Pet & child safe plants

Non-toxic plants you can grow around cats, dogs, and curious toddlers without worry.

AeoniumAeoniumHand it bright light, gritty soil, and a dry summer rest, and this winter grower keeps its rosettes plump and tight.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyAfrican DaisyOsteospermum ecklonisHand it full sun, fast drainage, and cool air, and the African daisy erupts into nonstop bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyAfrican VioletStreptocarpus ionanthusDial in bright indirect light and a warm drink from below, and the African violet keeps cranking out blooms nearly all year.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerateAir PlantTillandsiaDitch the pot and the soil. Hand an air plant bright light and a weekly soak and it runs with the rest.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyAlfalfaMedicago sativaSort the soil and pH first, then watch this deep-rooted legume keep yielding cut after cut for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateAmerican BasswoodTilia americanaA towering, easygoing shade tree bursting with fragrant summer flowers the bees swarm to.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyAmerican BeechFagus grandifoliaHand it rich, acidic, moist soil and room to spread, and the American beech rockets into a shade tree for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateAmerican ElmUlmus americanaA fast-climbing vase-shaped shade tree that staged one of horticulture's great comebacks, now available in disease-resistant form.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateAmerican HornbeamCarpinus carolinianaGive it moist soil and a little shade, and this tough, slow-growing native holds its shape for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyAmerican Pitcher PlantSarraceniaHand it full sun, rain-pure water, and a chilly winter rest, and the pitcher plant goes out and catches its own dinner.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerateAmerican Smoketree (Tree Form)Cotinus obovatusPlant it in poor, dry soil and full sun, and watch the American smoketree throw up a summer haze and light the fall on fire.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyAmerican SycamorePlatanus occidentalisHand it room and moist ground, and the American sycamore shoots up into one of the East's largest shade trees.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateAngeloniaAngelonia angustifoliaHand it full sun and heat, and angelonia rockets up spires of bloom from summer to fall without missing a beat.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyAnisePimpinella anisumSow it once, leave the taproot undisturbed, and a long warm summer drives anise straight to fragrant seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateAreca PalmDypsis lutescensHand it bright indirect light, clean water, and humid air, and the areca palm packs a corner with soft, feathery green.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyArrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumA hardy native shrub that delivers spring flowers, blue-black berries, and fiery fall color with hardly any effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyArugulaEruca vesicaria subsp. sativaDrop the seed in cool weather and peppery leaves are yours to cut in about a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasyAsiatic JasmineTrachelospermum asiaticumTough, glossy, and happy in sun or deep shade, Asiatic jasmine carpets the ground and asks for almost nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyAsterSymphyotrichumGive it full sun and well-drained soil, and the aster fires your garden's color clear into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyAstilbeAstilbe × arendsiiHand it shade and soil that stays damp, and astilbe sets the shadows alight with feathery plumes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBaby Rubber PlantPeperomia obtusifoliaHand this peperomia bright indirect light with a real dry stretch between drinks, and it powers along with barely any help.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyBaby ToesFenestraria rhopalophyllaHand it bright light and the barest splash of water, and this cluster of window-tipped toes just keeps going.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerateBacopaSutera cordataKeep it steadily watered in sun or light shade, and bacopa cascades with white bloom from summer to frost.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasyBahiagrassPaspalum notatumTough, drought-proof, and happy in poor sandy soil, bahiagrass holds ground where finer lawns give up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBald CypressTaxodium distichumA swamp native that powers through flood, drought, and city soil and blazes rust-orange every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBalloon FlowerPlatycodon grandiflorusSet it once in full sun and sharp drainage, then watch the puffed-up buds burst open every summer for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBamboo PalmChamaedorea seifriziiHand it bright indirect light and clean water, and the bamboo palm packs a corner with soft, feathery green.☀️ Medium indirectPet & child safeEasyBananaMusa acuminataHand it warmth, rich soil, and steady water, and this giant herb keeps firing up new stems for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateBarrel CactusFerocactus wislizeniPark it in full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, water it rarely, and this desert barrel powers on for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasyBarren StrawberryWaldsteinia ternataA hardy low yellow-flowered mat that blankets dry shade where almost nothing else takes hold.