12 Easy Flowers To Grow

Marigolds

Marigolds are at the top of the list for a reason: These sun-loving annuals are super-hardy, bloom from planting until a freeze, and have almost no pests. Plus, they come in heights ranging from six inches to two feet tall, as well as bright, cheery colors including pure gold, lemon yellow, and pumpkin orange.

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Sweet Alyssum

This low-growing annual looks amazing as an edging plant or when tumbling out of containers and window boxes. Sweet alyssum has clusters of flowers with a honey fragrance, and pollinators adore it! It prefers the cooler weather of fall and winter in the Lower South, though it may bloom all summer in the Upper South. It likes full sun but appreciates afternoon shade in warmer climates.

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Portulaca

Portulaca, also known as moss rose, is a low-growing annual that thrives in poor or sandy soils in full sun. It has brilliant bloom colors from hot pink to pure orange. This succulent retains water in its fleshy leaves so it’s a good choice for hot, dry areas. It works equally well as a ground cover or in hanging baskets, and many types self-seed and will pop up in your garden again next year.

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Daffodils

If you only plant one spring-flowering bulb in your yard, make it daffodils! For starters, they come in an array of heights from four to five inches tall to two feet. Their bobbing golden heads are a sure sign that spring has arrived, and you won’t have to replant them next year. In addition, digging rodents that tend to chow down on other spring bulbs, such as tulips, tend to leave sun-loving daffodils alone.

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Lantana

This shrubby, sun-loving plant has multi-colored flowers in shades of bright pink, peach, white and yellow. It’s treated as annual, though it may be perennial in the Lower South. It’s typically heat and drought-tolerant once established.

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Sedum

Sedum is a great perennial for any garden because there are hundreds of varieties ranging from low-growing groundcovers that bloom early to mid-summer to tall, upright types that bloom in late summer. Many sedums need full sun, and most have colorful foliage so they’re pretty even when not in bloom. These succulents are drought-hardy once established, and most will spread quickly if they’re happy with the conditions.

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Catmint

Catmint is a perennial with silvery-blue, spicy-scented foliage and purple spikes of flowers that bloom for months in full sun, though it will tolerate some shade. Pollinators love it, but deer and rabbits typically don’t—a big draw for most gardeners! Look for newer varieties that stay more compact and upright and won’t overtake your garden, such as ‘Walker’s Low’ and ‘Cat’s Meow.’

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Coral Bells

Coral bells, also called heuchera, have exploded in popularity in recent years with many new cultivars, or cultivated varieties, available. These perennials are grown mostly for their vibrantly-colored foliage which comes in shades ranging from chartreuse to peach to nearly black. The dainty spikes of flowers, which hummingbirds love, appear over the mounded foliage in mid-summer, but their foliage alone makes them worth adding to your garden. Some tolerate sun, though most appreciate afternoon shade in hot climates.

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Coleus

Coleus is another plant that’s grown primarily for its bold foliage, which ranges from cherry red to lime green to brilliantly-colored variegated types. They make a striking container plant. You may want to pinch back the small flowers as they appear to keep the foliage looking its best, though newer varieties don’t require as much maintenance. They’ll tolerate sun or shade, depending on the type, so read the label to know what you’re buying.

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Calibrachoa

These full-sun annuals look like mini petunias, but they’re actually a different genus. Biggest selling point: You never have to deadhead, or remove spent blooms, to keep the flowers coming. Calibrachoa come in an astonishing array of stunning colors from pale lemon yellow to hot pink and orange. Mix and match them in hanging pots or window boxes, which display their draping forms to best advantage.

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Mandevilla

Add an exotic flair to your patio with pots of mandevilla. This sun-loving, fast-growing tropical vine is annual in the Upper and Mid- South but perennial in warmer zones. It’s available in pink, red, and white and is a favorite of hummingbirds and bees. It appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates.

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Impatiens

If you’re looking for a reliable shade bloomer available in many brilliant colors, plant impatiens, which keep the show going until a frost. New Guinea impatiens and its hybrids, such as the Bounce series, are a good choice if you’ve had past battles with downy mildew, a fungal disease which began to wipe out impatiens about a decade ago. Many hybrids now have been developed to be more disease-resistant, and a few, such as SunPatiens, also tolerate some sun.

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