from summer right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginaeOffer it all the sun you can spare and a few patient seasons, and the crane flower will thank you with one of the showiest blooms you can grow indoors.☀️ Full sunToxicModerate

Bird's Nest FernAsplenium nidusOffer it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and this forgiving shade-lover rewards you with glossy fronds for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–9 daysPet & child safeModerate

Black ChokeberryAronia melanocarpaHardy, kind to beginners, and edible from spring bloom to winter berry, chokeberry asks very little of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black LocustRobinia pseudoacaciaA tough, forgiving tree that asks little and grows fast for the new gardener.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy

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

Black Velvet Elephant EarAlocasia reginula 'Black Velvet'A petite jewel alocasia wearing velvety black leaves laced with silver veins, ready to reward a thoughtful touch.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirtaTuck it into full sun once, and this cheerful golden daisy will keep sowing itself back for you every year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black-eyed Susan VineThunbergia alataOffer it full sun, steady water, and something to climb, and this twining annual will flower from summer all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Black-gold PhilodendronPhilodendron melanochrysumOffer it warm, humid air and a pole to lean on, and this velvet-leaved philodendron opens deep, glittering leaves for you.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

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

BladderwortUtriculariaOffer it pure water, lean soil, and bright light, and this little hunter takes care of its own meals.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Blazing StarLiatris spicataTuck the corms in once and blazing star rewards you with tall purple spikes for the bees all summer long.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Bleeding HeartLamprocapnos spectabilisGive it shade, steady moisture, and rich soil, and bleeding heart will reward you with its dangling pink hearts each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Bloodgood Japanese MapleAcer palmatumA forgiving red-leaf maple that rewards a little kindness with seasons of color.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Blue FescueFestuca glaucaA neat silver-blue tuft that asks little and forgives a lot on hot, dry, lean ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Blue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirensEven a first-timer can keep this steel-blue mound looking its best, as long as it gets full sun and lean, dry soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Blue StarAmsonia tabernaemontanaPlant it in full sun and trim it after it blooms, and forgiving Blue Star carries you from spring flowers to a glow of gold leaves in fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BluebeardCaryopteris × clandonensisGive bluebeard a hard cut each spring and it rewards you with a soft haze of blue flowers just as the rest of the garden settles down.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BlueberryVaccinium corymbosumGet the soil acidic and a friend planted nearby, and your blueberry will thank you with summer after summer of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Blushing BromeliadNeoregelia carolinaeKeep its central cup topped up and give it bright, indirect light, and the blushing bromeliad colors up indoors with barely any effort from you.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bok ChoyBrassica rapa subsp. chinensisSow it in cool weather, keep it watered and growing fast, and bok choy fills the bed in barely six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

BorageBorago officinalisPlant it just once, and the blue star flowers and bees happily return on their own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Border ForsythiaForsythia × intermediaWelcome the first burst of yellow that opens long before anything else dares to wake in spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Boston FernNephrolepis exaltataOffer it steady moisture and humid air, and your Boston fern will reward you with a soft green fountain of fronds.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Boston IvyParthenocissus tricuspidataGrow it for a wall that blazes crimson in fall, just offer it masonry to climb instead of your siding.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

BougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilisGive it sun, a touch of thirst, and a little benign neglect, and bougainvillea rewards you with color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

BoysenberryRubus ursinus × idaeusOffer it full sun, a sturdy trellis, and a yearly prune, and the boysenberry rewards you with big, wine-dark fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Bradford PearPyrus calleryanaQuick to grow and wonderfully tough, the Bradford pear also splits in storms and spreads as an aggressive invasive, so it is one you are better off skipping.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Broccoli RabeBrassica rapa Ruvo GroupPlant it at the cool ends of the season, snip the shoots while the buds stay tight, and broccoli rabe gives back generous, savory greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

BromeliadBromeliaceae (family)Keep the cup full and the light bright but indirect, and a bromeliad will reward you with months of color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

BrunneraBrunnera macrophyllaGive it shade and steady moisture, and Brunnera will reward you, brightening the darkest 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 finish the job, and the sprouts come in firm and sweet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

BuckwheatFagopyrum esculentumTuck it into warm soil and buckwheat will reward you, covering the ground, smothering weeds, and feeding the bees within a few short weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Buffalo GrassBouteloua dactyloidesA forgiving native prairie grass that gives you a green lawn on far less water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeModerate

BugleweedAjuga reptansGive it part shade and good drainage, and bugleweed rolls out a fast carpet of color for you, as long as you gently 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 will happily look after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasy

Bur OakQuercus macrocarpaPlant a bur oak and you give the future a gentle giant that quietly endures cold, drought, and rough city ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Burning BushEuonymus alatusSettle it in full sun and come autumn the leaves flare a deep scarlet you'll catch from clear across the yard.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Burro's TailSedum morganianumOffer it bright light and dry roots, and this tumbling succulent will spill happily over its pot for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeEasy

Butterfly BushBuddleja davidiiGive it full sun and a brave spring trim, and the butterfly bush rewards you with flowers and fluttering wings all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Butterfly WeedAsclepias tuberosaFind it a sunny, dry corner of poor soil, give it room, and the monarchs will come looking for you.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

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

Button FernPellaea rotundifoliaEasier than its delicate looks suggest, the button fern asks only for soft light and a relaxed hand with watering.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

CabbageBrassica oleracea (Capitata Group)Offer cabbage steady moisture, rich soil, and cool air, and it thanks you with a heavy, tightly packed head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

CaladiumCaladium bicolorGive it warm soil, soft dappled shade, and steady moisture, and your caladium thanks you with heart-shaped leaves brushed in red, pink, and white.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Calamondin OrangeCitrus × microcarpaA pot-friendly citrus that gives you sweet-scented blooms and tart little oranges at the same time, right on a sunny windowsill.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Calathea MedallionGoeppertia roseopictaOffer it soft water, gentle warmth, and steady humidity, and the medallion leaves open into their full painted pattern.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Calathea OrbifoliaGoeppertia orbifoliaWide, rounded, ribbon-painted leaves that settle together at night like folded hands and thank you for a little steady attention.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

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

CalendulaCalendula officinalisGive it full sun and lean soil and pot marigold rewards you with bloom from spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

CalibrachoaCalibrachoa × hybridaGive it full sun, steady water, and acidic soil, and calibrachoa will pour bloom from spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Calla LilyZantedeschia aethiopicaHand it rich, damp soil and a sunny spot, and your calla will thank you with tall, graceful blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

CamelliaCamellia japonicaGive it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady water, and your camellia rewards you with blooms when almost nothing else is flowering.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

CandytuftIberis sempervirensGive it full sun and soil that drains well, and candytuft rewards you with a soft sheet of white spring flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

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

Cape PrimroseStreptocarpus rexiiGive it bright indirect light and a careful hand with water, and Cape primrose will flower for you across much of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cape SundewDrosera capensisOffer it bright sun and clean rainwater, and the Cape sundew will reward you with dewy, insect-catching leaves right through the year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Cardboard PalmZamia furfuraceaA tough, sculptural cycad that asks very little of you, yet its every part is dangerously toxic.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Cardinal ClimberIpomoea × multifidaGive it full sun and lean soil and this gentle, fast-growing vine rewards you with scarlet trumpets that hummingbirds chase all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Cardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalisPlant it somewhere with wet feet and a bit of shade, and cardinal flower will reward you with scarlet spikes the hummingbirds adore.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

CardoonCynara cardunculusWith a long season, rich soil, and a few patient weeks of blanching, even a beginner can coax tender stalks from this gentle giant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Carolina JessamineGelsemium sempervirensGive it full sun and something sturdy to climb, and this easygoing evergreen vine rewards you with fragrant yellow trumpets in late winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

CashewAnacardium occidentaleOne generous tropical tree, two harvests in a single season, the cashew apple and the nut, as long as its roots stay warm, sunny, and well drained.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

CassavaManihot esculentaA forgiving tropical staple that rewards patience, as long as you process the roots with care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

Cast Iron PlantAspidistra elatiorSet it in the darkest corner of the house and the cast iron plant will keep right on going for you.☀️ Low lightPet & child safeEasy

CatmintNepeta × faasseniiOffer it full sun and lean, dry soil, and catmint will hum with bees and lavender-blue bloom right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CatnipNepeta catariaHand it full sun and lean, dry soil, and catnip rewards a light touch while your cat handles the celebrating.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CattailTypha latifoliaLet its roots sit in mud or shallow water and the cattail will reward you, just give it room or it may claim the whole pond.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Cattleya OrchidCattleyaOffer it bright light, a good dry-out between waterings, and humid air, and the corsage orchid will reward you with show-stopping blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

CauliflowerBrassica oleracea Botrytis GroupStay cool, well fed, and steadily watered, and this plant will hand you a firm, weighty head for your trouble.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CeleriacApium graveolens var. rapaceumGive it a long season, rich soil, and water that never quits, and celeriac will reward you with a knob no store can match.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CeleryApium graveolens var. dulceOffer rich soil, cool weather, and water that keeps flowing, and this forgiving crop will thank you with crisp, tender stalks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

CelosiaCelosia argenteaGive it full sun and warm, well-drained soil, and celosia rewards you with flame-bright plumes all the way from summer to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Centipede GrassEremochloa ophiuroidesFeed it lightly, never lime it, and centipede grass rewards a relaxed hand with green that lasts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cereal RyeSecale cerealeSow it late, let it carry your soil through the cold months, and it feeds the ground while crowding out winter weeds.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

CherryPrunus aviumOffer it full sun, deep soil, and good airflow, and a cherry tree will thank you with fruit for decades to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

ChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumGive it cool air, gentle shade, and steady water, and chervil pays you back with lacy, tender leaves.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

ChickpeaCicer arietinumA forgiving little legume that quietly feeds itself and rewards your patience.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Chinese ElmUlmus parvifoliaA kind, fast-growing shade tree that forgives poor soil, drought, and city grit while it grows.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Chinese EvergreenAglaonema commutatumForgiving, shade-friendly, and content in a warm room, Chinese evergreen is a kind first plant for anyone afraid of getting it wrong.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Chinese Fringe FlowerLoropetalum chinenseGive loropetalum acidic soil with good drainage and it rewards you with colored leaves and fringed blooms while asking almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Chinese Money PlantPilea peperomioidesRound coin-shaped leaves, an easygoing nature, and a plant that loves to be shared.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ChivesAllium schoenoprasumGive chives a sunny spot and a steady drink, and one little clump will feed your kitchen for years to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Chocolate CosmosCosmos atrosanguineusDeep maroon flowers that genuinely smell of dark chocolate, growing from a tender tuber you tend much like a dahlia.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Chocolate VineAkebia quinataSweet chocolate-purple flowers and edible fruit on a climber that rewards a little firm pruning.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Christmas CactusSchlumbergera × buckleyiOffer it bright, indirect light and cool fall nights, and this forgiving old houseplant will bloom right on time for the holidays.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoidesGive it shade and soil that drains, and the Christmas fern will keep its green fronds standing all winter long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ChrysanthemumChrysanthemum × morifoliumPinch them all summer, give them plenty of sun with water that never runs dry, and your mums will repay you with a sweep of color once fall arrives.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

