Pet & child safe plants

Non-toxic plants you can grow around cats, dogs, and curious toddlers without worry.

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 safeEasyAfrican 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 safeEasyAfrican 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 safeModerateAir 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 safeEasyAlfalfaMedicago 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 safeModerateAmerican BasswoodTilia americanaA big, forgiving shade tree crowned with fragrant summer flowers the bees adore.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyAmerican 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 safeModerateAmerican 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 safeModerateAmerican 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 safeEasyAmerican 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 safeModerateAmerican 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 safeEasyAmerican 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 safeModerateAngeloniaAngelonia 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 safeEasyAnisePimpinella 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 safeModerateAreca 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 safeEasyArrowwood 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 safeEasyArugulaEruca 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 safeEasyAsiatic 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 safeEasyAsterSymphyotrichumGive it full sun and well-drained soil, and the aster will carry your garden's color gently into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyAstilbeAstilbe × arendsiiGive it shade and soil that stays damp, and astilbe will fill your dark corners with feathery plumes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBaby 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 safeEasyBaby 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 safeModerateBacopaSutera 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 safeEasyBahiagrassPaspalum notatumTough, drought-proof, and content in poor sandy soil, bahiagrass keeps its footing where finer lawns give up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBald 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 safeEasyBalloon 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 safeEasyBamboo PalmChamaedorea seifriziiOffer it bright indirect light and clean water, and the bamboo palm will softly fill a corner with feathery green.☀️ Medium indirectPet & child safeEasyBananaMusa 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 safeModerateBarrel 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 safeEasyBarren StrawberryWaldsteinia ternataAn easygoing, low yellow-flowered carpet that thrives in dry shade where most plants give up.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBarrenwortEpimedium grandiflorumForgiving, deer-proof, and happy in dry shade, barrenwort quietly covers the ground where little else will settle.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBasilOcimum 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 safeEasyBeardtonguePenstemon 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 safeEasyBeautybushKolkwitzia amabilisA forgiving, arching shrub that wraps itself in soft pink, bell-shaped flowers each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBee 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 safeEasyBeetBeta 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 safeEasyBell 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 safeEasyBellflowerCampanula 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 safeEasyBells of IrelandMoluccella laevisTall green spires of bell-shaped calyces that love cool weather and dry beautifully for the vase.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateBermuda 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 safeEasyBidensBidens 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 safeEasyBig 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 safeEasyBird'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 safeModerateBlack 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 safeEasyBlack 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 safeEasyBlack-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 safeEasyBlack-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 safeEasyBlackberryRubus 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 safeEasyBladderwortUtriculariaOffer it pure water, lean soil, and bright light, and this little hunter takes care of its own meals.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerateBlanket 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 safeEasyBlazing StarLiatris spicataTuck the corms in once and blazing star rewards you with tall purple spikes for the bees all summer long.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyBloodgood Japanese MapleAcer palmatumA forgiving red-leaf maple that rewards a little kindness with seasons of color.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateBlue FescueFestuca glaucaA neat silver-blue tuft that asks little and forgives a lot on hot, dry, lean ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBlue 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 safeEasyBluebeardCaryopteris × 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 safeEasyBlueberryVaccinium 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 safeModerateBlushing 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 safeEasyBok 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 safeEasyBorder ForsythiaForsythia × intermediaWelcome the first burst of yellow that opens long before anything else dares to wake in spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBoston 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 safeEasyBougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilisGive it sun, a touch of thirst, and a little benign neglect, and bougainvillea rewards you with color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateBoysenberryRubus 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 safeModerateBradford 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 safeEasyBrazilian 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 safeModerateBroccoliBrassica 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 safeModerateBroccoli 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 safeEasyBromeliadBromeliaceae (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 safeEasyBrunneraBrunnera 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 safeEasyBrussels 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 safeModerateBuffalo GrassBouteloua dactyloidesA forgiving native prairie grass that gives you a green lawn on far less water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeModerateBugleweedAjuga 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 safeEasyBunny 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 safeEasyBurro'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 safeEasyButterfly 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 safeEasyButterwortPinguicula 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 safeEasyButton 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 safeEasyCabbageBrassica 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 safeModerateCalathea MedallionGoeppertia roseopictaOffer it soft water, gentle warmth, and steady humidity, and the medallion leaves open into their full painted pattern.