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBarrenwortEpimedium grandiflorumTough, deer-proof, and happy in dry shade, barrenwort storms across the ground where almost nothing else dares to grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBasilOcimum basilicumHand it sun, warmth, and a steady pinch, and basil pumps out fresh kitchen leaves all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBeardtonguePenstemon digitalisGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and this tough native rockets up white spikes the bees chase all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBeautybushKolkwitzia amabilisA rewarding, arching shrub that erupts in pink, bell-shaped flowers every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBee BalmMonarda didymaPlant it in sun with steady moisture and elbow room, and bee balm answers with weeks of bloom and a garden buzzing with pollinators.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBeetBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisDrop the seed straight into the bed, thin it early, and pick it young, and the beet pays you back with sweet roots and edible greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBell PepperCapsicum annuumSun-warmed soil, a reliable drink, and bright light send this plant racing toward basket after basket of sweet peppers until frost calls time.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBellflowerCampanula persicifoliaGive it cool weather, sun, and well-drained soil, and the bellflower rings out blue bells every summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBells of IrelandMoluccella laevisTall green spires of bell-shaped calyces that thrive in cool weather and dry beautifully for the vase.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateBermuda GrassCynodon dactylonTough, sun-loving, and fast to fill in, bermuda grass builds a hard-wearing lawn that shrugs off heat and foot traffic.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBidensBidens ferulifoliaSet it in full sun and average soil, and bidens fires off golden flowers from spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBig BluestemAndropogon gerardiiHand it full sun and lean soil, and this towering native grass holds tall from summer straight into winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyBird's Nest FernAsplenium nidusGive it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and this shade-loving fern keeps pushing out glossy fronds for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–9 daysPet & child safeModerateBlack ChokeberryAronia melanocarpaTough, cold-proof, and edible from spring flower to winter berry, chokeberry gives back far more than it asks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBlack Mondo GrassOphiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'Few plants come this close to true black, and a little sun keeps the leaves at their darkest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBlack-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirtaDrop it into full sun once, and this golden daisy seeds itself right back every year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBlack-eyed Susan VineThunbergia alataHand it full sun, steady water, and something to climb, and this twining annual pumps out flowers from summer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBlackberryRubus fruticosusHand it full sun and room to ramble, and a blackberry pours out fruit by the bucket for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyBladderwortUtriculariaPure water, lean soil, bright light: the tiny carnivore feeds itself.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerateBlanket FlowerGaillardia × grandifloraGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and the blanket flower fires off color from June straight to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyBlazing StarLiatris spicataDrop the corms in once and blazing star fires up tall purple spikes for the bees every single summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyBloodgood Japanese MapleAcer palmatumA stunning red-leaf maple that rewards steady care with deep burgundy summers and fiery fall color.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateBlue FescueFestuca glaucaA spirited silver-blue tuft that thrives on the hot, dry, lean ground other plants quit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBlue Oat GrassHelictotrichon sempervirensHand it full sun and poor, dry soil and blue oat grass throws up a tidy steel-blue mound that holds all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBluebeardCaryopteris × clandonensisChop bluebeard back hard each spring and it roars back with a haze of blue flowers just as the garden starts to fade.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBlueberryVaccinium corymbosumDial in the acidic soil and a second bush nearby, and the blueberry pours on summer fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateBlushing BromeliadNeoregelia carolinaeKeep its central cup full and hand it bright, indirect light, and the blushing bromeliad lights up indoors with almost no fuss.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBok ChoyBrassica rapa subsp. chinensisGet seeds down while the weather stays cool, keep the moisture coming, and watch bok choy overflow its rows in just six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBorder ForsythiaForsythia × intermediaPlant it for the first burst of yellow that opens long before anything else wakes up in spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBoston FernNephrolepis exaltataKeep the soil evenly moist and the air humid, and the Boston fern erupts into a fountain of soft green fronds.