CilantroCoriandrum sativumOffer it cool weather and steady moisture, and cilantro will reward you with fresh leaves in only a few weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Cinnamon FernOsmundastrum cinnamomeumOffer it wet, acidic shade and the cinnamon fern will reward you with tall green fronds and rust-colored spikes, season after season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

ClematisClematisGive it sun on its head and shade on its feet, and clematis climbs into a wall of bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

CleomeCleome hasslerianaSow it once in full sun and the spider flower rises tall, blooms until frost, and returns on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Climbing HydrangeaHydrangea anomala subsp. petiolarisSlow to settle, then a curtain of fragrant white lacecaps you can enjoy for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Climbing RoseRosaTie it up, guide the canes sideways, and a climbing rose will happily drape a wall in bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Cobra LilyDarlingtonia californicaA striking carnivorous beauty that rewards patience and cool roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

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

CoffeeCoffea arabicaWith warmth, soft filtered light, and humid air, the coffee plant settles into a glossy evergreen that may someday reward you with cherries of its own.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysToxicModerate

ColeusColeus scutellarioidesWith its bold, painted leaves, coleus brings cheerful color to a shady corner or a sunny bed, and it asks very little of you in return.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Collard GreensBrassica oleracea (Viridis Group)A patient, frost-loving leaf crop that goes on feeding you well past the point where everything else has quietly given up for the year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungensSettle it into full sun, cool air, and well-drained ground, and your blue spruce will keep its silver glow for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

ColumbineAquilegia canadensisOffer it dappled shade and moist, free-draining soil, and columbine rewards you with spurred spring flowers that hummingbirds adore.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

ComfreySymphytum officinaleA sturdy, deep-rooted perennial that feeds your compost and keeps on giving once it has settled in.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensCalm, dependable, and evergreen year-round, boxwood gives a clipped garden its steady green bones.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Common CamasCamassia quamashA kind, easygoing bulb that makes a first-time grower feel right at home.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common FigFicus caricaPlant it in full sun with steady summer water, and a fig will reward you with sweet fruit for years to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common JasmineJasminum officinaleOffer it sun, warmth, and a sturdy support, and common jasmine will fill your summer evenings with scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Common LilacSyringa vulgarisSet it in full sun with a little elbow room, and the common lilac will thank you with clouds of spring perfume for decades to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common NinebarkPhysocarpus opulifoliusA forgiving native shrub with peeling bark and colorful leaves that gives back far more than it asks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Common PeriwinkleVinca minorA forgiving evergreen groundcover that carpets shady ground in blue, with eager runners that are easy to guide back into place.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common SneezeweedHelenium autumnaleGive it full sun and damp soil, trim it in June, and sneezeweed will light your late border with ease.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Common SnowdropGalanthus nivalisTuck the bulbs into the ground in fall, and snowdrops will reward you by pushing up through the last of the winter snow long before anything else stirs.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Common TansyTanacetum vulgareA forgiving golden-flowered herb that thrives on benign neglect and forgives a beginner's slips.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Coral BellsHeuchera sanguineaLoved for its bold, year-round foliage every bit as much as its airy spring flowers, coral bells brings the shade to life.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

CoreopsisCoreopsis grandifloraGive it full sun and lean, dry soil and tickseed will reward you with gold daisies from late spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Corkscrew RushJuncus effusus 'Spiralis'Keep its roots wet and never dry, and this forgiving little rush rewards you with a whole season of twisting green coils.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

Corn PlantDracaena fragransEasygoing in a low-light corner and slow to outgrow its spot, the corn plant really only wants clean water and a little warmth.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Corn PoppyPapaver rhoeasScatter the seed right where you want it, hand it full sun and soil that drains, and the corn poppy rewards you with silky red blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

CosmosCosmos bipinnatusHand it full sun and poor soil, and cosmos rewards you with blooms from summer until frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

CotoneasterCotoneasterForgiving, drought-proof, and dressed in red berries through winter, cotoneaster is a kind plant to learn on.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Creeping BentgrassAgrostis stoloniferaA soft, carpet-like turf with the look of a putting green and an appetite for the same devoted care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Creeping FigFicus pumilaA forgiving, fast little climber that grips almost anything and asks mostly for bright shade and steady humidity.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Creeping JennyLysimachia nummulariaA low gold carpet that settles happily into moist ground in shade or sun, and grows fast enough that a light hand keeps it where you want it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping JuniperJuniperus horizontalisHand it full sun and soil that drains freely, and this hardy evergreen carpet mostly takes care of itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping MazusMazus reptansA low, moisture-loving carpet that softens the gaps between pavers and lights up with purple-blue bloom each summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping PhloxPhlox subulataGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping phlox rewards you with a spring carpet of color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Creeping ThymeThymus serpyllumGive it full sun and sharp drainage and creeping thyme rewards you with a tough, fragrant carpet that takes drought in stride.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crepe MyrtleLagerstroemia indicaGive it sun and a gentle hand, and the crepe myrtle rewards you with summer-long blooms and beautiful peeling winter bark.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crimson CloverTrifolium incarnatumTuck it in come fall, and crimson clover rewards you with free nitrogen and a glowing carpet of red bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Crinum LilyCrinum × powelliiTuck the bulb in once and step back, and the crinum lily keeps sending up fragrant pink trumpets every late summer for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

CrossvineBignonia capreolataA forgiving native climber that hands you a curtain of spring trumpets and keeps the hummingbirds dropping by.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

CrotonCodiaeum variegatumOffer it bright light and steady, humid warmth, and your croton will reward you with leaves glowing in red, orange, and gold.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Crown ImperialFritillaria imperialisTall spring bulbs topped with nodding bells and a bold skunky scent that sends voles packing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Crown of ThornsEuphorbia miliiOffer it sun, dry roots, and a gentle hand, and crown of thorns will bloom for you nearly all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

CucumberCucumis sativusHand it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and a cucumber vine will reward you with more fruit than you can keep up with.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

CuminCuminum cyminumGive it full sun and a long, warm summer, and cumin will reward your patience with its own fragrant seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

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

CupheaCuphea igneaGive it full sun and a few easy pinches, and cuphea will reward you with blooms from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

CurrantRibes rubrumHardy, forgiving, and loaded with tart little berries, the currant rewards even a first-time gardener in a cool spot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Curry PlantHelichrysum italicumA forgiving, sun-loving little herb that makes a first-time grower feel like a natural.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

DaffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissusTuck the bulbs in this fall and they will give back the first real color of spring, year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

DahliaDahlia × hybridaWith full sun, rich soil, and steady water, your dahlia rewards you with blooms from midsummer all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Daikon RadishRaphanus sativusSow it in late summer and trust the deep taproot to do the digging for you before winter arrives.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Date PalmPhoenix dactyliferaOffer it full sun, sharp drainage, and desert heat, and the date palm will thank you with sweet fruit for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

David Austin RoseRosaThe charm and scent of an old rose, with flowers that keep coming back from late spring all the way to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

DaylilyHemerocallis fulvaForgiving, quick to settle, and happy in sun, the daylily gives you a fresh bloom each morning all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

DelphiniumDelphinium elatumTowering spires of true blue that ask for staking, steady moisture, and a watchful eye around children and pets.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysToxicDemanding

Dendrobium OrchidDendrobiumOffer it bright light and a cool, dry winter rest, and your dendrobium will thank you with canes full of blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Deodar CedarCedrus deodaraSet it in full sun with soil that drains, and this Himalayan cedar will reward you with a soft, sweeping evergreen that lasts for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

DiasciaDiascia barberaeAn easygoing tumble of spurred blooms that welcomes the first-time gardener.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

DillAnethum graveolensPop the seed right in the soil, keep it cool and evenly watered, and dill will reward you with leaves all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

DipladeniaMandevilla sanderiGive it full sun, warmth, and sharp drainage, and dipladenia will reward you with trumpet flowers from early summer all the way to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

DischidiaDischidia nummulariaOffer it bright light, fast-draining roots, and a real dry spell, and your dischidia will trail along happily for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesiiGive it room, moist soil, and a little patience, and the Douglas fir will reward you by growing into one of the tallest trees in the forest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Drooping LeucothoeLeucothoe fontanesianaGive it shade, acidic soil, and steady moisture, and this graceful arching evergreen will reward you all year long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

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

Dusty MillerJacobaea maritimaGrow it for the silver foliage that makes every other color sing, give it sun and sharp drainage, and it will ask almost nothing of you in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dutch IrisIris × hollandicaTuck the bulbs in come fall and Dutch iris rewards you with tall, graceful blooms the next spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dutchman's PipeAristolochia macrophyllaA forgiving climber that fills a frame with soft, overlapping leaves and welcomes the pipevine swallowtail.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Dwarf Alberta SprucePicea glaucaA neat, slow-growing cone of evergreen that simply asks for full sun, steady moisture, and air that moves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Dwarf FothergillaFothergilla gardeniiSweet, honey-scented spring flowers and glowing fall color on a tough little shrub that forgives beginners.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Dwarf Japanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and a break from wind, and your dwarf Japanese maple will keep its lovely shape and color for many years.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Earth StarCryptanthus bivittatusOffer it bright indirect light and steady humidity, and the earth star will reward you with color all year long.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Easter CactusRhipsalidopsis gaertneriOffer it a cool winter rest and a settled corner, and your Easter cactus thanks you with scarlet, star-shaped spring blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Eastern Red CedarJuniperus virginianaA forgiving native evergreen that handles drought, hard soil, and brutal cold while you learn the ropes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Eastern RedbudCercis canadensisWatch it set the bare spring woods aglow with rose-pink flowers clinging right to the branches before the first leaf ever shows.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Eastern White PinePinus strobusGive it room and acidic ground, and this tall, soft-needled pine grows fast into a gentle green giant you will be glad you planted.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

EcheveriaEcheveriaOffer it bright light and a soil that dries quickly, and this forgiving rosette succulent will mostly take care of itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

