Low Maintenance Perennial Plants
Asters – Various species of aster are among the best perennial flowers for late season color in the ornamental garden. Highly attractive to bees each fall, autumn blooming asters are sure to offer growers a vibrant burst of color that lasts until the arrival of the first frost. Those in search of drought tolerant perennials will also appreciate aster’s ability to withstand difficult growing conditions, including poor soil. Baptisia – Also known as false indigo, these easy to grow perennials require very little care in order to thrive. Cold hardy to USDA growing zone 3, these plants are best known for their impressive bloom. Once flowering has ceased, these low maintenance plants seldom require additional watering or the use of fertilizers. Echinacea – Like many hardy perennial flowers, echinacea plants grow best in poor soils. Established plantings of drought tolerant perennials, like echinacea, do not usually require additional water unless they begin to show significant signs of stress. Open-pollinated varieties of echinacea can be easily grown from seed, though they will require a brief period of cold stratification in order to germinate. Liatris – Liatris is a summer blooming perennial native to prairies and wildflower meadows in North America. Tall flower spikes grow to form unique, brush-like blooms. Though some white cultivars are available, the plant is most commonly found in cheerful shades of purple. In addition to being highly attractive to pollinators, these easy to grow perennials can be started from seed or grown from corms. Sedum – Succulent sedum plants can range greatly in size and in appearance. While taller sedum varieties are especially appealing in flower borders, other dwarf types can be used as an interesting groundcover specimen. These hardy perennial flowers grow best in garden beds that receive full sun and that drain exceptionally well. Once established, sedum needs very little care. Though it may be tempting to water the plants, overwatering may actually cause damage to or complete loss of sedum plants.