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyBougainvilleaBougainvillea spectabilisGive it sun, a touch of thirst, and a little benign neglect, and bougainvillea pays you back with sheets of color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateBoysenberryRubus ursinus × idaeusHand it full sun, a sturdy trellis, and a yearly prune, and the boysenberry crops with big, wine-dark fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateBradford PearPyrus calleryanaFast off the mark and tough as they come, the Bradford pear also splits in storms and spreads as an aggressive invasive, so skip planting a new one.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBrazilian Pansy OrchidMiltoniaGive it warmth, steady moisture, and humid air, and the Brazilian pansy orchid fires back with star-shaped blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateBroccoliBrassica oleracea Italica GroupHit cool weather and steady moisture and broccoli delivers a main head plus weeks of side shoots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeModerateBroccoli RabeBrassica rapa Ruvo GroupDrop the seed in the cool ends of the season, snip the shoots while the buds hold tight, and broccoli rabe pays you back with sharp, savory greens.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyBromeliadBromeliaceae (family)A topped-up cup plus bright but indirect light buys you months of bold bromeliad color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyBrunneraBrunnera macrophyllaHand it shade and steady moisture, and Brunnera fires up the dark corners with silvered leaves and tiny blue spring flowers.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasyBrussels SproutsBrassica oleracea Gemmifera GroupPlant them for fall and let a light frost finish the job, and the sprouts arrive firm and sweet.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateBuffalo GrassBouteloua dactyloidesA rugged native prairie grass that keeps a lawn green on a fraction of the water.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeModerateBugleweedAjuga reptansHand it part shade and good drainage, and bugleweed rolls out a fast carpet of color, as long as you keep it within bounds.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyBunny Ear CactusOpuntia microdasysHand it bright sun and a dry, gritty pot, and the bunny ear cactus rewards you for barely lifting a finger.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–28 daysPet & child safeEasyBurro's TailSedum morganianumHand it bright light and dry feet, and this trailing succulent cascades over the pot for years on end.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeEasyButterfly BushBuddleja davidiiHand it full sun and a bold spring cut, and the butterfly bush erupts with flowers and wings all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyButterwortPinguicula moranensisGive it bright light, rainwater, and a lean gritty mix, and the butterwort clears your gnats for free.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasyButton FernPellaea rotundifoliaTougher than it looks, the button fern thrives on bright shade and a light hand with the watering can.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyCabbageBrassica oleracea (Capitata Group)Hand it steady moisture, rich soil, and cool weather, and cabbage rewards you with a heavy, rock-solid head.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateCalathea MedallionGoeppertia roseopictaHand it soft water, warm air, and steady humidity, and those medallion leaves unfurl with the whole painted pattern on show.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalathea OrbifoliaGoeppertia orbifoliaThose big, round, ribbon-striped leaves that fold up at night like praying hands make this a plant worth chasing.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalathea White FusionGoeppertia lietzei 'White Fusion'Dial in the water and humidity and this living watercolour throws out brushstroked leaves you will love to grow.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingCalendulaCalendula officinalisGive it full sun and lean soil and pot marigold keeps the color coming from spring straight to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCalibrachoaCalibrachoa × hybridaHand it full sun, steady water, and acidic soil, and calibrachoa pours out bloom from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasyCalifornia LilacCeanothus thyrsiflorusHand it full sun, sharp drainage, and almost no water, and California lilac erupts into a wall of blue every spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 15–30 daysPet & child safeModerateCamelliaCamellia japonicaHand it acidic soil, dappled shade, and steady water, and the camellia fires off blooms when little else dares to flower.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateCandytuftIberis sempervirensHand it full sun and sharp drainage and candytuft erupts into a sheet of white flowers across the spring garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasyCanna LilyCanna × generalisHand it full sun, rich moist soil, and summer heat, and the canna fires up bold leaves and flame-bright flowers straight through to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasyCantaloupeCucumis meloGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and cantaloupe races to sweet, fragrant fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateCape PrimroseStreptocarpus rexiiHand it bright indirect light and careful watering, and Cape primrose keeps flowering for much of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyCape SundewDrosera capensisGive it full sun and pure rainwater, and the Cape sundew glitters with fresh insect-catching dew all year long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeModerateCardoonCynara cardunculusHand it a long season, rich soil, and a few weeks of blanching, and the cardoon rewards you with tender stalks no market sells.