EggplantSolanum melongenaOffer it warmth, full sun, and steady water, and eggplant will keep handing you glossy fruit all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

ElderberrySambucus canadensisOffer it sun, steady moisture, and a partner cultivar close by, and elderberry rewards you with full, dark clusters of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Elephant EarColocasia esculentaKeep its feet wet in rich soil and good light, and elephant ear will reward you with huge tropical leaves all season long.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Emerald Green ArborvitaeThuja occidentalisSettle it into full sun with steady moisture, look after it through deer season and snow, and it will reward you with a dense green screen for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Encore AzaleaRhododendronSettle one into acidic soil, filtered sun, and steady moisture, and your Encore azalea rewards you with spring color that returns into fall.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

EndiveCichorium endiviaKeep it cool, steady, and given room, and endive rewards you with crisp salad leaves through spring and fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

English BluebellHyacinthoides non-scriptaTuck the bulbs in this fall and watch them carpet the shade in violet-blue come spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

English IvyHedera helixForgiving, shade-loving, and quick to fill a pot, English ivy will trail or climb right where you guide it.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

EpazoteDysphania ambrosioidesOffer it lean soil and full sun, pinch it freely, and epazote rewards you with that one-of-a-kind Mexican kitchen flavor all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Fairy Castle CactusAcanthocereus tetragonusA slow, sculptural cactus that asks for bright light and very little water, and is happiest when you simply leave it be.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

False IndigoBaptisia australisHand it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and false indigo will settle in for decades and ask almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

False ShamrockOxalis triangularisSoft purple, three-cornered leaves that wake up by day and tuck in at night, raised from forgiving little bulbs.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

False SunflowerHeliopsis helianthoidesSettle it into full sun and lean soil, and false sunflower will pour out gold from midsummer to the first frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fan FlowerScaevola aemulaHand it full sun and quick-draining soil, and fan flower keeps trailing blue blooms right up until frost arrives.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fava BeanVicia fabaDrop them into cold spring soil, offer sun and steady water, and these forgiving broad beans will reward you with an early crop while the air is still cool.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Feather Reed GrassCalamagrostis × acutifloraGive it full sun and feather reed grass will stand tall and feathered for you, from June right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

FenugreekTrigonella foenum-graecumTuck the seed straight into cool soil and fenugreek thanks you with fresh methi leaves inside a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Ficus AudreyFicus benghalensisOffer it bright indirect light and gentle, steady watering, and this easygoing banyan fig will reward you as one good-looking, forgiving houseplant.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Fiddle-leaf FigFicus lyrataOffer it bright indirect light and one steady home, and your fiddle-leaf fig will thank you with bold, glossy leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Field PeaPisum sativum subsp. arvensePair it with a grain to climb, and the field pea quietly builds your soil and feeds it nitrogen for free.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fine FescueFestuca rubraOffer it shade, lean soil, and a gentle hand, and fine fescue settles into a soft, forgiving lawn.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Fishtail PalmCaryota mitisA bold yet forgiving indoor palm with leaflets shaped like a fish's tail, happy to grow for you as long as you respect its prickly fruit.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Flaming KatyKalanchoe blossfeldianaGive it bright light, gritty soil, and a good dry-out between drinks, and this easygoing succulent thanks you with weeks of color.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Flaming SwordVriesea splendensKeep its cup topped with fresh water and the light soft, and this gentle bromeliad rewards you with color that lasts for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Florence FennelFoeniculum vulgareGive it cool weather and a steady drink, and fennel hands you a crisp, anise-sweet bulb.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Floribunda RoseRosaGive it sun, a little space, and water at the roots, and your floribunda will thank you with clusters of bloom from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Florist's CyclamenCyclamen persicumKeep it cool, bright, and watered from below, and your cyclamen will keep flowering all winter long.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysToxicModerate

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

Flowering QuinceChaenomeles speciosaAmong the first shrubs to wake each spring, flowering quince brightens bare branches with color before the leaves catch up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

FoamflowerTiarella cordifoliaA gentle shade native that lifts frothy white spires each spring and settles into a soft green carpet the rest of the year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

Four O'clockMirabilis jalapaTuck a few seeds in once and four o'clock rewards you with fragrant evening flowers all summer, then quietly sows the next year for you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaTall spires of speckled bells brighten a shaded border, yet every part of this plant is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

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

Franklin TreeFranklinia alatamahaEven though this tree disappeared from its wild home back in the early 1800s, it still rewards you with late-summer blooms and fiery autumn leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

FreesiaFreesia refractaArching sprays of intensely fragrant winter blooms, waiting patiently to reward your very first try.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

French TarragonArtemisia dracunculusFrench tarragon asks for little once it has full sun and sharp drainage, then thanks you with that warm anise note right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

FuchsiaFuchsia × hybridaOffer it cool shade and steady moisture, and the fuchsia rewards you with dangling, two-tone flowers all season long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Garden AngelicaAngelica archangelicaA tall, easygoing woodland-edge herb that rewards you with candied stems and grand flower heads before it gracefully steps aside.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

Garden GladiolusGladiolus × hortulanusTuck the corms into spring soil and gladiolus rewards you with tall spires of color from late summer into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Garden PhloxPhlox paniculataGive it sun, breathing room, and steady moisture, and garden phlox will crown your border with color from midsummer on.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Garden SageSalvia officinalisGive it full sun and dry roots and this easygoing Mediterranean herb will keep your kitchen in fresh leaves for years to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Garden SorrelRumex acetosaKeep snipping the young leaves and garden sorrel will thank you with a tart, lemony harvest from spring well into autumn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

GardeniaGardenia jasminoidesGive it acidic soil, steady moisture, and humid air, and this shrub thanks you with sweetly scented white flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicDemanding

GarlicAllium sativumTuck a clove into the ground in fall and let it be until summer, when that single clove becomes a whole head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Garlic ChivesAllium tuberosumSnip a handful whenever you cook, and garlic chives forgive you and grow back with flat, garlic-scented leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

GasteriaGasteriaGive it bright indirect light and a dry rest between waterings, and this easygoing little succulent will happily look after itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 10–21 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

GauraGaura lindheimeriGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil and gaura will reward you with 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 rewards you with bold, daisy-bright blooms all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Gerbera DaisyGerbera jamesoniiGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a dry crown, and your gerbera daisy will hand you bright blooms from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Ghost PlantGraptopetalum paraguayenseOffer it bright light and a dry rest between waterings, and the ghost plant will look after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Giant Ornamental OnionAllium giganteumTuck the bulbs in this fall and giant allium will thank you with purple globes drifting above the border come early summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysToxicEasy

GingerZingiber officinaleGive it warmth, gentle moisture, and soft light, and one humble rhizome will reward you with a whole season of fresh ginger.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

GinkgoGinkgo bilobaSlow-growing, forgiving, and wonderfully hard to kill, the ginkgo is a tree you can plant and grow into for a lifetime.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Globe ArtichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymusOffer it full sun, deep soil, and a cold winter spell, and the artichoke thanks you with tender buds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Globe ThistleEchinops ritroGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and globe thistle rewards you with steel-blue globes the bees will love.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Glory-of-the-snowChionodoxa forbesiiAmong the first bulbs to bloom, glory-of-the-snow spreads a carpet of blue before winter has quite let go.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Glossy AbeliaAbelia × grandifloraGive it sun and soil that drains well, and glossy abelia will reward you with flowers from late spring to frost, almost on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Goji BerryLycium barbarumGive it full sun, lean alkaline soil, and room to sprawl, and this forgiving nightshade will thank you with superfood berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Golden Barrel CactusEchinocactus grusoniiGive it bright sun and a light touch on the watering can, and this golden globe will happily do the rest.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Golden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculataA forgiving shade tree that fills 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 rewards you with weeks of late-summer color and a garden full of happy pollinators.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Goldfish PlantNematanthus gregariusOffer it bright filtered light and steady warmth, and the goldfish plant rewards you with arching stems strung with little orange blooms.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

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

Grandiflora RoseRosaTall, long-stemmed, and happy to bloom from spring right to frost, the grandiflora hands you hybrid-tea flowers on a floribunda frame.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

GrapeVitis viniferaGive a grapevine full sun, a sturdy support, and one hard prune a year, and it will reward you with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicModerate

Grape HyacinthMuscari armeniacumTuck the tiny bulbs in this fall and let them surprise you with rivers of blue come spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

GrapefruitCitrus × paradisiGive it full sun, deep watering, and frost-free warmth, and your grapefruit tree will reward you with fruit right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Great BurnetSanguisorba officinalisTall wands of dark red bottlebrush flowers that sway over the back of a damp, sunny border all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Green AshFraxinus pennsylvanicaA tough, fast-growing shade tree for tricky ground, now living under the shadow of the emerald ash borer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Green BeanPhaseolus vulgarisPop the seed into warm soil and green beans hand you pods by the handful all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Green Giant ArborvitaeThuja 'Green Giant'Give it full sun and plenty of elbow room, and this easygoing tree grows you a living privacy wall before you know it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ground CherryPhysalis pruinosaJust let the husks dry, drop, and turn gold, and your ground cherry rewards you with a sweet treat all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ground OrchidBletilla striataA friendly, forgiving orchid that grows right in the garden soil and lifts fresh pink blooms every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Groundcover RoseRosaGive it full sun and a little breathing room, and a groundcover rose will carpet the ground in bloom from spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

GuavaPsidium guajavaOffer it full sun, warmth, and shelter from frost, and your guava tree will thank you with fragrant fruit season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Hairy VetchVicia villosaTuck it into the ground in fall and this forgiving nitrogen-fixing cover crop quietly feeds your soil all the way to spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Hardy KiwiActinidia argutaA tough little vine that rewards you with smooth, grape-sized berries eaten skin and all, never a peel in sight.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Hart's Tongue FernAsplenium scolopendriumGive it deep shade, steady moisture, and a little lime, and this glossy strap-leaved fern will reward you by holding its green right through winter.☀️ Full shade · 💧 5–10 daysSafety unverifiedModerate

HaworthiaHaworthiaSet it in bright indirect light and let it dry out fully between drinks, and this little windowed succulent will happily look after itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Hay-scented FernDennstaedtia punctilobulaA forgiving native fern that carpets shade with soft, hay-scented fronds and asks almost nothing of you.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

HazelnutCorylus avellanaGive it full sun, a good pollen partner, and room to spread, and the hazel will thank you with nuts every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Heartleaf PhilodendronPhilodendron hederaceumForgiving and quick to grow, the heartleaf philodendron settles happily into a shady corner and asks for little more than an occasional drink.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Heavenly BambooNandina domesticaForgiving, drought-proof, and glowing in winter, nandina is easy to love, though its berries are poison to wildlife.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