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalathea 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 safeDemandingCalathea 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 safeDemandingCalendulaCalendula 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 safeEasyCalibrachoaCalibrachoa × 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 safeEasyCalifornia 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 safeModerateCamelliaCamellia 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 safeModerateCandytuftIberis 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 safeEasyCanna 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 safeEasyCantaloupeCucumis 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 safeModerateCape 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 safeEasyCape 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 safeModerateCardoonCynara 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 safeModerateCarrotDaucus 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 safeModerateCast 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 safeEasyCatmintNepeta × 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 safeEasyCattailTypha 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 safeEasyCattleya 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 safeModerateCauliflowerBrassica 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 safeDemandingCeleriacApium 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 safeDemandingCeleryApium 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 safeDemandingCelosiaCelosia 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 safeEasyCentipede GrassEremochloa ophiuroidesFeed it lightly, never lime it, and centipede grass rewards a relaxed hand with green that lasts.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCereal 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 safeEasyChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumGive it cool air, gentle shade, and steady water, and chervil pays you back with lacy, tender leaves.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateChestnutCastanea 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 safeModerateChickpeaCicer arietinumA forgiving little legume that quietly feeds itself and rewards your patience.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerateChinese ElmUlmus parvifoliaA kind, fast-growing shade tree that forgives poor soil, drought, and city grit while it grows.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyChinese 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 safeEasyChinese Money PlantPilea peperomioidesRound coin-shaped leaves, an easygoing nature, and a plant that loves to be shared.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyChocolate CosmosCosmos atrosanguineusDeep maroon flowers that genuinely smell of dark chocolate, growing from a tender tuber you tend much like a dahlia.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateChocolate VineAkebia quinataSweet chocolate-purple flowers and edible fruit on a climber that rewards a little firm pruning.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCholla CactusCylindropuntia fulgidaGive it full sun and sharp drainage, then simply keep a respectful distance from those barbed, grabbing joints.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyChristmas 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 safeEasyChristmas 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 safeEasyCilantroCoriandrum 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 safeEasyCleomeCleome 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 safeEasyClimbing RoseRosaTie it up, guide the canes sideways, and a climbing rose will happily drape a wall in bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateCobra LilyDarlingtonia californicaA striking carnivorous beauty that rewards patience and cool roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemandingCoconut PalmCocos nuciferaOffer it full tropical sun, steady warmth, and sandy coastal soil, and the coconut palm will thank you for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateCollard 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 safeEasyColorado 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 safeModerateCommon CamasCamassia quamashA kind, easygoing bulb that makes a first-time grower feel right at home.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCommon 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 safeModerateCommon 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 safeEasyCommon 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 safeEasyCoral 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 safeEasyCoreopsisCoreopsis 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 safeEasyCorkscrew 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 safeEasyCornflowerCentaurea 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 safeEasyCosmosCosmos bipinnatusHand it full sun and poor soil, and cosmos rewards you with blooms from summer until frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyCranberryVaccinium 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 safeDemandingCreeping 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 safeDemandingCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCreeping 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 safeEasyCrepe 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 safeEasyCrimson 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 safeEasyCrossvineBignonia capreolataA forgiving native climber that hands you a curtain of spring trumpets and keeps the hummingbirds dropping by.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCucumberCucumis 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 safeEasyCuminCuminum 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 safeDemandingCup-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 safeEasyCupheaCuphea 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 safeEasyCurrantRibes 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 safeEasyCurry PlantHelichrysum italicumA forgiving, sun-loving little herb that makes a first-time grower feel like a natural.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCymbidium 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 safeModerateDaikon 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 safeEasyDate 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 safeModerateDavid 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 safeModerateDawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboidesA living fossil that warms to russet-bronze each fall and grows fast enough to watch.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasyDendrobium 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 safeModerateDeodar 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 safeModerateDiasciaDiascia barberaeAn easygoing tumble of spurred blooms that welcomes the first-time gardener.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyDichondraDichondraA 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 safeModerateDillAnethum 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 safeEasyDouglas 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 safeModerateDragon 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 safeModerateDwarf 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 safeModerateDwarf FothergillaFothergilla gardeniiSweet, honey-scented spring flowers and glowing fall color on a tough little shrub that forgives beginners.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyDwarf 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 safeModerateEarth 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 safeEasyEaster 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 safeModerateEastern 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 safeModerateEastern 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 safeEasyEastern 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 safeEasyEastern 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 safeModerateEcheveriaEcheveriaOffer it bright light and a soil that dries quickly, and this forgiving rosette succulent will mostly take care of itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyEndiveCichorium 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 safeEasyFairy 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 safeEasyFalse 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 safeEasyFan 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 safeEasyFava 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 safeEasyFeather 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 safeEasyFenugreekTrigonella 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 safeEasyField 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 safeEasyFine 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 safeEasyFlaming 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 safeModerateFlorence FennelFoeniculum vulgareGive it cool weather and a steady drink, and fennel hands you a crisp, anise-sweet bulb.