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateCarrotDaucus carota subsp. sativusHand it deep, loose soil and steady water, and the carrot pays you back with sweet, straight roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateCast Iron PlantAspidistra elatiorDrop it into the darkest corner of the house and the cast iron plant keeps right on growing.☀️ Low lightPet & child safeEasyCatmintNepeta × faasseniiPlant it in full sun and lean, dry soil, and catmint will buzz with bees and lavender-blue bloom right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCattailTypha latifoliaPlant its roots in mud or shallow water and the cattail takes off, but give it room or it grabs the whole pond.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyCattleya OrchidCattleyaHand it bright light, a good dry-out between waterings, and humid air, and the corsage orchid pays you back with show-stopping blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateCauliflowerBrassica oleracea Botrytis GroupStay cool, well-fed, and reliably watered, and this crop pays you back with one dense, weighty curd.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingCeleriacApium graveolens var. rapaceumHand it a long season, rich soil, and water that never quits, and celeriac pays you back with a knob no store can match.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingCeleryApium graveolens var. dulceFeed it rich soil, cool air, and water that never stops, and celery pays you back with snappy, crisp stalks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingCelosiaCelosia argenteaHand it full sun and warm, well-drained soil, and celosia rockets up flame-bright plumes from summer clear to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyCentipede GrassEremochloa ophiuroidesFeed it little, lime it never, and centipede grass keeps a low-care lawn green all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCereal RyeSecale cerealeSow it late, let it green up the off-season, and it builds your soil while smothering winter weeds.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumCool weather, a shady spot, and steady water reward you with fine lacy leaves all season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateChestnutCastanea sativaPlant it in acidic soil with sharp drainage and a partner for pollen, and this eager tree pays back a generous haul of nuts ready to roast.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeModerateChickpeaCicer arietinumA knee-high legume that feeds itself and feeds you.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerateChinese ElmUlmus parvifoliaA fast, rewarding shade tree that powers through poor soil, drought, and city grit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyChinese Fringe FlowerLoropetalum chinenseDrop loropetalum into acidic soil with good drainage and watch it churn out colored foliage and fringed blooms for almost no work.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyChinese Money PlantPilea peperomioidesRound leaves, fast growth, and pups to give away: the houseplant that keeps on sharing itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyChocolate CosmosCosmos atrosanguineusDeep maroon blooms that genuinely smell of dark chocolate, rising from a tender tuber you handle much like a dahlia.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateChocolate VineAkebia quinataFragrant chocolate-purple flowers and edible fruit on a climber that takes off fast and rewards a firm hand.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCholla CactusCylindropuntia fulgidaHand it full sun and sharp drainage, then steer well clear of those barbed, grabbing joints.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyChristmas CactusSchlumbergera × buckleyiHand it bright, indirect light and cool fall nights, and this old-favorite houseplant bursts into flower right on cue for the holidays.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyChristmas FernPolystichum acrostichoidesHand it shade and well-drained soil, and the Christmas fern powers green fronds right through winter.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyCilantroCoriandrum sativumHand it cool weather and steady moisture, and cilantro rewards you with fresh leaves in just a few weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyCleomeCleome hasslerianaSow it once in full sun and the spider flower rockets up, blooms till frost, and bounces back on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyClimbing RoseRosaTie it up, train the canes sideways, and a climbing rose will drape a wall in bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateCobra LilyDarlingtonia californicaA hooded carnivore that rears up like a striking cobra and rewards the grower who keeps its roots cold.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemandingCoconut PalmCocos nuciferaPour on full tropical sun, warmth, and sandy coastal soil, and the coconut palm rewards you for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateCollard GreensBrassica oleracea (Viridis Group)A breezy, frost-proof leaf crop that keeps handing you fresh greens well past the point where frost flattens everything else in the plot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyColorado Blue SprucePicea pungensPlant it in full sun, cool air, and well-drained ground, and the blue spruce blazes silver for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateCommon CamasCamassia quamashA spring bulb that turns a wet meadow into rolling blue.