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

Hen and ChicksSempervivum tectorumGive it sun, grit, and hardly any water, and this forgiving little succulent all but grows itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Hindu Rope HoyaHoya carnosa 'Compacta'Offer it bright light and a light hand with water, and this curly-leaved wax plant will keep you company for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusaGive it acidic soil, steady moisture, and a spot out of harsh wind, and this forgiving slow evergreen will hold its shape for a lifetime.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Holly FernCyrtomium falcatumWith glossy, holly-shaped fronds and a pet-safe, shade-loving nature, this fern is a kind place to start.☀️ 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 rewards you with fragrant leaves all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Honey LocustGleditsia triacanthosTough, quick, and wonderfully forgiving, the honey locust lays dappled shade over ground where little else will settle.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

HoneyberryLonicera caeruleaSet two cultivars side by side and you'll gather 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 patient season, and honeydew will reward you with sweet, cooling fruit come late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

HoneysuckleLonicera sempervirensOffer it full sun and something to climb, and trumpet honeysuckle thanks you with coral flowers and a happy parade of hummingbirds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

HopsHumulus lupulusGive them full sun, deep soil, and something tall to climb, and your hop bines will happily race skyward toward a brewing harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysToxicModerate

HorseradishArmoracia rusticanaTuck one root into deep, loose soil and this forgiving perennial gives back fiery harvests every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

HorsetailEquisetum hyemaleHandsome, jointed evergreen stems for a soggy corner, as long as you keep it in a container so it can't wander.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

HostaHostaGive it shade, steady moisture, and rich soil, and this forgiving plant rewards you with bold leaves that come back fuller every year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hummingbird MintAgastache foeniculumOffer it full sun and soil that drains, and anise hyssop will buzz with bees and hummingbirds all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

HyacinthHyacinthus orientalisTuck the bulbs into the ground in fall, and spring rewards you with dense, sweet-scented spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hyacinth BeanLablab purpureusGive it heat, full sun, and a tall trellis, and hyacinth bean will reward you with purple flowers and glossy pods well into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Hybrid Tea RoseRosaGive it full sun, a deep drink, and a confident spring cut, and the hybrid tea rose will reward you with long-stemmed blooms from summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–8 daysPet & child safeModerate

HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaGive it rich, moist soil and afternoon shade, and this forgiving shrub will reward you with armfuls of summer bloom.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

HyssopHyssopus officinalisGive it full sun and lean, fast-draining soil, and forgiving hyssop pays you back with aromatic leaves and bee-loved blue spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ice PlantDelosperma cooperiGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and this easygoing succulent will lay down a low carpet of jewel-toned flowers all summer long.☀️ Full sunSafety unverifiedEasy

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

Inkberry HollyIlex glabraA forgiving native shrub that shrugs off wet ground, hard winters, and shade and stays green all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

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

Italian CypressCupressus sempervirensSet it once in full sun and dry, well-drained soil, and this slender green column will hold its shape for decades to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Jacob's LadderPolemonium caeruleumGive it cool shade and steady moisture, and Jacob's ladder rewards you with tidy rungs of foliage under spring-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Jade PlantCrassula ovataGive it bright light and a good dry-out between drinks, and your jade plant will happily outlive most of the houseplants that came home with it.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

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

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

Japanese BarberryBerberis thunbergiiTough, thorny, and richly colored, and forgiving to grow, yet worth a careful thought before you plant it where it can spread.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese Blood GrassImperata cylindrica 'Rubra'Give it full sun and even moisture, and watch the blades light up blood-red from the tips downward.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonicaGive it rich, moist soil and a little shelter from winter wind, and Japanese cedar will reward you by growing into a towering evergreen spire.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese Forest GrassHakonechloa macraGive it shade and steady moisture, and this forgiving grass spills over a bed's edge like softly falling water.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Japanese IrisIris ensataOffer it acidic soil, full sun, and plenty of summer water, and Japanese iris rewards you with broad, butterfly-flat blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese KerriaKerria japonicaGive it dappled shade and soil that drains, and Japanese kerria will thank you with golden spring flowers on cheerful green stems.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese LaurelAucuba japonicaAn easygoing shade shrub that makes you look like a natural.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and a little shelter from wind, and the Japanese maple will reward you with color from spring right through fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Japanese PachysandraPachysandra terminalisGive it deep shade and rich, moist soil, and pachysandra rewards you with a glossy evergreen carpet that lasts for years.☀️ Full shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Japanese PierisPieris japonicaOffer it acidic soil and a wind-sheltered spot, and andromeda rewards you with drooping white flowers each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Japanese PittosporumPittosporum tobiraA forgiving evergreen shrub that shrugs off sun, shade, drought, and hard shearing and still smells like orange blossom come spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Japanese PrimrosePrimula japonicaGive it cool, wet, shaded ground and the Japanese primrose will reward you with tiered candles of bloom each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese SkimmiaSkimmia japonicaGive it shade and acidic soil and this easygoing evergreen rewards you with fragrant spring flowers and cheerful winter berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Japanese SpireaSpiraea japonicaForgiving, quick to grow, and generous, Japanese spirea rewards you with flat pink flower clusters and foliage that shifts color from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Japanese StewartiaStewartia pseudocamelliaGive it a little time and it gives back generously, with summer flowers, glowing fall color, and patchwork bark.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Japanese Umbrella PineSciadopitys verticillataA gentle living fossil with soft needles in easy whorls that asks for little more than your patience and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Japanese YewTaxus cuspidataA forgiving, shade-loving evergreen for hedges and topiary that also happens to be one of the deadliest plants you can grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

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

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

JuniperJuniperus chinensisGive it full sun and soil that drains, and juniper will forgive almost everything else across its long life.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

KalanchoeKalanchoeA forgiving little succulent that hands you bright, long-lasting blooms for hardly any effort at all.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

KaleBrassica oleracea Acephala GroupForgiving and generous, kale rewards a first-time grower with tender leaves from spring right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Kentia PalmHowea forsterianaGive it bright, indirect light and a steady drink, and the kentia palm rewards you with slow, easy elegance in any room.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Kentucky BluegrassPoa pratensisGive it full sun and steady water, and Kentucky bluegrass rewards you with a dense, self-healing lawn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Key LimeCitrus × aurantiifoliaGive this thorny little citrus full sun, warmth, and free-draining soil, and it happily pays you back with sharp, aromatic limes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Kimberly Queen FernNephrolepis obliterataGive it bright indirect light and steady moisture and this upright sword fern will stay full and tidy for you all year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

Knock Out RoseRosaGive it full sun and one easy cleanup prune a year, and your Knock Out rewards you with bloom from June to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

KohlrabiBrassica oleracea Gongylodes GroupGrow it fast and cool, pick it while it's small, and kohlrabi rewards you with a crisp, sweet bulb sitting right on the soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Kousa DogwoodCornus kousaA small, forgiving tree that gives you star-shaped blooms, edible fruit, and peeling bark through all four seasons.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

KumquatCitrus japonicaGive it full sun, steady water, and cover from hard frost, and this little citrus will happily fruit right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Kwanzan CherryPrunus serrulataGive it a spot in your yard for one unforgettable week of double pink bloom each spring, and it will reward the little care you offer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Lacy PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaScatter it once and the bees will find you, a soft haze of lavender-blue humming with pollinators all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Lady PalmRhapis excelsaSlow-growing, shade-loving, and gentle on pets, the lady palm is one of the most forgiving indoor palms you can welcome home.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

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

LantanaLantana camaraGive it full sun and lean soil and lantana will bloom hot all summer for you, though every part of it is poisonous.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Large-flowered TrilliumTrillium grandiflorumSettle it into cool shade and leafy, rich soil, and this easygoing native will thank you with a bright bloom each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

LarkspurConsolida ajacisTall blue spires to lift a cool spring garden, lovely to grow but poisonous in every part.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

LavenderLavandula angustifoliaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, keep the soil lean, and forgiving lavender will thank you with fragrance for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

LeekAllium ampeloprasumSet them deep, feed them well, and hill the soil up, and a leek rewards you with a long sweet shank that stands right through the cold.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

LemonCitrus limonGive it full sun, deep but occasional water, and a little frost protection, and your lemon tree will reward you with fruit for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Lemon BalmMelissa officinalisRun your hand across it and the whole garden lifts: lemon balm pours out a bright, lemony scent while asking almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Lemon VerbenaAloysia citriodoraBrush a hand past the leaves and lemon fills the air. Give it full sun and warmth and this gentle herb thanks you with fragrance.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

LentilLens culinarisGet it into cool, well-drained ground early, and this forgiving legume feeds itself and rewards you at harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

LettuceLactuca sativaGive it cool air, steady water, and quick growth, and lettuce rewards you with crisp salads in barely a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

LewisiaLewisia cotyledonGive it sharp drainage and a dry crown, and lewisia will thank you with bright rosette flowers each spring.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Leyland CypressCupressus × leylandiiGive it room to breathe and steady water, and this fast, forgiving evergreen raises a private green wall in just a few years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

LigulariaLigularia dentataGive the leopard plant damp shade and it thanks you with bold leaves and tall daisy spires.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

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

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

Lipstick PlantAeschynanthus radicansGive it warmth, gentle bright light, and a little humidity, and this forgiving lipstick plant will reward you with red trailing flowers for much of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

LisianthusEustoma grandiflorumSlow to wake and well worth waiting for, lisianthus repays a cool, patient start with rose-like blooms right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

LithopsLithopsTiny living stones that thrive on almost no water, so the kindest thing you can do is leave them be.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Little BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumGive it full sun and lean, dry soil and this forgiving native grass will stand proud from summer straight through the heart of winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

LobeliaLobelia erinusGive it cool weather, part shade, and steady moisture, and forgiving lobelia rewards you with clouds of blue from spring into fall.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

LoganberryRubus × loganobaccusWith full sun, rich soil, and a sturdy trellis, the loganberry rewards you with a long, tart-sweet summer harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

LoquatEriobotrya japonicaGive it full sun and a frost-free spot, and this forgiving tree rewards you with sweet fruit when almost nothing else is ready.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Lucky BambooDracaena sanderianaGive it clean water and soft, indirect light, and this forgiving Dracaena will happily reward you for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 Every 7 daysToxicEasy

LungwortPulmonaria saccharataGive it cool shade and steady moisture and lungwort rewards you, brightening your dimmest corners with early spotted leaves and pink-to-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 Every 7 daysPet & child safeEasy

