Top 20 Low-Maintenance Plants Perfect for Effortless Landscaping

Ninebark

Moderate and cool-climate gardeners, consider Ninebarks for your low-maintenance landscape. These hardy plants thrive in your environment, requiring minimal care while providing year-round beauty. In spring, they grace your garden with white or pink spirea-like flowers, and their dark leaves last through fall. 'Fireside,' known for its striking deep purple to black foliage, adds an elegant touch to your garden. It stays compact at 5 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, ideal for Zones 3 to 7.

Plant them along foundations, slopes, or mixed borders in early spring, and they'll thrive with little pruning. Once established, they handle drought well. A yearly spring fertilizer keeps them healthy, but avoid Zones 8 and above, where they may struggle in the heat and humidity. Landscape companies value these low-maintenance shrubs for their resilience and beauty.