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCommon JasmineJasminum officinaleGive it sun, warmth, and a sturdy support, and common jasmine fills the summer air with scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateCommon LilacSyringa vulgarisDrop it into full sun with room to breathe, and the common lilac rewards you with waves of spring scent for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCommon NinebarkPhysocarpus opulifoliusA tough native shrub that throws out peeling bark and colorful foliage and asks for next to nothing back.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCoral BellsHeuchera sanguineaGrown for its bold, year-round foliage as much as its airy spring flowers, coral bells set the shade alight.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasyCoreopsisCoreopsis grandifloraHand tickseed a sun-soaked spot and lean, dry ground, and it fires off golden daisies from late spring until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCorkscrew RushJuncus effusus 'Spiralis'Keep its roots wet and never dry, and corkscrew rush throws out a whole season of twisting green coils.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasyCornflowerCentaurea cyanusFling some seed into full sun and lean soil, and cornflower fires back true-blue blooms all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCosmosCosmos bipinnatusHand it full sun and poor soil, and cosmos floods the garden with blooms from summer to frost.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyCranberryVaccinium macrocarponHand it acidic peat, full sun, and steady moisture, and this low creeping vine pays you back with tart fall berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingCreeping BentgrassAgrostis stoloniferaA fine, carpet-like turf that wears the look of a putting green and asks for the work to match.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemandingCreeping JennyLysimachia nummulariaA low gold carpet that loves moist ground in sun or shade, and runs hard enough to keep you on your toes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasyCreeping JuniperJuniperus horizontalisGive it full sun and soil that drains, and this tough evergreen mat looks after itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyCreeping MazusMazus reptansA low, moisture-loving carpet that races across the gaps between pavers and erupts into purple-blue bloom each summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCreeping PhloxPhlox subulataGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and creeping phlox throws down a spring carpet of color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCreeping ThymeThymus serpyllumGive it full sun and sharp drainage and creeping thyme races into a tough, fragrant carpet that powers through drought.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCrepe MyrtleLagerstroemia indicaPlant it in full sun and prune with a light hand, and the crepe myrtle pours out summer flowers before peeling into gorgeous winter bark.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCrimson CloverTrifolium incarnatumSow it come fall and crimson clover repays you with fixed nitrogen and a sweep of brilliant red bloom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyCrossvineBignonia capreolataA fast native climber that erupts into a spring blaze of trumpets and keeps the hummingbirds zipping in.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCucumberCucumis sativusGive it full sun, warm soil, and steady water, and the vine sprints, pumping out fruit faster than anyone can pick it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyCuminCuminum cyminumGive it full sun and a long, hot summer, and cumin pays you back with a jar of its own fragrant seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingCup-and-saucer VineCobaea scandensGive it full sun and a tall, sturdy support, and this turbo-charged climber will blanket a wall in bell-shaped flowers by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCupheaCuphea igneaHand it full sun and a few quick pinches, and cuphea fires off blooms from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCurrantRibes rubrumTough as nails and bursting with tart berries, the currant earns a spot in any cool-climate garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyCurry PlantHelichrysum italicumA silver, curry-scented subshrub that rewards full sun and lean soil and asks almost nothing in return.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyCymbidium OrchidCymbidiumGive it bright light and cool fall nights, and the cymbidium fires up long, arching sprays of bloom.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateDaikon RadishRaphanus sativusSow it in late summer and watch the deep taproot do the digging before winter takes the plant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyDate PalmPhoenix dactyliferaHand it full sun, sharp drainage, and desert heat, and the date palm pays you back with sweet fruit for decades.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateDavid Austin RoseRosaOld-rose beauty and perfume on a shrub that blooms again and again from late spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateDawn RedwoodMetasequoia glyptostroboidesA living fossil that flames russet-bronze every fall and races skyward fast enough to watch.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasyDendrobium OrchidDendrobiumGive it bright light and a cool, dry winter rest, and the dendrobium fires back with canes packed with flowers.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateDeodar CedarCedrus deodaraPlant it in full sun on ground that drains, and this Himalayan cedar rockets into a soft, sweeping evergreen that lasts for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateDiasciaDiascia barberaeCool-weather charmer that tumbles, trails, and keeps the color coming.