Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
Try these gorgeous plants that cope with very little TLC for an almost-maintenance-free garden
Carol Bucknell
5 May 2014
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Journalist who lives in Auckland and specialises in writing about gardens, houses and design. Author of two books on garden design: Contemporary gardens of New Zealand and Big Ideas for Small Gardens both published by Penguin. I also design gardens and am a passionate gardener. Currently I write the garden pages for New Zealand magazine Your Home & Garden and contribute to NZ Gardener and NZ House & Garden magazines.
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Journalist who lives in Auckland and specialises... More
All gardeners have their favourite easy-care plants, but finding those that also look good can be a lot more difficult. Professionals call them good performers – plants that are big on interest but need little care. Of course, all plants do better if grown in good soil and are fed and watered regularly, but if these are in short supply don’t worry. These plants, in no particular order, will still put on a stunning show with minimum of effort on your part.
1. Flaxes
For striking foliage it’s hard to beat these Kiwi natives which are now grown all around the world, particularly in contemporary gardens. Modern cultivars, such as this Phormium ‘Amazing Red’ (above left), look stunning planted with a wide range of plants including the grasses and flowering perennials pictured. Flaxes are not fussy about soil as long as it’s not too boggy or dry.
MAINTENANCE: Removing old leaves will keep your flax clumps looking their best. Some varieties are more tolerant of frost than others so talk to your local garden centre before making a selection for your area.
For striking foliage it’s hard to beat these Kiwi natives which are now grown all around the world, particularly in contemporary gardens. Modern cultivars, such as this Phormium ‘Amazing Red’ (above left), look stunning planted with a wide range of plants including the grasses and flowering perennials pictured. Flaxes are not fussy about soil as long as it’s not too boggy or dry.
MAINTENANCE: Removing old leaves will keep your flax clumps looking their best. Some varieties are more tolerant of frost than others so talk to your local garden centre before making a selection for your area.
2. Dietes irioides
Also known as wild iris these perennials produce their eye-catching blooms intermittently for long periods throughout summer. Pest resistant, drought tolerant, unfussy about soil and frost hardy, they do well in coastal, contemporary or cottage gardens. They also thrive in sun or part shade. For the best effect, plant in large groups.
MAINTENANCE: The only maintenance Dietes irioides normally requires is division of overgrown clumps in early spring.
Also known as wild iris these perennials produce their eye-catching blooms intermittently for long periods throughout summer. Pest resistant, drought tolerant, unfussy about soil and frost hardy, they do well in coastal, contemporary or cottage gardens. They also thrive in sun or part shade. For the best effect, plant in large groups.
MAINTENANCE: The only maintenance Dietes irioides normally requires is division of overgrown clumps in early spring.
3. Day lilies
These flowering perennials will grow in very dry to boggy soil, scorching sun or semi-shade and still produce their drop-dead gorgeous flowers. Established clumps can produce up to 70 blooms and plants and will often flower for long periods from spring through to late summer. Choose evergreen varieties so you can enjoy the flax-like foliage all year round.
MAINTENANCE: Most day lilies are frost hardy and disease resistant but may be occasionally attacked by snails.
These flowering perennials will grow in very dry to boggy soil, scorching sun or semi-shade and still produce their drop-dead gorgeous flowers. Established clumps can produce up to 70 blooms and plants and will often flower for long periods from spring through to late summer. Choose evergreen varieties so you can enjoy the flax-like foliage all year round.
MAINTENANCE: Most day lilies are frost hardy and disease resistant but may be occasionally attacked by snails.
4. Bromeliads
There are many many types of bromeliads; some that can cope with lots of sun, others that prefer a bit of shade, and there are even bromeliads that will tolerate light frosts. They vary hugely in colour and size ranging from tiny tillandsia to giant forms such as the Vriesea imperialis (pictured above to the left of the brown pot and the chair). Bromeliads are grown for both foliage and flowers, and both can be spectacular. Easy to grow, they don’t even require soil, just bark pebbles or similar to anchor the roots.
MAINTENANCE: Keep the ‘vase’ or ‘urn’ found in the centre of the bromeliads topped up with water in dry periods and feed them with an organic foliar spray.
There are many many types of bromeliads; some that can cope with lots of sun, others that prefer a bit of shade, and there are even bromeliads that will tolerate light frosts. They vary hugely in colour and size ranging from tiny tillandsia to giant forms such as the Vriesea imperialis (pictured above to the left of the brown pot and the chair). Bromeliads are grown for both foliage and flowers, and both can be spectacular. Easy to grow, they don’t even require soil, just bark pebbles or similar to anchor the roots.
MAINTENANCE: Keep the ‘vase’ or ‘urn’ found in the centre of the bromeliads topped up with water in dry periods and feed them with an organic foliar spray.
5. Canna lilies
You certainly can’t miss cannas when they’re in flower – their colourful blooms on tall stems create a dramatic display, particularly when planted in large groups. Cannas do best planted in fertile soil with plenty of moisture in summer. Ideal for warm and sunny subtropical gardens, clumps grow to over a metre in height – even higher when in flower – and produce very attractive green, bronze or variegated leaves as can be seen in the Canna ‘Tropicanna’ (above right with orange flowers).
MAINTENANCE: Cut back clumps in autumn and mulch in cooler places. If you live in a frost-prone region, lift rhizomes during winter and store in a dry area.
