Traveling is difficult when you have a lot of high maintenance plants in your garden that you need to care for. Not everyone has a green thumb, so finding someone to care for your plants while you are away may be more difficult than finding someone to feed your pets. Because of this, I decided to plant more low maintenance plants in my garden so that they can tolerate high heat and drought conditions.
In fact, many of the plants that I am currently growing are nearly impossible to kill, making them as travel-friendly for me as possible.
In this guide, we are going to take a look at 15 plants that are easy to grow and almost impossible to kill.
1) Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the hardiest flowers that you can plant in your garden, which is why they are seen at nearly every home in the country. In fact, they are well known by gardeners to be a drought tolerant plant that can handle a lot of heat. They grow best in zones two through 11, but realistically, marigolds can thrive in any area. Marigolds are annual flowers, so when the first frost hits, their growing period ends.
2) Daylily
If you are looking for a plant to brighten your garden, the daylily is a great option that comes in a plethora of colors. These blooms will only last for a day, but they will continue to appear throughout the summer in zones four through nine. These plants grow best in full sun, and they are able to tolerate drought conditions, which means that even if you forget to water these plants, they will continue to do well.
3) Cosmos
One of the most low-maintenance plants that you can consider for your garden is cosmos. It grows best in zones five through 10, but these hardy plants are so easy to grow that they can seed themselves and grow with very little care in the warmer areas of the country. They do best in full sun, but they will also grow in partial shade, which means they can be planted anywhere in your garden.
4) Kalanchoe
This is a succulent plant, which means that it retains water so that it can survive drought conditions. Most often found in zones eight to 10, this is a plant that loves the southern heat; in fact, the tips of the leaves often burn, giving the plant a unique reddish coloration. The plant itself grows to be about 12 inches tall, and it produces bright orange, red, yellow, and pink flowers that are quite attractive.
5) Begonia
Begonias are colorful flowers that grow in zones three through 11, but since they are sensitive to the frost, you will only be able to grow them during the winter months in zones eight through 11. This is a plant that loves the shade, so if you do not have a sunny garden, this plant will thrive here. It can also tolerate drought conditions and a lot of sun, so regardless of where you plant it, the begonias will grow.
6) Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a plant that is mostly known in its wildflower form, but it will also make a great addition to any garden because it will basically grow on its own. Their tiny yellow blooms add brightness to your garden, and they will attract butterflies and bees as well. Growing best in zones four through nine, these plants can handle full or partial sun. These drought-tolerant, deer-resistant plants can easily grow to be eight feet in height.
7) Coneflower
Are you looking for a bright pink, purple, or crimson flower to attract butterflies, bees, and birds to your garden? The coneflower grows up to five feet in height, which is perfect for adding depth to your garden. These plants grow best in zones five through nine; they prefer full sun, but these plants can grow in shady conditions as well. Their blooming period begins in early summer and continues until or through the first frost of the year.
8) Yarrow
If you are looking for a lot of ground cover in your garden, yarrow is a plant that spreads quite rapidly. It tends to grow the best in zones three through nine, and plants can grow to be four feet tall. Yarrow can handle a lot of heat, and it is also drought-resistant, so if you forget to water it, it will still survive. TH yellow, white, pink, and red blooms will continue throughout the entire summer, especially if you deadhead the plant.
9) Hosta
This is a great option for a garden that does not get a lot of sun. Hostas are very adaptable plants that grow in zones three through nine; in fact, this is a plant that does not mind cooler temperatures. When the weather is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this plant will go dormant for about 40 days. They tend to do well in partial sun, especially the golden varieties with foliage that turns yellow in direct sunlight.
10) Zinnia
Zinnias are very adaptable plants that can grow to be up to three feet in height. They grow best in zones three through 10, and they prefer full sun, though they will grow in the shade as well. These are drought tolerant plants that will attract butterflies to your garden. The blooms from this plant last all summer, and they can be red, pink, orange, purple, yellow, and white in color.
11) Petunia
Petunias are one of my favorite flowers because they take very little maintenance, especially in zones nine through 11 where the first frost occurs much later in the season. These plants can manage both full and partial sun, and they will only need to be watered once a week. These lovely flowers tend to bloom during the spring, summer, and the fall of the season in shades of pink, purple, red, yellow, and white.
12) Spider Flower
If you are looking for a very low maintenance plant for your garden, the spider flower is a great option to consider. In fact, this plant grows so easily that you can simply sprinkle the seeds in the soil, and they will take root. These plants grow well as annuals in almost any zone, but if you want them to thrive year-round, they will do best in zones 10 and 11 in full sun or partial shade.
13) Moss Rose
This is a plant that has beautiful rose-like blooms with succulent leaves that you might find on a desert plant. It retains water, so it does great in high heat and dry conditions. Typically, the more hot and humid it is, the better it does, which is why it thrives in zones two through 11.
14) Coreopsis
If you have a garden full of poor soil, then coreopsis is a great plant to consider. It can thrive in dry, hot, and humid conditions without a lot of care from you. This plant is often seen as a wildflower, but in zones four through nine, they can add some lovely orange, yellow, and red blooms to your garden environment. They will also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden.
15) Butterfly Weed
This is a plant that does well in any type of soil, and once it is planted, it does not need a lot of water to survive. It grows best in zones three through nine, and full sun will not hinder the small orange blooms. As the name implies, this is a plant that attracts butterflies, but it will also attract hummingbirds, birds, bees, and other pollinators.