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyDichondraDichondraA low carpet of coin-shaped leaves that doubles as a barely-mowed lawn or a silver cascade pouring over a pot.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateDillAnethum graveolensFeathery, fast, and full of flavor: dill rewards every gardener who sows it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyDouglas FirPseudotsuga menziesiiHand it room, moist soil, and a stretch of years, and the Douglas fir shoots up into one of the tallest trees in the forest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateDragon FruitHylocereus undatusHand this climbing cactus sun, a sturdy post, and a pollination partner, and it rewards you with night-blooming flowers and bright pitaya.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateDwarf Alberta SprucePicea glaucaA neat, slow-growing evergreen cone that thrives on full sun, steady moisture, and air that moves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateDwarf FothergillaFothergilla gardeniiHoney-scented spring flowers and a roaring fall color show on a tough, rewarding native shrub.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyDwarf Japanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and shelter from wind, and a dwarf Japanese maple rewards you with shape and color for decades.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateEarth StarCryptanthus bivittatusTreat it to bright indirect light and steady humidity, and the earth star blazes with color all year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyEaster CactusRhipsalidopsis gaertneriHand it a cool winter rest and a spot it can lock into, and the Easter cactus bursts out with scarlet, star-shaped spring blooms.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateEastern HemlockTsuga canadensisDrop it into cool, moist shade and eastern hemlock rockets toward a soft, feathery evergreen that lasts for generations.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateEastern Red CedarJuniperus virginianaA rugged native conifer that powers through drought, poor soil, and bitter cold and keeps going for centuries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyEastern RedbudCercis canadensisWatch it set the bare spring woods alight with rose-pink flowers studding the branches before one leaf has stirred.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyEastern White PinePinus strobusFast-growing and feather-soft, eastern white pine rockets skyward into a towering evergreen giant when it gets room and acidic ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateEcheveriaEcheveriaHand it bright light and a soil that dries out fast, and this rosette succulent practically grows itself.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyEndiveCichorium endiviaGrow it cool, steady, and well-spaced, and endive keeps crisp salad leaves coming spring and fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasyFairy Castle CactusAcanthocereus tetragonusA slow, sculptural cactus that runs on bright light and very little water, and rewards you for mostly leaving it be.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasyFalse SunflowerHeliopsis helianthoidesPlant it in full sun and lean soil, and false sunflower fires off gold from midsummer straight to first frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyFan FlowerScaevola aemulaPlant it in full sun with sharp drainage and fan flower rockets out blue blooms all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyFava BeanVicia fabaDrive them into cold spring soil, give them sun and steady water, and these tough broad beans crop early while the weather still runs cool.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyFeather Reed GrassCalamagrostis × acutifloraSet it in full sun and feather reed grass shoots up tall and feathered, holding the show from June all the way through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyFenugreekTrigonella foenum-graecumDrop the seed into cool soil and fenugreek rewards you with fresh methi leaves in a month flat.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasyField PeaPisum sativum subsp. arvensePair it with a grain to climb and the field pea builds your soil and feeds it nitrogen for free.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyFine FescueFestuca rubraHand it shade, lean soil, and a light touch, and fine fescue rewards you with a soft, low-care lawn.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyFlaming SwordVriesea splendensKeep that central cup brimming and the light bright, and the flaming sword flies its bold red bract for months.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateFlorence FennelFoeniculum vulgareSow it cool, keep it watered, and watch fennel deliver a crisp, anise-sweet bulb.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateFloribunda RoseRosaPlant it in full sun, give it elbow room, and water at the base, and a floribunda keeps pumping out clusters from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateFlowering DogwoodCornus floridaHand it part shade and moist, acidic soil, and the flowering dogwood pays you back with spring bracts and red autumn fruit.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateFlowering QuinceChaenomeles speciosaIt races to be one of the first shrubs to bloom each spring, setting bare branches alight with color before the leaves catch up.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyFoamflowerTiarella cordifoliaA shade native that rockets up frothy white spires each spring and spreads into a lush green carpet the rest of the year.