LupineLupinus polyphyllusGive it full sun, cool roots, and lean soil, and lupine will thank you with tall spires of color from late spring into summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

LycheeLitchi chinensisGive it warmth, acidic soil, and a cool winter rest, and this tropical tree will reward your patience beautifully.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

MacadamiaMacadamia integrifoliaWith warmth, deep soil, and a pollination partner, your macadamia will reward a little patience with rich, buttery nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicDemanding

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

Madagascar Dragon TreeDracaena reflexa var. angustifoliaSet it in bright indirect light and give it fluoride-free water, and this forgiving tree will look after itself.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Maiden GrassMiscanthus sinensisGive it full sun and lean soil and maiden grass will reward you with tall, silvery plumes that hold right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Maidenhair FernAdiantum raddianumKeep the soil moist and the air humid, and this lacy little fern will soften any shaded corner for you.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Majesty PalmRavenea rivularisOffer it steady moisture, bright light, and humid air, and this gentle riverbank palm will fill your room with soft, feathery green.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Malabar SpinachBasella albaGive it warmth, a steady drink, and something to climb, and this easygoing vine will reward you with greens all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mandarin OrangeCitrus reticulataGive it full sun, free-draining soil, and shelter from hard frost, and this forgiving little tree will thank you with sweet blossom and easy-peel fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

MandevillaMandevilla × amabilisGive it sun and summer warmth, and mandevilla will reward you with trumpet blooms clear into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

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

Marsh MarigoldCaltha palustrisGive it a spot where the ground stays wet to soggy, and marsh marigold will reward you with gold at the water's edge before almost anything else stirs.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

MayapplePodophyllum peltatumA forgiving woodland native that lifts its umbrella leaves in spring, then slips away to rest by midsummer.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Meadow RueThalictrum rochebruneanumWith airy clouds of bloom on tall, slender stems, meadow rue brings soft height and easy motion to a shady border you'll feel proud of.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Mexican Feather GrassNassella tenuissimaSettle it into lean soil and full sun, and this soft, swaying grass will reward you all season with almost nothing asked in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mexican SnowballEcheveria elegansOffer it bright sun and dry roots, and the Mexican snowball will keep its tight silver rosette for years.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

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

MilkweedAsclepias syriacaGrow it for the monarchs, hand it sun and lean soil, and a native milkweed will happily look after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Mini MonsteraRhaphidophora tetraspermaWith bright indirect light, a moss pole, and humid air, your mini monstera will climb happily all year long.☀️ Bright indirectMildly toxicEasy

Miniature RoseRosaGive it full sun, steady water, and good airflow, and your miniature rose will bloom from spring right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

MintMenthaGive it steady moisture and a pot of its own, and mint rewards you with fresh leaves from spring right through to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

MizunaBrassica rapa var. nipposinicaSow it in cool weather, keep it watered, and cut it often, and mizuna will keep feeding you for weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mock OrangePhiladelphus coronariusGive it sun and one well-timed prune, and mock orange will fill your early summer with orange-blossom scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mondo GrassOphiopogon japonicusOffer it shade and steady moisture, and mondo grass will reward you with a soft, dark green carpet that asks for next to nothing.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Money TreePachira aquaticaForgiving and pet-safe in a bright corner, the money tree grows fast and asks so little of you.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

MonkshoodAconitum napellusTall blue hooded spikes that earned the name queen of poisons, lovely in the border and best met with care in the hand.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

MontbretiaCrocosmia × crocosmiifloraTuck the corms in once and crocosmia rewards you with arching sprays of fiery summer color that hummingbirds adore.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Moon CactusGymnocalycium mihanovichiiTwo cacti joined into one, the moon cactus wears a glowing chlorophyll-free cap and leans on the green stem below for everything it needs.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

MoonflowerIpomoea albaGive it full sun and warm soil, and your moonflower will thank you with fragrant white trumpets each evening.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Morning GloryIpomoea purpureaTuck a few scarified seeds at the foot of a trellis and morning glory will reward you with trumpets by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Moss RosePortulaca grandifloraHand moss rose the hottest, driest corner you have, and it thanks you with color from summer's start to its close.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Moth OrchidPhalaenopsisGet it bright indirect light and a proper dry-out between waterings, and your moth orchid will bloom for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Mother of ThousandsKalanchoe daigremontianaA forgiving succulent that grows its own babies along every leaf edge, and one to keep well away from pets.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Mountain FleecePersicaria amplexicaulisOffer it steady moisture and a little room, and mountain fleece rewards you with red bottlebrush spikes from June to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

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

MuskmelonCucumis meloGive it heat, full sun, and busy bees, and this forgiving muskmelon rewards you with sweet, netted fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

MustardBrassica junceaSow it in cool weather and up it comes, ready to serve as both a kitchen green and a gentle soil-cleaning cover crop.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

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

NectarinePrunus persica var. nucipersicaA nectarine is simply a peach without the fuzz, and it repays full sun and one yearly prune with sweet, smooth-skinned fruit you will be proud of.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicDemanding

Neem TreeAzadirachta indicaGive it heat, sun, and free-draining soil and the neem tree will forgive drought and poor ground and thrive for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

NemesiaNemesia strumosaGive it cool weather, steady moisture, and full sun, and nemesia will fill a spring bed with color for you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

NerineNerine bowdeniiLeave the bulbs crowded and undisturbed in full sun, and your nerines will light the fall border with pink.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Nerve PlantFittonia albivenisKeep it warm, humid, and evenly moist, and this forgiving little 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 one summer pinch, and the forgiving New England aster will reward you with fall color long after the rest of the garden has quieted.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeriOffer it rich, moist soil and a little shade, and New Guinea impatiens will reward you with blooms from spring all the way to frost.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasy

New Zealand SpinachTetragonia tetragonioidesGrow this forgiving heat-loving green and keep gathering tender leaves long after true spinach has given up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

NicotianaNicotiana alataGrow it for the night-scented flowers that fill the evening garden with sweetness all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

NigellaNigella damascenaSow it just once and love-in-a-mist comes back on its own, weaving airy blue flowers and horned pods through your spring border.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Norfolk Island PineAraucaria heterophyllaGive it bright light, cool air, and steady moisture, and this gentle living conifer will hold its tidy tiers indoors all year.☀️ Bright indirectMildly toxicModerate

Northern CatalpaCatalpa speciosaA forgiving native shade tree that puts on showy white flowers and grows fast almost anywhere you plant it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Northern Red OakQuercus rubraA forgiving native that pays you back with deep shade and brilliant red fall color for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumA gentle native grass that settles happily into shade other plants refuse, then hangs 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 happily 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 will keep the pods coming right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Old Fashioned WeigelaWeigela floridaGive it full sun and one well-timed trim, and this easygoing shrub rewards you with a soft rush of tubular spring flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Old Garden RoseRosaHardy, sweetly scented, and easygoing on their own roots, old garden roses reward you year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Old Lady CactusMammillaria hahnianaOffer it bright sun, gritty soil, and a dry winter rest, and this woolly little cactus will thank you with a crown of pink flowers.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

OleanderNerium oleanderA tough, drought-proof shrub that blooms all summer and asks only that you respect one thing: every part is dangerously poisonous.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

OliveOlea europaeaOffer it full sun, lean soil, and a dry root run, and the olive will thrive for generations to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeModerate

Oncidium OrchidOncidiumOffer bright indirect light and a bark mix that drains fast, and the dancing lady orchid will thank you with sprays of fall flowers.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

OnionAllium cepaMatch the variety to your day length, keep the water steady, and onions all but grow themselves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

OrangeCitrus × sinensisGive it full sun, warmth, and well-drained soil, and a sweet orange tree will thank you with fruit for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Oregon GrapeMahonia aquifoliumGive it shade and a little shelter from winter wind, and Oregon grape will thank you with yellow spring flowers and blue-black berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Oriental LilyLiliumTall, richly scented summer blooms that perfume a whole garden, with one kind rule to remember: keep them away from cats.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Oriental PoppyPapaver orientaleGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and the oriental poppy will thank you with huge silken blooms each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Osage OrangeMaclura pomiferaPlant it, then relax. The Osage orange is just about indestructible, thorns, hedge apples, and all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ostrich FernMatteuccia struthiopterisGive it shade and steady moisture, and this forgiving hardy fern rewards you with knee-high fronds shaped like green shuttlecocks.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareGive it sun and lean, well-drained soil and the oxeye daisy will bloom for months, then happily keep spreading on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Pampas GrassCortaderia selloanaLittle else in the garden gives you a show like a pampas grass clump in full plume, though those soft silver feathers ride on razor-sharp leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Panda PlantKalanchoe tomentosaA soft, silver-green succulent that thrives on bright light, dry soil, and a little happy neglect.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 10–21 daysToxicEasy

PansyViola × wittrockianaSet them out when the weather cools and pansies reward you with 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 your papaya will reward you with fruit inside a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

Paper BirchBetula papyriferaGive it a cool, moist root run and the paper birch will thank you with bright white bark for many years to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

PapyrusCyperus papyrusKeep its feet in shallow water and full sun, and papyrus will reward you with 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 forgiving parlor palm settles in where fussier plants would sulk.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ParsleyPetroselinum crispumOffer it rich soil, steady moisture, and a little patience while it sprouts, and parsley keeps your kitchen in fresh leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

ParsnipPastinaca sativaSow it, wait with a little faith, and let a hard frost finish the job, and the parsnip turns sweet and nutty below the soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PassionflowerPassiflora incarnataGive it full sun and a little room, and this forgiving maypop climbs fast, feeds butterflies, and blooms all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

PassionfruitPassiflora edulisGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a strong trellis, and this fast, forgiving vine will reward you with fragrant fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

PawpawAsimina trilobaNorth America's largest native fruit, rich as custard and tasting of banana and mango, ripens on a tree few gardeners know.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PeaPisum sativumSow them while the soil is still cold, give them something to climb and steady moisture, and the pods come sweet and early.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Peace LilySpathiphyllum wallisiiA forgiving, beginner-friendly houseplant that signals its own thirst and pays back a bit of light with white blooms.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

PeachPrunus persicaGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and one honest pruning a year, and a peach tree rewards you with summer fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Peacock PlantGoeppertia makoyanaOffer it warmth, humidity, and soft water, and the peacock plant rewards you with some of the most striking leaves you can grow indoors.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

PeanutArachis hypogaeaGive it full sun, loose sandy soil, and a long warm season, and this forgiving little plant will ripen a whole crop for you underground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