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateFloribunda 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 safeModerateFlowering 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 safeModerateFlowering 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 safeEasyFoamflowerTiarella 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 safeEasyForget-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 safeEasyFountain 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 safeEasyFranklin 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 safeDemandingFreesiaFreesia refractaArching sprays of intensely fragrant winter blooms, waiting patiently to reward your very first try.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateFrench 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 safeModerateFuchsiaFuchsia × 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 safeModerateGarden 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 safeModerateGarden 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 safeEasyGauraGaura 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 safeEasyGazaniaGazania 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 safeEasyGerbera 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 safeModerateGhost 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 safeEasyGingerZingiber 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 safeModerateGlobe 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 safeEasyGlobe 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 safeModerateGlobe 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 safeEasyGlossy 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 safeEasyGoji 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 safeEasyGolden 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 safeEasyGolden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculataA forgiving shade tree that fills midsummer with sprays of yellow flowers and papery lantern pods.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGoldenrodSolidago 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 safeEasyGoldfish 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 safeEasyGooseberryRibes uva-crispaA forgiving, cold-hardy berry bush that simply wants cool conditions, an open shape, and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGrandiflora 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 safeModerateGrape 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 safeEasyGreat 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 safeEasyGreen 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 safeEasyGreen 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 safeEasyGround 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 safeEasyGroundcover 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 safeEasyGuavaPsidium 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 safeEasyGuzmania (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 safeEasyHardy 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 safeEasyHardy 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 safeModerateHaworthiaHaworthiaSet 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 safeEasyHazelnutCorylus 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 safeModerateHen and ChicksSempervivum tectorumGive it sun, grit, and hardly any water, and this forgiving little succulent all but grows itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyHindu 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 safeEasyHinoki 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 safeModerateHolly 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 safeEasyHollyhockAlcea roseaTall, old-fashioned spires of bloom that plant themselves once you let them go to seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyHoly 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 safeEasyHoney 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 safeEasyHoneyberryLonicera 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 safeEasyHoneydew 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 safeModerateHummingbird 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 safeEasyHybrid 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 safeModerateHyssopHyssopus 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 safeEasyImpatiensImpatiens wallerianaGive it shade and steady moisture, and impatiens will fill a shady bed with color all summer long.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasyIronweedVernonia 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 safeEasyItalian 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 safeEasyJacob'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 safeEasyJane 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeModerateJapanese 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 safeEasyJapanese 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 safeDemandingJapanese 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 safeModerateJewel 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 safeEasyJoe 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 safeEasyJuniperJuniperus 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 safeEasyKaleBrassica 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 safeEasyKentia 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 safeEasyKentucky 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 safeModerateKimberly 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 safeEasyKiwiActinidia 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 safeModerateKnock 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 safeEasyKohlrabiBrassica 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 safeEasyKousa 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 safeModerateLacy 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 safeEasyLady 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 safeEasyLamb's EarStachys byzantinaGrow it for soft, silvery leaves that spread across the ground and ask almost nothing of you.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyLemon 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 safeEasyLemon 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 safeModerateLentilLens 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 safeModerateLettuceLactuca 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 safeEasyLewisiaLewisia 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 safeModerateLeyland 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 safeModerateLingonberryVaccinium 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 safeModerateLipstick 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 safeEasyLisianthusEustoma 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 safeDemandingLithopsLithopsTiny living stones that thrive on almost no water, so the kindest thing you can do is leave them be.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateLittle 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 safeEasyLoganberryRubus × 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 safeModerateLungwortPulmonaria 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 safeEasyLycheeLitchi 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 safeDemandingMacedonian 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 safeEasyMaiden 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 safeEasyMaidenhair 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 safeDemandingMajesty 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 safeModerateMalabar 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 safeEasyMangoMangifera 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 safeModerateMexican 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 safeEasyMexican SnowballEcheveria elegansOffer it bright sun and dry roots, and the Mexican snowball will keep its tight silver rosette for years.