Top 10 Plants You Can't Kill

Yes – you!

 

Summer’s coming. Time to think about what to plant that’ll stay gorgeous through the Triangle’s warmest months. It’s difficult to beat the heat, but even if you don’t have the greenest of thumbs, you’re in luck.

 

Here’s a list of the top 10 plants you can’t kill – tough but pretty, too - from our friends at Birds & Blooms magazine.

 

Consider:

 

1. Coneflower - The coneflower is the low-maintenance star of nature-friendly gardens. It requires well-drained soil, but will thrive in full sun as well as partial shade. Known for attracting birds, bees and butterflies, the coneflower also makes lovely cut blooms. It comes in many colors, and it’s easy to find one you - and the birds - will love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Cosmos - If big, beautiful flowers are one of your top requirements, cosmos is perfect for you! Though it’s an annual, it often reseeds on its own. It’s easy to grow, so for a couple of bucks, you’ll have a gorgeous show in a single season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Daylily - An excellent choice for a classic garden, the daylily can tolerate flooding, drought and salt and is often used for erosion control on steep hillsides. Its distinctive trumpets may be triangular, circular, double, spidery or star-shaped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Hens and Chicks - Overwatering is the only way to kill this succulent. For best results, plant in well-drained soil that gets full sun to light shade. This low-grower works wonders in containers. Since it doesn’t have a deep root system, you can plant it somewhere fun. Try growing it in an old birdbath or shoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Yarrow - This easy-care, long-lasting flower comes into its own once summer’s on its way. Well-suited to most growing conditions, yarrow provides a long season of bloom. It’s a good cutting flower, too. This plant is heat- and drought-tolerant and can survive on benign neglect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Hosta - Easy-to-grow hosta is a must for shade gardens. Hosta likes moist ground but be careful not to overwater. The ultimate low-care shade plant, hosta comes in endless varieties and colors. Also, it can be easily divided - perfect for the budget-minded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Sedum - Hello, butterflies! If you want flying flowers in your yard, this plant is a slam dunk. You can grow some species as ground cover, while others make good border plants. Take a close look and you’ll see this plant’s star-shaped blooms, similar to pentas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Zinnia - With heat-, drought- and disease-resistant plants on the market, there’s never been a better time to choose zinnias. You’ll save tons of money growing these from seed. For the newest varieties, check your local nursery or order online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Petunia - The petunia has been around for decades, but the newer varieties have advanced in leaps and bounds. Days of deadheading and disease-prone plants are long gone. Nowadays, these beauties flourish in both full sun and partial shade without a lot of extra work. And you can find them in almost every color imaginable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Yucca - There’s a good reason so many Southern gardeners use this as a backyard centerpiece. It’s about as drought tolerant as they come. On top of that, it boasts beautiful white flowers amid its spiky leaves.