PearPyrus communisPlant two trees for cross-pollination, offer them sun and a little patience, and a pear tree will feed you for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

PecanCarya illinoinensisGive it room, full sun, and a pollination partner, and a pecan will shade your yard for generations to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Pencil CactusEuphorbia tirucalliForgiving, sun-loving, and tough to lose, though its milky sap bites back, so a little care goes a long way.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysToxicEasy

PeonyPaeonia lactifloraSet it shallow in full sun, then step back and let it be, and your peony may well outlive you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Peperomia 'Hope'Peperomia deppeana × quadrifolia 'Hope'Forgiving, pet-safe, and glad to trail, Peperomia 'Hope' asks only for bright indirect light and soil left to dry out between drinks.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

PeppermintMentha × piperitaGive it steady moisture and a pot to call its own, and peppermint rewards you with fresh leaves all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Perennial RyegrassLolium perenneScatter the seed and it is up within days, rewarding you with fast, fine-bladed, hard-wearing turf that greens your lawn in a fortnight.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Persian ButtercupRanunculus asiaticusTuck the little claws into cool spring soil and ranunculus rewards you with ruffled, papery blooms that look almost too pretty to be real.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PersimmonDiospyros kakiGive it full sun and a little patience, and the persimmon will hang your garden with fall color long after the leaves have gone.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

PetuniaPetunia × atkinsianaOffer it full sun and steady feeding, and your petunia will pour out color from late spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Philodendron BirkinPhilodendron 'Birkin'Offer it bright, filtered light and steady moisture, and this pinstriped philodendron rewards you with clean white-on-green leaves.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

PickerelweedPontederia cordataA forgiving native pond marginal that lifts 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 blankets the ground and blooms when little else dares.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Pin OakQuercus palustrisA fast-growing shade tree that rewards you with fiery fall color, as long as its feet stay in acidic soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Pincushion FlowerScabiosa columbariaGive it sun and free-draining soil, and the pincushion flower rewards you with blooms from spring right up 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 that grocery-store crown will grow into a houseplant that can fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Pink Muhly GrassMuhlenbergia capillarisGive it full sun and lean, dry ground, and pink muhly grass rewards you with a soft rose-pink haze every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Pink Princess PhilodendronPhilodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess'Give it bright indirect light and steady moisture, and your Pink Princess will keep its candy-pink leaves all year.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Pinstripe CalatheaGoeppertia ornataOffer it warmth, humidity, and the right water, and the pinstripe calathea thanks you with painted leaves that shift gently through the day.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemanding

PistachioPistacia veraOffer it long hot summers and a partner tree close by, and this patient pistachio pays you back in split-shell nuts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicDemanding

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

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

Polka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaOffer it bright filtered light and even moisture, and this cheerful plant keeps its freckles bright for you.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

PomegranatePunica granatumGive it full sun and a steady drink, and your pomegranate will thank you with ruby fruit every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Ponytail PalmBeaucarnea recurvataA spot of bright light and a patient wait between waterings is nearly all this gentle plant ever wants.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Poppy AnemoneAnemone coronariaSoak the corms, hand them sun and free drainage, and poppy anemones will fill your spring with jewel colors.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

PotatoSolanum tuberosumTuck a few cut tubers into the soil, keep them hilled and watered, and you will dig up a generous crop by fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

PothosEpipremnum aureumEasygoing, quick to grow, and content in a shady corner, pothos may be the hardest houseplant to kill.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Prayer PlantMaranta leuconeuraTreat it to gentle water, even moisture, and a humid corner, and the prayer plant rewards you by folding its leaves closed every evening.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerate

Prickly PearOpuntia ficus-indicaOffer it a sunny spot, fast drainage, and only the occasional drink, and this cactus rewards your patience by thriving on near-total neglect.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

PrimrosePrimula vulgarisOffer a little cool shade and steady moisture, and this cheerful perennial brings the first blooms of spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

PrivetLigustrum vulgareA forgiving, fast-growing hedge that shears into almost any shape, though it wanders out of the garden and can harm grazing animals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

PumpkinCucurbita pepoGive a pumpkin full sun, rich soil, and space to wander, and even a first try can fill the garden with fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

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

Purple HeartTradescantia pallidaGive purple heart a bright, sunny spot and a little dry-out between drinks, and it pays you back with deep violet color and hardly a worry.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Pygmy Date PalmPhoenix roebeleniiGive it steady light and a gentle drink, and this patient little palm will reward you for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

QuinceCydonia oblongaPatient and a little tart on the branch, quince pays back your care with fragrant golden fruit that shines in the kitchen.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Rabbit's Foot FernDavallia fejeensisGive it gentle light, steady moisture, and a little extra humidity, and those furry paws will happily wander over the pot.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

RadicchioCichorium intybusGive it cool fall weather and radicchio softens from harsh and green into a deep red, bittersweet head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

RadishRaphanus sativusHardly anything is kinder to a beginner: give a radish cool weather and steady water, and you will be pulling roots within weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasy

Rambling RoseRosaGive it sun and a sturdy frame, prune when the moment is right, and even a nervous beginner will watch a rambler drape a fence in early summer flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

RaspberryRubus idaeusOffer it full sun, rich soil, and one prune a year, and this forgiving berry rewards you with handfuls of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Rattlesnake PlantGoeppertia insignisBold, wavy leaves that tuck themselves up at night, and they thrive happily once you settle into the watering and humidity.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemanding

Red CloverTrifolium pratensePlant it once and red clover feeds its own soil, nourishes livestock, and leaves the ground richer for whatever you grow next.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Red MapleAcer rubrumQuick to grow and easy to please, red maple gives a first-time planter a fall canopy of red and orange.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Red Spider LilyLycoris radiataTuck the bulbs in with the neck above the soil, and come early fall the bare scapes rise into fiery red blooms.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Red-hot PokerKniphofia uvariaGive red-hot poker all-day sun and quick-draining ground, and it rewards you with torches of flame-colored spikes right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Reticulated IrisIris reticulataTuck the tiny bulbs in come fall and you'll be rewarded with icy blues and golds while winter still hangs on.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Rex BegoniaBegonia Rex Cultorum GroupLoved for leaves that look hand-painted, the rex begonia asks for little more than warm, steady air and soft, indirect light.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

RhododendronRhododendronGet the acidic soil and gentle shade sorted, and this shrub will thank you with spring flowers for years to come.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

RhubarbRheum rhabarbarumGive rhubarb a spot once and it rewards you for years, sending up tart red stalks each spring while those big leaves ask nothing of you but a little space.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Ripple PeperomiaPeperomia caperataSmall, slow, and wonderfully forgiving, ripple peperomia rewards a gentle hand and a bright spot.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

River BirchBetula nigraPlant it in moist, acidic soil with plenty of sun, and river birch will reward you with fast growth and peeling, cinnamon bark.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

RodgersiaRodgersia aesculifoliaKeep its feet cool and damp, and rodgersia will hand you huge, hand-shaped leaves you can be proud of.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerate

Roman ChamomileChamaemelum nobileGive it full sun and dry feet, and chamomile rewards you with a soft, apple-scented mat you can walk across.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

RomanescoBrassica oleracea var. botrytisGive it a cool fall season and this brassica rewards you with a head that spirals into tidy green fractals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Rose of SharonHibiscus syriacusPlant it in full sun with a little breathing room, and this easygoing shrub will keep the garden in color from midsummer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

RosemarySalvia rosmarinusSet it in bright sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, water it now and then, and this easygoing Mediterranean herb rewards you for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Royal FernOsmunda regalisKeep its feet wet and its soil acidic, tuck it into soft shade, and this gentle giant unfurls fronds that rise well overhead.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysSafety unverifiedEasy

Rozanne CranesbillGeranium 'Rozanne'One of the most forgiving flowering perennials a nervous gardener can plant, and it gives back far more than it asks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Rubber PlantFicus elasticaSettle it into bright indirect light and one steady spot, and your rubber plant will reward you with a glossy, good-natured indoor tree.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

RueRuta graveolensGive rue full sun and lean, dry soil and this gentle old herb rewards you with years of tidy blue-green growth.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Rugosa RoseRosa rugosaEven a first-time gardener can grow the rugosa rose, a shrub that shrugs off salt and hard cold and finishes the season heavy with red hips.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Runner BeanPhaseolus coccineusA sunny spot, something tall to climb, and water that never runs dry are all this forgiving climber asks to crop until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

RutabagaBrassica napus subsp. rapiferaStart it in the warmth of summer, keep the soil company through the season, and let a hard frost turn the roots sweet for a harvest that stores for months.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sacred LotusNelumbo nuciferaOffer it still water, full sun, and space to roam, and your lotus will raise its flowers proudly above the pond.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Sago PalmCycas revolutaA patient, forgiving cycad that settles in for the long haul, though it carries a toxin serious enough to kill a pet.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

SaguaroCarnegiea giganteaWith steady sun, sharp drainage, and time on your side, this desert giant rewards even a first-time grower.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Salad BurnetSanguisorba minorSet it in plenty of sun and poor, well-drained soil, and this easygoing herb rewards you with cucumber-scented leaves through the whole season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SalsifyTragopogon porrifoliusDo not let salsify intimidate you: give it loose, deep soil and a patient, cool stretch of weather, and it pays you back with a sweet root that hints of oyster.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Salvia (Annual)Salvia splendensGive scarlet sage full sun and soil that stays moist, and it rewards you with flower spikes from summer clear to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

San Pedro CactusEchinopsis pachanoiGive this tall columnar cactus bright sun and a long dry spell between drinks, and it will climb happily for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

SassafrasSassafras albidumGive this easygoing native room to spread and it rewards you with blazing fall color and playful mitten-shaped leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Satin PothosScindapsus pictusOffer it bright, indirect light and gentle warmth, and its satiny, silver-marked leaves will keep trailing for years.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Saucer MagnoliaMagnolia × soulangeanaGive the buds a spot where late frost can't reach them, and your saucer magnolia rewards you with goblet-shaped pink blooms before a single leaf appears.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sawara False CypressChamaecyparis pisiferaGive it full sun and free-draining soil and this forgiving conifer will reward you with steady color all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Scarlet FirethornPyracantha coccineaForgiving, fast, and a little prickly, firethorn rewards you with soft white spring flowers and bright orange-red winter berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Scots PinePinus sylvestrisForgiving, fast, and content on dry, sandy ground, Scots pine asks for sunshine and little more.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sea HollyEryngium planumPlant it somewhere sunny with lean, dry soil, and this easygoing perennial hands you steel-blue, thistle-like flower heads right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sea ThriftArmeria maritimaSea thrift forgives beginners: give it sun and gritty, quick-draining soil, and it mounds the rock garden in pink for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