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyMiniature 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 safeModerateMizunaBrassica 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 safeEasyMock 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 safeEasyMondo 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 safeEasyMoney TreePachira aquaticaForgiving and pet-safe in a bright corner, the money tree grows fast and asks so little of you.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyMontbretiaCrocosmia × 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 safeEasyMoon 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 safeModerateMoth 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 safeEasyMountain 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 safeEasyMugo 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 safeEasyMulberryMorus 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 safeEasyMuskmelonCucumis 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 safeModerateMustard 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 safeEasyNasturtiumTropaeolum 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 safeEasyNemesiaNemesia 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 safeEasyNerve 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 safeModerateNever-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 safeDemandingNew 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 safeEasyNew 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 safeEasyNorthern 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 safeEasyNorthern 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 safeEasyNorway 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 safeEasyOatsAvena 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 safeEasyOkraAbelmoschus 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 safeEasyOld 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 safeEasyOld Garden RoseRosaHardy, sweetly scented, and easygoing on their own roots, old garden roses reward you year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateOld 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 safeEasyOliveOlea 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 safeModerateOncidium 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 safeModerateOregon 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 safeEasyOrnamental 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 safeEasyOsage OrangeMaclura pomiferaPlant it, then relax. The Osage orange is just about indestructible, thorns, hedge apples, and all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyPampas 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 safeEasyPansyViola × wittrockianaSet them out when the weather cools and pansies reward you with color through fall, winter, and spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyPapayaCarica 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 safeModeratePaper 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 safeModeratePapyrusCyperus 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 safeModerateParlor PalmChamaedorea elegansGive it low light and steady moisture, and the forgiving parlor palm settles in where fussier plants would sulk.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPassionflowerPassiflora 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 safeEasyPeaPisum 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 safeEasyPeacock 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 safeDemandingPeanutArachis 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 safeModeratePeperomia '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 safeEasyPetuniaPetunia × 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 safeEasyPickerelweedPontederia cordataA forgiving native pond marginal that lifts blue flower spikes all summer, asking only for full sun and wet feet.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPigsqueakBergenia cordifoliaTough, evergreen, and happy in the shade, bergenia blankets the ground and blooms when little else dares.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyPincushion 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 safeEasyPindo PalmButia capitataA cold-hardy feather palm with arching gray-green fronds and fruit sweet enough for jelly.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPineappleAnanas 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 safeModeratePink 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 safeEasyPinstripe 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 safeDemandingPolka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaOffer it bright filtered light and even moisture, and this cheerful plant keeps its freckles bright for you.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPonytail PalmBeaucarnea recurvataA spot of bright light and a patient wait between waterings is nearly all this gentle plant ever wants.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPrayer 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 safeModeratePrickly 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 safeEasyPumpkinCucurbita 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 safeModeratePurple 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 safeEasyPygmy Date PalmPhoenix roebeleniiGive it steady light and a gentle drink, and this patient little palm will reward you for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyRabbit'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 safeModerateRadicchioCichorium intybusGive it cool fall weather and radicchio softens from harsh and green into a deep red, bittersweet head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateRadishRaphanus 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 safeEasyRambling 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 safeModerateRaspberryRubus 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 safeModerateRattlesnake 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 safeDemandingRed 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 safeEasyRed-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 safeEasyRipple PeperomiaPeperomia caperataSmall, slow, and wonderfully forgiving, ripple peperomia rewards a gentle hand and a bright spot.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyRiver 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 safeEasyRodgersiaRodgersia aesculifoliaKeep its feet cool and damp, and rodgersia will hand you huge, hand-shaped leaves you can be proud of.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerateRomanescoBrassica 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 safeDemandingRose 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 safeEasyRosemarySalvia 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 safeEasyRozanne 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 safeEasyRugosa 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 safeEasyRunner 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 safeEasyRussian 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 safeEasyRutabagaBrassica 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 safeEasySacred 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 safeModerateSaguaroCarnegiea 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 safeDemandingSalad 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 safeEasySalsifyTragopogon 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 safeModerateSalvia (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 safeEasySaucer 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 safeModerateSawara 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 safeEasyScots PinePinus sylvestrisForgiving, fast, and content on dry, sandy ground, Scots pine asks for sunshine and little more.