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyForget-me-notMyosotis sylvaticaPlant it once for a spring carpet of tiny blue flowers, and it keeps the show going by seeding itself.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyFountain GrassPennisetum alopecuroidesSet it in full sun and lean soil, and fountain grass surges up into a soft, plumed mound that keeps the garden alive straight through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyFranklin TreeFranklinia alatamahaLate summer blooms and blazing fall color from a tree extinct in the wild since the early 1800s.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingFreesiaFreesia refractaSend up arching sprays of intensely fragrant winter blooms from a handful of humble corms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateFrench TarragonArtemisia dracunculusSet it up with full sun and sharp drainage, and French tarragon keeps delivering that warm anise punch right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateFuchsiaFuchsia × hybridaHand it cool shade and steady moisture, and the fuchsia keeps dangling its two-tone flowers all season long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateGarden PhloxPhlox paniculataHand it sun, breathing room, and steady moisture, and garden phlox floods the border with color from midsummer onward.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGarden SageSalvia officinalisPlant this hardy Mediterranean herb in full sun with dry roots and watch it hand over armfuls of savory leaves season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGauraGaura lindheimeriGive it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and gaura fires off clouds of butterfly-like blooms from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGazaniaGazania rigensGive it full sun and dry feet, and the treasure flower flings open bold, daisy-bright blooms all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGerbera DaisyGerbera jamesoniiGive it full sun, sharp drainage, and a dry crown, and the gerbera daisy fires off bright blooms from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGhost PlantGraptopetalum paraguayenseHand it bright light and a dry rest between waterings, and the ghost plant powers ahead on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyGingerZingiber officinaleGive it warmth, steady moisture, and dappled light, and one rhizome erupts into a whole season of fresh ginger.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateGinkgoGinkgo bilobaSlow, tough, and all but indestructible, the ginkgo is a tree that rewards planting for the long haul.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGlobe AmaranthGomphrena globosaGive globe amaranth full sun and warm, well drained ground, and it fires off papery clover-like flowers from summer until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyGlobe ArtichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymusA bold architectural thistle that pays you back in tender, steamable buds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGlobe ThistleEchinops ritroGive it full sun and lean, dry soil, and globe thistle fires up steel-blue globes the bees chase all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGlossy AbeliaAbelia × grandifloraHand it sun and soil that drains, and glossy abelia keeps flowering from late spring to frost with barely any effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyGoji BerryLycium barbarumGive it full sun, lean alkaline soil, and room to sprawl, and this tough nightshade pays you back in superfood berries.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGolden Barrel CactusEchinocactus grusoniiGive it strong sun and a stingy watering schedule, and this golden globe rewards you season after season.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyGolden Rain TreeKoelreuteria paniculataA rugged shade tree, firing up midsummer with papery lantern pods and vivid yellow flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGoldenrodSolidago canadensisGive it full sun and lean soil, and goldenrod sets the late-summer garden alight and pulls in every pollinator around.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGoldfish PlantNematanthus gregariusGive it bright filtered light and steady warmth, and the goldfish plant throws out arching stems strung with little orange blooms.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyGooseberryRibes uva-crispaA tough, cold-hardy berry bush that rewards you when you give it cool conditions, an open shape, and steady moisture.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGrandiflora RoseRosaTall, long-stemmed, and built to bloom from spring to frost, the grandiflora gives you hybrid-tea flowers on a floribunda frame.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerateGrape HyacinthMuscari armeniacumPush the little bulbs into fall soil and watch them fire off rivers of blue each spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGreat BurnetSanguisorba officinalisTall wands of dark red bottlebrush flowers that sway over the back of a damp, sunny border all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyGreen AshFraxinus pennsylvanicaA tough, fast shade tree for hard sites, now living under the shadow of the emerald ash borer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyGreen BeanPhaseolus vulgarisSow them in warm soil and green beans hand you pods by the handful all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasyGround OrchidBletilla striataA hardy orchid that grows right in the garden soil and fires up pink blooms every spring.