SedgeCarexGive sedge a spot that matches its needs and it hands you easy, year-round texture, thriving in full sun or deep shade with almost no fuss.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SedumSedumGive it a sunny sill and soil that drains, and this easygoing stonecrop will happily carry on with barely any help from you.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

SenecioSenecioForgiving, blue-green, and content on a sunny sill, this chalkstick succulent asks for little more than bright light and gritty soil that drains fast.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysToxicEasy

Sensitive FernOnoclea sensibilisGive it shade and soil that stays damp, and this gentle native will settle in and fill a quiet corner all on its own.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

ServiceberryAmelanchier × grandifloraA gentle little tree that hands you white spring flowers, sweet June berries, and warm fall color without asking much back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

ShallotAllium cepa Aggregatum GroupTuck one small bulb into the soil and it quietly multiplies into a whole cluster, kindly, season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicEasy

Shasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbumPlant it in sun and free-draining soil, and this gentle daisy will hand you armfuls of white flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

ShisoPerilla frutescensPinch it often and shiso keeps handing you tender, fragrant leaves for pickles, garnishes, and wraps all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Shrub RoseRosaGive it full sun and a little breathing room, and a shrub rose rewards you with flowers from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Shrubby CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaA shrub that forgives beginners and keeps blooming right through summer, all for next to no effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Shrubby St. John's WortHypericum frondosumRugged, drought-proof, and lit up with bright yellow summer flowers, this friendly native shrub barely asks for anything.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Siberian IrisIris sibiricaForgiving, cold-hardy, and happy in a damp corner, Siberian iris hands even a first-timer grassy leaves and soft late-spring flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Siberian SquillScilla sibericaTuck the bulbs in once and a soft blue carpet returns each spring, entirely on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Silver Inch PlantTradescantia zebrinaGive it a bright window and an occasional pinch, and this forgiving trailing plant fills its pot before you know it.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Silver Lace VineFallopia baldschuanicaGive a bare fence one season and this easygoing climber will wrap it in white bloom, asking for little more than a yearly haircut.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Silver MapleAcer saccharinumForgiving and quick to give shade, the silver maple is a friendly first tree that loves damp ground and asks little in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sky Pencil HollyIlex crenataA slender green column that fits where nothing else will, asking for little more than acidic soil and a bit of winter kindness.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Slender DeutziaDeutzia gracilisA forgiving little shrub that pours out white spring flowers and forgives almost any beginner's slip.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Slipper OrchidPaphiopedilumGive it steady warmth, soft light, and evenly moist compost, and this forgiving orchid thanks you with a bloom that lingers for months.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Smoke BushCotinus coggygriaGive it sun and sharp drainage, and this easygoing shrub rewards you with summer haze and blazing fall leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Snake PlantDracaena trifasciataForgiving and happy to be left alone, the snake plant wants little more than bright light and a chance to dry out.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–42 daysToxicEasy

Snap PeaPisum sativum var. macrocarponTuck the seeds into cold spring ground and snap peas reward your patience with sweet, crisp pods long before summer settles in.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SnapdragonAntirrhinum majusTuck a few snapdragons into a sunny bed and watch tall, cheerful spikes of spring and fall color rise with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Snowball BushViburnum opulusGive it full sun and a little room, and the snowball bush will thank you with white spring globes for years to come.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Solomon's SealPolygonatum biflorumSettle it into cool shade and rich, moist soil and Solomon's seal rewards you, arching back a little fuller every spring.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sorghum-sudangrassSorghum × drummondiiA towering, fast summer grass that smothers weeds and loosens packed soil, with a real cyanide caution for anything that grazes it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Southern Live OakQuercus virginianaA sprawling, long-lived shade tree that asks for room to grow and little else once it has settled in.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Southern MagnoliaMagnolia grandifloraA grand, forgiving evergreen whose glossy leaves and lemon-scented white blooms will reward your garden for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

SoybeanGlycine maxGive this easygoing legume warm soil and sun, and it quietly fills its own pods for you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpearmintMentha spicataHand spearmint steady moisture and a container it can't escape, and fresh leaves keep coming right through the season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Spider PlantChlorophytum comosumOffer it gentle indirect light and a drink once the soil goes dry, and your spider plant grows quickly while staying safe for the pets you love.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpiderwortTradescantia virginianaForgiving in sun or shade, spiderwort greets each morning with fresh three-petaled blooms.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Spike SpeedwellVeronica spicataGive speedwell sun and soil that drains, and it happily sends up blue spikes all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SpinachSpinacia oleraceaKeep it cool, watered, and picked young, and you will have tender spinach leaves in about six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

Split RockPleiospilos neliiA little succulent shaped like a cracked pebble, happy with sunshine, a dry rest, and almost nothing else.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Split-leaf PhilodendronPhilodendron bipinnatifidumA little warmth, even moisture, and bright indirect light are all this big, leafy philodendron needs to turn a plain corner into a small green jungle.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Spotted Dead NettleLamium maculatumTuck it into cool, dry shade where almost nothing else will thrive, and the silver foliage brightens the ground all season long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Spring CrocusCrocus vernusSet the corms out in fall and your spring crocus rises to greet you with the first color of the year, sometimes straight up through the snow.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

St. Augustine GrassStenotaphrum secundatumWith a little warmth, regular water, and a high mow, St. Augustine grass fills in soft and thick, like a living carpet underfoot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Staghorn FernPlatycerium bifurcatumFix it to a board, offer bright indirect light and a steady soak, and your staghorn will unfurl antler fronds you can be proud of.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star CactusAstrophytum asteriasSet it in bright light and gritty soil, let the pot dry out fully between drinks, and this tiny spineless star will happily forgive a beginner.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoidesGive star jasmine a fence or wall to climb and it thanks you with clouds of sweet white flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Star MagnoliaMagnolia stellataAmong the first trees to wake in spring, star magnolia greets you with a soft cloud of fragrant white stars while its branches are still bare.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Star of BethlehemOrnithogalum umbellatumA gentle spring bulb that lifts white star flowers which nap at noon, forgiving to grow yet toxic enough to handle with care.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

StaticeLimonium sinuatumHand statice a sunny, sharply drained spot and it will reward a first-timer with papery blooms that hold their color long after they dry.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

StockMatthiola incanaStart stock while the weather is still cool, give it full sun, and it rewards you with tall, sweetly scented flower spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Stokes AsterStokesia laevisA forgiving native perennial that gives you fringed blue flowers through summer with hardly any effort on your part.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

StonecropSedumHand it the sunniest, sharply drained corner you have, and stonecrop rewards a first-time grower with almost no fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

StrawflowerXerochrysum bracteatumGive it a sunny spot with dry roots, and even a first-timer gets papery blooms that carry on long after the garden fades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

String of BananasCurio radicansKeep it in gentle bright light with a gritty mix and dry spells between drinks, and string of bananas rewards you by spilling down over the pot.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of ButtonsCrassula perforataGive it bright light and a gritty, dry mix, and this gentle little succulent stacks its leaves into tidy towers.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of DolphinsCurio × peregrinusGive it a bright window and a light hand with the watering can, and a little pod of dolphins will tumble happily over the pot.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

String of HeartsCeropegia woodiiOffer it bright light and a proper dry-out between drinks, and those little hearts will trail happily for years.☀️ Bright indirectSafety unverifiedEasy

String of PearlsCurio rowleyanusGet the watering right and this easygoing trailing succulent will spill a soft curtain of green pearls over the pot.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

String of TurtlesPeperomia prostrataA trailing peperomia dressed in tiny leaves that mimic little turtle shells, content to drape over a shelf for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Stromanthe TriostarStromanthe thalia 'Triostar'Give it soft water, warm humid air, and gentle light, and this pink-striped charmer will reward your patience.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

Sugar MapleAcer saccharumWith rich, evenly moist soil and space to stretch out, a sugar maple settles in and gives back generous shade and bright autumn leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Summer SavorySatureja hortensisWith full sun and dry roots, this easygoing peppery herb rewards even a first try.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Summer SquashCucurbita pepoWith full sun, rich soil, and steady water, summer squash rewards even a first try with baskets of fruit by midsummer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

SummersweetClethra alnifoliaOffer it steady moisture and a little shade, and summersweet rewards you with sweet-scented spikes long after other shrubs have called it a year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

SunchokeHelianthus tuberosusPlant it one spring and it feeds you for years, as long as you give it a corner to call its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

SunflowerHelianthus annuusPlant it somewhere sunny and sheltered, and your sunflower will stand tall from summer right into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Surprise LilyLycoris squamigeraTuck the bulb in once, relax, and let bare pink stalks appear overnight in late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaA soft carpet of honey-scented bloom that keeps flowering spring to fall and welcomes the helpful bugs.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Sweet Autumn ClematisClematis ternifloraClouds of fragrant white flowers arrive every late summer, on an easygoing vine that forgives almost every beginner slip.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet CornZea maysSet it in a block, not a row, feed it generously, and sweet corn will reward you with full, milky ears come late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Sweet FlagAcorus gramineusKeep the ground reliably wet and give it a little sun, and sweet flag rewards you with a neat grassy fan all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet MarjoramOriganum majoranaGive it full sun and dry feet, and sweet marjoram will reward you with one of the kindest, gentlest flavors any beginner can grow.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet PeaLathyrus odoratusGet the seed in early, keep picking, and the sweet pea gives back scent and color all spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

Sweet PotatoIpomoea batatasWith full sun, warm soil, and a long summer, the sweet potato quietly fills the earth with roots, and you barely have to fuss.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweet WilliamDianthus barbatusOffer it sun, free-draining soil, and the odd year to reseed, and Sweet William thanks you with clusters of clove-scented bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Sweet WoodruffGalium odoratumA soft, sweet-smelling shade carpet that forgives beginners while the cool soil stays moist.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

SweetgumLiquidambar styracifluaGive a sweetgum deep, acidic soil and plenty of sun, and this easygoing shade tree thanks you with star-shaped leaves and a blaze of fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Sweetheart HoyaHoya kerriiTreat it like a succulent, give it bright light, and the sweetheart hoya will forgive almost anything.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Swiss ChardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisSet it in once, snip the outer stalks, and Swiss chard keeps rewarding you with leaves all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Swiss Cheese PlantMonstera deliciosaOffer it bright indirect light and something to climb, and the Swiss cheese plant will thank you with big, hole-punched leaves.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysToxicEasy

Swiss Cheese VineMonstera adansoniiGive it bright indirect light and something to climb and the Swiss cheese vine settles in fast, its hole-punched leaves filling out before you know it.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