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateSea 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 safeEasySea 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 safeEasySedgeCarexGive 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 safeEasySedumSedumGive 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 safeEasyServiceberryAmelanchier × 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 safeEasyShrub 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 safeEasyShrubby CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaA shrub that forgives beginners and keeps blooming right through summer, all for next to no effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySilver 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 safeEasySilver 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 safeEasySlender DeutziaDeutzia gracilisA forgiving little shrub that pours out white spring flowers and forgives almost any beginner's slip.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySlipper 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 safeModerateSmoke 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 safeEasySnap 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 safeEasySnapdragonAntirrhinum 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 safeEasySnowball 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 safeEasySouthern 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 safeModerateSoybeanGlycine maxGive this easygoing legume warm soil and sun, and it quietly fills its own pods for you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasySpider 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 safeEasySpike SpeedwellVeronica spicataGive speedwell sun and soil that drains, and it happily sends up blue spikes all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySpinachSpinacia oleraceaKeep it cool, watered, and picked young, and you will have tender spinach leaves in about six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasySplit RockPleiospilos neliiA little succulent shaped like a cracked pebble, happy with sunshine, a dry rest, and almost nothing else.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateSpotted 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 safeEasySt. 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 safeModerateStaghorn 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 safeModerateStar 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 safeModerateStar 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 safeEasyStar 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 safeModerateStaticeLimonium 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 safeEasySteviaStevia rebaudianaRaise your own no-calorie sweetener and pick a leaf you can chew right off the stem.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateStockMatthiola 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 safeModerateStokes 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 safeEasyStonecropSedumHand 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 safeEasyStrawberryFragaria × 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 safeEasyStrawflowerXerochrysum 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 safeEasyString 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 safeEasyStromanthe 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 safeDemandingSugar 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 safeModerateSummer SavorySatureja hortensisWith full sun and dry roots, this easygoing peppery herb rewards even a first try.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySummer 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 safeEasySummersweetClethra 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 safeEasySunchokeHelianthus 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 safeEasySunflowerHelianthus annuusPlant it somewhere sunny and sheltered, and your sunflower will stand tall from summer right into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaA soft carpet of honey-scented bloom that keeps flowering spring to fall and welcomes the helpful bugs.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySweet 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 safeModerateSweet 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 safeEasySweetgumLiquidambar 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 safeEasySweetheart HoyaHoya kerriiTreat it like a succulent, give it bright light, and the sweetheart hoya will forgive almost anything.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasySwiss 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 safeEasySwitchgrassPanicum 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 safeEasyTamukeyama 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 safeModerateTea 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 safeModerateThanksgiving 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 safeEasyThymeThymus 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 safeEasyToad 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 safeEasyTropical 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 safeDemandingTuberosePolianthes 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 safeModerateTulip 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 safeModerateTurmericCurcuma 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 safeModerateTurnipBrassica 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 safeEasyUrn 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 safeEasyValerianValeriana 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 safeEasyVanda 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 safeDemandingVenus 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 safeDemandingVerbenaVerbena 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 safeEasyViburnumViburnumOffer 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 safeEasyViolaViola 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 safeEasyVirginia 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 safeModerateVirginia 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 safeEasyWater LilyNymphaeaOffer it steady sun and calm water, and the water lily will open flower after flower from late spring into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateWater 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 safeEasyWatercressNasturtium 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 safeEasyWatermelonCitrullus 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 safeModerateWatermelon 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 safeEasyWax 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 safeEasyWeeping 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 safeModerateWhite 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 safeEasyWhite 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 safeModerateWild 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 safeEasyWindmill 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 safeModerateWinter 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 safeModerateWishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriOffer it soft shade and even moisture, and this forgiving annual flowers happily from summer to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyWitch 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 safeEasyWoodland 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 safeEasyZebra 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 safeEasyZebra 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 safeDemandingZinniaZinnia 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 safeEasyZoysia 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 safeModerateZucchiniCucurbita 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