You certainly can’t miss cannas when they’re in flower – their colourful blooms on tall stems create a dramatic display, particularly when planted in large groups. Cannas do best planted in fertile soil with plenty of moisture in summer. Ideal for warm and sunny subtropical gardens, clumps grow to over a metre in height – even higher when in flower – and produce very attractive green, bronze or variegated leaves as can be seen in the Canna ‘Tropicanna’ (above right with orange flowers).
MAINTENANCE: Cut back clumps in autumn and mulch in cooler places. If you live in a frost-prone region, lift rhizomes during winter and store in a dry area.
6. Aquilegia
Also commonly known as columbine and granny’s bonnet these perennials are cottage garden favourites with their delicate, bell-shaped blooms in white, yellow, red, pink, blue and purple (above). The ferny foliage of aquilegia form attractive rosettes that die back in winter. Frost hardy, it will tolerate both sun and part shade (in warm areas).
MAINTENANCE: Aquilegia will happily self-seed if you let it, so you may need to occasionally thin out the seedlings.
Also commonly known as columbine and granny’s bonnet these perennials are cottage garden favourites with their delicate, bell-shaped blooms in white, yellow, red, pink, blue and purple (above). The ferny foliage of aquilegia form attractive rosettes that die back in winter. Frost hardy, it will tolerate both sun and part shade (in warm areas).
MAINTENANCE: Aquilegia will happily self-seed if you let it, so you may need to occasionally thin out the seedlings.
7. Hylotelephium spectabile
The most well-known cultivar in this group of clumping herbaceous perennials is the pink flowering ‘Autumn Joy’ (above), although new varieties regularly appear. Plant Hylotelephium spectabile in large groups to maximise its lovely flower clusters and fleshy grey green foliage. Tolerant of frost and drought, it prefers well-drained soil and a sunny position.
MAINTENANCE: Cut it back to the ground in autumn to maintain a tidy winter appearance.
The most well-known cultivar in this group of clumping herbaceous perennials is the pink flowering ‘Autumn Joy’ (above), although new varieties regularly appear. Plant Hylotelephium spectabile in large groups to maximise its lovely flower clusters and fleshy grey green foliage. Tolerant of frost and drought, it prefers well-drained soil and a sunny position.
MAINTENANCE: Cut it back to the ground in autumn to maintain a tidy winter appearance.
8. Carpet roses
These groundcover roses just get better and better with new forms appearing regularly in a range of flower colours including white, pink, red (above), amber and yellow. They are disease resistant, long flowering and tolerant of dry periods.
MAINTENANCE: Carpet roses can be pruned with just a few snips of the hedge clippers. Water plants regularly for their first year.
These groundcover roses just get better and better with new forms appearing regularly in a range of flower colours including white, pink, red (above), amber and yellow. They are disease resistant, long flowering and tolerant of dry periods.
MAINTENANCE: Carpet roses can be pruned with just a few snips of the hedge clippers. Water plants regularly for their first year.
9. Hydrangeas
Once considered a ‘Nanna’ flower, hydrangeas are now seen in contemporary gardens and florist shops everywhere. There are many hydrangea species – one of the most commonly grown groups is the mopheads (Hydrangea macrophylla) pictured above, and its many cultivars.
MAINTENANCE: Although they can survive with virtually no attention, even growing wild in some places, hydrangeas will give you their best display if watered well and grown in fertile soil.
Once considered a ‘Nanna’ flower, hydrangeas are now seen in contemporary gardens and florist shops everywhere. There are many hydrangea species – one of the most commonly grown groups is the mopheads (Hydrangea macrophylla) pictured above, and its many cultivars.
MAINTENANCE: Although they can survive with virtually no attention, even growing wild in some places, hydrangeas will give you their best display if watered well and grown in fertile soil.
Pete Veilleux, East Bay Wilds
10. Ceanothus
Commonly known as Californian lilac, this pretty shrub comes in many forms from miniature to those that grow to over two metres tall (above). From late spring to summer the shrubs produce masses of blue or pink flowers, depending on the cultivar.
MAINTENANCE: Evergreen species need less pruning than deciduous types, however the latter are often more wind and frost tolerant.
Commonly known as Californian lilac, this pretty shrub comes in many forms from miniature to those that grow to over two metres tall (above). From late spring to summer the shrubs produce masses of blue or pink flowers, depending on the cultivar.
MAINTENANCE: Evergreen species need less pruning than deciduous types, however the latter are often more wind and frost tolerant.
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Kerrie, Puya are a South American desert brom with silver leaves and incredible blue flowers that just love the sun. With cannas, cut back each stem as soon as it's over flowering, and your rust problems should be over.
Otherwise, could I just say be a bit careful with Dietes? They need the flowering stems removed as soon as the flowers are finished to prevent the plant looking scrappy and to obviate epic self-seeding. It's a mission to evict them if they outgrow their designated site, too.
Dy lilies benefit from being cut to the ground in May or June, or any time they're looking ragged. Just feed them afterwards.
Wow, just fell in love with that Ceanothus! Everything I'm reading tells me it's a shrub; how would one grow it as a feature standard as shown here??
Yes, I too got converted in my opinion of ceanothus. It is spectacular and the red wall is an inspired idea. It fell into 'nanaland' for me previously.
I agree with the comment on Dietes- I left seed pods on and they are coming up everywhere through my garden.I'm uplifting them to hand on to others but won't let it happen again.
Wonderful article,thanks.