SwitchgrassPanicum virgatumTreat it to full sun and lean soil, and this easygoing grass holds its head high from summer straight into winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Tall FescueFestuca arundinaceaDeep-rooted and easygoing, tall fescue stays green through heat and cold and forgives a beginner's mistakes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicEasy

Tamukeyama Japanese MapleAcer palmatumA gentle weeping maple that spills finely cut red leaves from the first warm days of spring to a blazing fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

TangerineCitrus reticulataOffer it full sun, steady water, and a little shelter from frost, and a tangerine will thank you with sweet fruit right through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

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

Tea PlantCamellia sinensisOffer it acidic soil, part shade, and steady moisture, and Camellia sinensis happily grows the leaves behind every cup of tea.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Thanksgiving CactusSchlumbergera truncataOffer it bright indirect light and cool fall nights, and this gentle forest cactus rewards you with blooms right around the holidays.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

ThymeThymus vulgarisGive thyme a sunny spot and lean, dry soil, and this easygoing herb will thank you with fragrant sprigs for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

Ti PlantCordyline fruticosaKeep the light bright but gentle and the water clean, and this forgiving good luck plant thanks you with leaves of pink, red, and burgundy.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Toad LilyTricyrtis hirtaGive it a shady, moist corner and a little patience, and the toad lily rewards you with speckled, orchid-like flowers when the rest of the garden is fading.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

TomatilloPhysalis philadelphicaSet two plants side by side, give them full sun, and you will be gathering tart green husks right through the season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

TomatoSolanum lycopersicumOffer it full sun, steady water, and good airflow, and your tomato will keep giving back all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysToxicModerate

Tradescantia 'Nanouk'Tradescantia albiflora 'Nanouk'Forgiving, colorful, and quick to bounce back, Nanouk asks for little more than a bright spot and an occasional pinch.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Tropical Pitcher PlantNepenthesGive it warmth, humid air, and rainwater, and this gentle carnivore rewards you with its own little insect-trapping cups.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Trumpet VineCampsis radicansSet it in full sun with something strong to climb, and your trumpet vine will call hummingbirds in all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

TuberosePolianthes tuberosaSet it in full sun with soil that drains freely, and tuberose will thank you by perfuming late-summer evenings.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

Tuberous BegoniaBegonia × tuberhybridaOffer it shade, even moisture, and good airflow, and the tuberous begonia rewards you with enormous summer blooms.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicModerate

TulipTulipa spp.Tuck the bulbs in each fall, let them rest through a long cold winter, and tulips will thank you with the boldest color of spring.☀️ Full sunToxicEasy

Tulip TreeLiriodendron tulipiferaA fast, towering shade tree that rewards a little patience with tulip-shaped flowers high overhead and warm golden color come fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

TurmericCurcuma longaGive turmeric warmth, a long season, and rich damp soil, and it will reward you with a harvest of golden rhizomes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerate

TurnipBrassica rapa subsp. rapaSow it in cool weather, keep the water gentle and even, and this forgiving little root hands you greens and turnips in one short season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Umbrella TreeHeptapleurum arboricolaBright indirect light and a little patience between waterings are all this Schefflera asks, and it forgives the small mistakes every new grower makes.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

Urn PlantAechmea fasciataKeep the cup topped up and the spot bright, and this easygoing bromeliad gives back months of color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

ValerianValeriana officinalisGive valerian a sunny spot and damp soil, and it answers with sweet summer flowers and a calming root cats can hardly leave alone.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Vanda OrchidVandaHang it bare-root, give it bright light and high humidity, soak those roots each day, and your Vanda pays you back with unforgettable blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–2 daysPet & child safeDemanding

Velvet Cardboard AnthuriumAnthurium clarinerviumThose velvety, white-veined leaves are worth the space, and with a little warmth, humidity, and a steady hand on the watering can, you can absolutely keep this anthurium happy.☀️ Bright indirectToxicDemanding

Venus FlytrapDionaea muscipulaOffer it bright sun, clean rainwater, and a restful cold winter, and a Venus flytrap will happily feed itself for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemanding

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

ViburnumViburnumOffer it sun, space, and steady water while it settles, and viburnum rewards you with spring fragrance and fall berries for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

ViolaViola cornutaGive them a cool season to settle in and violas keep handing you armfuls of edible blooms from fall right through spring.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaTuck it into rich, moist shade and Virginia bluebells will thank you with drifts of soft sky-blue each spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaA forgiving native vine that gives you glorious fall color in exchange for a little steady trimming.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Virginia SweetspireItea virginicaA gentle, forgiving native that rewards you with spring flowers and glowing fall color, even if you are just starting out.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

WalnutJuglans regiaWith deep, rich soil and open sun, a walnut forgives your early mistakes, shades the yard for generations, and fills baskets each fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysMildly toxicModerate

Water HyacinthPontederia crassipesA lovely floating bloom with a runaway growth habit that should never reach open water.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Water LettucePistia stratiotesA soft floating rosette that grows with almost no fuss, as long as you keep it far from any wild pond or stream.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Water LilyNymphaeaOffer it steady sun and calm water, and the water lily will open flower after flower from late spring into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerate

Water PoppyHydrocleys nymphoidesGive it full sun and warm, still water, and the water poppy rewards you with glossy floating leaves and cheerful yellow blooms right through summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasy

WatercressNasturtium officinaleGive watercress cool, clean, moving water and it rewards you with a peppery harvest from spring right through fall, even on your first try.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasy

WatermelonCitrullus lanatusGive it full sun, warm soil, and room to ramble, and watermelon pays you back with sweet, heavy fruit by the end of summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerate

Watermelon PeperomiaPeperomia argyraeaGive it soft, filtered light and an easy hand with water, and this little striped charmer really does look after itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Wax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensGive it moist soil, dappled light, and a little breathing room, and this easygoing begonia rewards you with blooms from spring right through to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysMildly toxicEasy

Wax PlantHoya carnosaGive it bright light and a let-it-dry watering habit, and this forgiving wax plant will thank you with clusters of porcelain flowers.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasy

Weeping CherryPrunus subhirtellaGive it a sunny spot and the weeping cherry rewards you with a cascade of soft pink and white blossom every April.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Weeping FigFicus benjaminaSettle it into one bright, cozy spot and the weeping fig repays your patience with soft, arching greenery.☀️ Bright indirectToxicModerate

Weeping WillowSalix babylonicaGive it water and room to spread, and this gentle giant will drape the ground in soft green.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

White CloverTrifolium repensA soft, self-feeding carpet that greens the lawn, welcomes the bees, and asks almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

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

White OakQuercus albaGive a white oak room to settle in and it rewards you with a century of shade and acorns the wildlife will love.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Wild GeraniumGeranium maculatumGive it dappled shade and moist woodland soil and this forgiving native will carpet your spring garden in soft pink.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Wild GingerAsarum canadenseA gentle woodland groundcover that asks only for shade and steady moisture to settle in and thrive.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Windmill PalmTrachycarpus fortuneiHardy right down to single digits, the windmill palm hands you a true tropical look in gardens far too cold for most palms.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerate

Winter AconiteEranthis hyemalisWhen winter still has its grip, winter aconite quietly opens its golden cups, and you get to watch the very first color return to the garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysToxicEasy

Winter DaphneDaphne odoraHardly any shrub perfumes a winter garden the way daphne does, yet every part of it is poisonous.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysToxicDemanding

Winter SquashCucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepoOffer winter squash sun, space, and warm soil, and it rewards you with fruit that lasts long past the garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerate

Winterberry HollyIlex verticillataSet a male beside your females and this easygoing native gives back bare stems glowing with red berries all winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

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

Wishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriOffer it soft shade and even moisture, and this forgiving annual flowers happily from summer to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasy

WisteriaWisteria sinensisGive it full sun, a strong support, and two hard prunings a year, and wisteria will drape itself in flowers each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

Witch HazelHamamelis virginianaGive it moist, acidic soil and a little room, and witch hazel will thank you with ribbon-like flowers long after the rest of the garden has settled in for winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasy

Wood FernDryopteris marginalisA forgiving native fern that asks only for shade and steady moisture, then rewards a beginner for years.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicEasy

Woodland SageSalvia nemorosaGive it sun and sharp drainage, and this easygoing sage sends up violet flower spikes from early summer well into autumn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasy

WormwoodArtemisia absinthiumGive it poor, dry soil and plenty of sun, and this gentle silver herb will look after itself while you find your feet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysMildly toxicEasy

Xanadu PhilodendronPhilodendron xanaduOffer it bright, indirect light and steady moisture, and this easygoing self-heading philodendron fills a corner beautifully with very little from you.☀️ Bright indirectToxicEasy

YamDioscoreaWith heat, a tall trellis, and a little patience, the yam pays you back in big, storable tubers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysMildly toxicModerate

YarrowAchillea millefoliumGive it full sun and poor, dry soil, then relax, because yarrow rewards a light touch all summer.☀️ Full sunMildly toxicEasy

Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoriaEvergreen, forgiving, and the one North American holly you can brew, yaupon takes drought, salt, and shade in stride.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicEasy

Yoshino CherryPrunus × yedoensisGive a Yoshino cherry a home and you get clouds of white-to-pink spring blossom that turn your whole yard into a two-week celebration, year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysMildly toxicModerate

YuccaYuccaGive a yucca good light and a pot that drains, then relax, because this is one of the most forgiving plants you can keep.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–21 daysToxicEasy

YuzuCitrus junosThe toughest of the true citrus, yuzu asks only for patience and a warm, sheltered corner to call its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysMildly toxicModerate

Zebra HaworthiaHaworthiopsis attenuataGive this friendly striped succulent bright indirect light and a good dry spell between waterings, and it will happily look after itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasy

Zebra PlantAphelandra squarrosaBold white-striped leaves and a warm golden bloom, all in return for the humid, cozy air you can learn to give it.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemanding

ZinniaZinnia elegansGive a zinnia full sun and dry leaves, and it rewards you with bloom after bloom from summer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

Zoysia GrassZoysia japonicaTough, dense, and drought-tolerant once it settles in, zoysia asks for a little patience up front and repays you with a lawn that just keeps going.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerate

ZucchiniCucurbita pepoA spot in full sun, ground that has warmed, and water on a steady rhythm are all this generous squash asks to feed you all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy

ZZ PlantZamioculcas zamiifoliaGlossy, gloriously hard to kill, and content in a corner everyone forgets, the ZZ plant asks for next to nothing and keeps giving for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–30 daysToxicEasy