California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Thrives on neglect once placed right: spreading 8–16 in and 8–18 in tall — it blooms Mar through Jun.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Jun
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Collection
Easy Native Plants
Forgiving, hard-to-kill natives for first-time gardeners and anyone who wants a beautiful yard without the upkeep.
Tip: open your state below for the version of this list filtered to plants native to your region and hardy in your zone.
The plants
38 native species in this collection.
The easiest natives are the ones already adapted to your local soil and rainfall, so they need no fertilizer, no irrigation after year one, and no winter coddling. Start with these, plant them where their light and moisture needs are genuinely met, mulch the first year, and the maintenance shrinks to a single late-winter cleanup. Right plant, right place does ninety percent of the work.
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Plant it and forget it: reaching 20–30 ft and rose-magenta flowers, no fuss; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
A beginner's native — spreading 1–2 ft and 1.5–2.5 ft tall, content with whatever you give it, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
About as hard to kill as a native gets — hardy in zones 3–8 and spreading 10–20 ft, and forgives neglect, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Plant it and forget it: reaching 8–15 ft and spreading 3–6 ft, no fuss, and it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Plant it and forget it: happy in rocky and loam soil and hardy in zones 3–8, no fuss; it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Plant it and forget it: lavender-pink flowers and spreading 1.5–2 ft, no fuss, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
About as hard to kill as a native gets — cold-hardy to zone 3 and creamy white flowers, and forgives neglect; it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A beginner's native — white (wild form) flowers and 1.5–3 ft tall, content with whatever you give it; it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
About as hard to kill as a native gets — spreading 1–2 ft and reaching 2–4 ft, and forgives neglect, flowering as it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Thrives on neglect once placed right: happy in sand, rocky, and loam soil and bright gold flowers, flowering as it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
About as hard to kill as a native gets — 12–18 in wide and good through zone 9, and forgives neglect — it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
A beginner's native — cold-hardy to zone 6 and for sand, clay, and loam ground, content with whatever you give it — it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Plant it and forget it: reaching 1.5–3 ft and good through zone 9, no fuss, flowering as it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Thrives on neglect once placed right: reaching 2–4 ft and hardy in zones 3–9, and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Plant it and forget it: 3–5 ft tall and white domes flowers, no fuss — it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Plant it and forget it: reaching 3–4 ft and rose pink flowers, no fuss; it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Douglas Aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
A beginner's native — violet-blue flowers and reaching 2–4 ft, content with whatever you give it, flowering as it blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
About as hard to kill as a native gets — cold-hardy to zone 3 and spreading 2–4 ft, and forgives neglect — it flowers in Aug and Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
About as hard to kill as a native gets — hardy in zones 3–8 and spreading 2–3 ft, and forgives neglect; it blooms Sep through Nov.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Plant it and forget it: reaching 3–5 ft and royal purple flowers, no fuss, and it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
About as hard to kill as a native gets — cold-hardy to zone 3 and 2–6 ft tall, and forgives neglect — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A beginner's native — hidden maroon flowers and happy in loam soil, content with whatever you give it, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra
Plant it and forget it: spreading 4–8 ft and for sand, clay, and loam ground, no fuss — it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Browse by state
Low-maintenance, near you.
Native ranges differ across the country — open your state for the list that actually applies to your yard.
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Sourcing
Where to find low-maintenance plants
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.