12 Low-Maintenance Plants for the Busy Gardener
May 28, 2025
Gardening doesn’t have to be high-maintenance to be rewarding. Whether you’re a busy homeowner or a first-time plant parent, low-maintenance plants can bring beauty to your home and garden without the stress.
Keep reading for a list of easy plants to grow that can survive, even if you occasionally forget to water them.
Basic Plant Care Tips
Even low-maintenance plants need a few essentials to thrive. Before we dive into specific plant suggestions, let’s make sure you’re set up for success with the basics.
What do plants need to grow?
- Sunlight
- Water
- Air
- Nutrients
- Space
Most plants get their nutrients from the soil, but the type of soil matters. Some plants prefer rich, loamy soil, while others like sandy or well-draining conditions. As for watering, a good rule of thumb is to wait until the soil feels dry before going again. Overwatering can cause root rot.
Sunlight needs and maintenance levels vary, but if you’re looking for something truly low-effort, native plants are your best bet. Because they’re already adapted to your local climate and soil, they usually require less watering, fertilizing, and fuss.
We get it. Life gets busy, and it’s easy to lose track of plant care. That’s why low-maintenance, easy-care plants are ideal: they bring life to your space without demanding too much of your time.
The Best Low-Maintenance Plants to Grow in PA
The most popular low-maintenance plants are succulents. We’ve all heard how hard it is to kill one, since they don’t need much water to grow. But if you’re looking for something a little more advanced, with more flowers and foliage, this guide is for you. We’re covering other easy plants to grow for your home and garden.
Flowers
For a splash of color, check out these low-maintenance flowers for a beautiful landscape or garden. We’ve selected our favorite mix of hardy perennials and annuals that are native to Pennsylvania.
#1. Black-Eyed Susan
These beauties are named after their dark center with vibrant yellow petals. They bloom from July to October and can grow up to three feet tall or more! But the best thing about them is that they’re tough and can handle a bit of neglect. They thrive in any well-draining soil and are extremely adaptable. They prefer full sun, but can handle shade as well.
When planting, don’t overcrowd them. Otherwise, they just need the occasional watering and some deadheading to stay alive. They’re drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and don’t need any fertilizer. Plus, they self seed! That’s one less task for you to worry about.
#2. Aster
These low-maintenance flowers are in the daisy family and can come in a variety of colors. They’re a late-blooming addition to your garden to give you and your pollinators a treat in the early fall. Some can grow up to eight feet tall!
This versatile plant likes full to partial sun and well-draining, loamy soil. We recommend cutting them back once or twice in the season to promote more growth. Make sure to water them regularly if you’re not getting much rain. But if you are, just let them do their thing.
#3. Phlox
This popular plant comes in a few different types—moss, garden, and creeping. They do well in full sun or partial shade, and prefer a well-draining soil. Plant them in the spring or fall for thick, colorful blooms that come back every year. Because they grow so dense, be sure not to crowd them with other plants.
They may need a bit of extra love that first year as they establish roots, but overall, phlox is drought-tolerant and doesn’t need much watering. If it’s raining regularly, no need to water them yourself.
Shrubs
Low-maintenance shrubs are great for adding privacy and variety to your landscaping. Check out some of our top recommendations for your Pennsylvania yard.
#1. Arborvitae
This native evergreen conifer is known for its rapid growth, reaching several feet a year. They do best in a sunny location with well-draining soil, but can adapt to other types as well. When you’re planting, make sure to give them room to expand as they mature.
In that first year, water them well to keep the soil moist. Add a layer of mulch to help retain some of that moisture to make it easier on yourself. We recommend pruning in the spring to maintain their shape, but otherwise, they’re pretty easy to care for.
#2. Summersweet
Another favorite low-maintenance plant of ours is summersweet. This shrub can grow up to six feet tall or higher and blooms in the late summer. It is also a great way to attract pollinators to your yard! Summersweet likes full sun or partial shade, and we recommend planting in the spring or fall.
It also loves moist soil, and can even thrive in standing water. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry out and water regularly until the roots are established. Summersweet is generally pest- and disease-resistant and can tolerate both extreme heat and freezing temperatures.
#3. Winterberry
This shrub with its bright berries is an easy addition to your garden. It likes full or partial sun in well-draining, acidic soil. Just like summersweet, it thrives in moisture and even standing water. If you don’t want to water it frequently, then make sure you plant it in a wet area.
Winterberry can tolerate all temperatures, and you don’t need to worry about fertilizer unless you notice it’s struggling to grow.
Herbs
Most herbs are pretty easy to grow and don’t need much from you to flourish. Plus, they make great companion plants for a vegetable garden. Here are our favorite low-maintenance herbs for beginners.
#1. Chives
Chives are a delicious and hardy herb that need very little from you to thrive. They can be grown indoors or outdoors, in the ground or in a container, as long as they have well-draining soil. Just make sure the herb gets plenty of sun every day.
Chives are naturally pest-resistant and don’t need fertilizer. Focus on keeping the soil moist throughout the growing season, and you’ll be good to go.
#2. Lavender
The beautiful hue of lavender makes it a popular choice for many gardeners. And thankfully, once it’s established, it doesn’t need much care. This perennial herb needs full sun and well-draining soil to survive. Ideally, choose a loamy or sandy type that’s slightly alkaline. It does need occasional pruning, but it’s super easy to do.
Lavender is great because of how versatile it is. You can grow an entire field or just a small pot of it. Plus, deer don’t like it. Try to plant it in the spring or early fall (for blooms the next year).
#3. Catmit
This hardy, low-maintenance herb is perfect for a busy or forgetful gardener. It doesn’t need frequent watering once it’s established, and its scent naturally repels deer and rabbits. This plant is drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and disease-free.
Plant this in well-draining soil, no fertilizer needed. It likes full sun but can tolerate a bit of shade, too. Overall, it’s great for beginners and can handle periods of neglect.
Houseplants
Want to create a home full of life and color? Houseplants are the way to go. Here are some great low-maintenance houseplants that just need occasional watering to survive. If you travel a lot or always forget to check on them, they won’t be offended.
#1. Snake Plant
This is a popular houseplant for good reason—it’s super easy to care for! Only water it when the soil is dry. It can go weeks without it, especially in the winter. For this drought-tolerant plant, less is more. It’s better to underwater than overwater, which can lead to root rot. For a beginner or forgetful plant owner, this is the perfect option.
Set your snake plant in a window that gets bright, indirect light. It needs well-draining soil to avoid too much moisture. Just repot it whenever it outgrows its container.
#2. Pothos
These low-maintenance plants are known for their marbled leaves and fast growth. Just like snake plants, they like bright, indirect light with well-draining potting mix. They especially thrive in warm, humid environments.
Water them every week or two, letting the soil dry out completely each time. And they only need to be repotted every 1–2 years, once it’s outgrown its container. Pothos are also extremely easy to propagate!
#3. ZZ Plant
If you want an impossible-to-kill plant for your home or office, ZZ plants are the answer. They like bright, indirect light but can also tolerate fluorescents. You only need to water it every few weeks, whenever the soil has dried out.
Your home’s natural humidity is perfect for this houseplant. The only maintenance it needs is the occasional pruning to encourage new growth. However, this plant is toxic to pets, so keep it away from your dogs or cats.
For more help finding easy plants to grow, head to your local Stauffers of Kissel Hill. Our garden team can offer you expert tips for keeping them alive—and thriving!