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyGroundcover RoseRosaGive it full sun and room to breathe, and a groundcover rose carpets the ground in bloom from spring straight to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyGuavaPsidium guajavaGive it full sun, warmth, and frost protection, and a guava tree keeps handing you fragrant fruit for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyGuzmania (Scarlet Star)Guzmania lingulataKeep its central cup filled and the light bright but soft, and this bromeliad flies its scarlet star high for months on end.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyHardy HibiscusHibiscus moscheutosGive it full sun and soil that never dries out, and hardy hibiscus fires off dinner-plate flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyHardy KiwiActinidia argutaA frost-proof vine loaded with grape-sized berries you toss back whole, zero peeling involved.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateHaworthiaHaworthiaGive it bright indirect light and a long dry spell between drinks, and this little windowed succulent asks for almost nothing.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasyHazelnutCorylus avellanaGive it full sun, a pollen partner, and room to spread, and the hazel keeps the nuts coming every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateHen and ChicksSempervivum tectorumGive it sun, grit, and almost no water, and this tough little succulent takes off on its own.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyHindu Rope HoyaHoya carnosa 'Compacta'Give it bright light and a dry-leaning watering hand, and this curly-leaved wax plant keeps rewarding you for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyHinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusaGive it acidic soil, steady moisture, and shelter from harsh wind, and this slow evergreen holds its shape for a lifetime.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateHolly FernCyrtomium falcatumGlossy, holly-shaped fronds and a pet-safe, shade-loving streak make this fern a joy to grow.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyHollyhockAlcea roseaTall, old-fashioned spires of bloom that plant themselves once you let them go to seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyHoly BasilOcimum tenuiflorumGive it full sun and warm soil, keep pinching the tips, and tulsi cranks out fragrant leaves all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyHoney LocustGleditsia triacanthosFast, tough, and eager to please, the honey locust throws dappled shade across the roughest ground you can hand it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyHoneyberryLonicera caeruleaPair up two cultivars and beat the whole garden to the first berry of the year, sweet-tart and frost-tough.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyHoneydew MelonCucumis meloGive it full sun, warm soil, and a long season, and honeydew pays off big with sweet, cooling fruit by late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeModerateHummingbird MintAgastache foeniculumHand it full sun and soil that drains, and anise hyssop erupts with bees and hummingbirds all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyHybrid Tea RoseRosaGive it full sun, deep water, and a hard spring cut, and the hybrid tea rose keeps pumping out long-stemmed blooms from summer to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–8 daysPet & child safeModerateHyssopHyssopus officinalisPlant it in full sun and lean, fast-draining soil, and hyssop rewards you with aromatic leaves and bee-loved blue spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyImpatiensImpatiens wallerianaHand impatiens shade and consistent moisture and it erupts with color across a shaded planting all season.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasyIronweedVernonia noveboracensisGive it full sun and damp ground, and ironweed lights up late summer with deep purple flowers the pollinators chase.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyItalian CypressCupressus sempervirensPlant it once in full sun and dry, well-drained soil and watch this slim green column hold its shape for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyJacob's LadderPolemonium caeruleumGive it cool shade and steady moisture, and Jacob's ladder throws up tidy rungs of foliage under spring-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyJane MagnoliaMagnolia 'Jane'A small tree that throws open tulip-shaped purple-pink flowers late enough to sail past the spring frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese BarberryBerberis thunbergiiTough, thorny, and richly colored, but check the rules before you plant it where it can spread.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese Blood GrassImperata cylindrica 'Rubra'Give it full sun and even moisture, and the blades blaze blood-red from the tips down.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese CedarCryptomeria japonicaGive it rich, moist soil and shelter from winter wind, and Japanese cedar rockets into a towering evergreen spire.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese Forest GrassHakonechloa macraGive it shade and steady moisture, and this grass pours over a bed's edge like a stream of falling water.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese KerriaKerria japonicaHand it dappled shade and soil that drains, and Japanese kerria fires up spring with golden flowers riding bright green stems.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese MapleAcer palmatumGive it dappled shade, steady moisture, and shelter from wind, and the Japanese maple pays you back with color from spring through fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateJapanese PittosporumPittosporum tobiraAn evergreen shrub that powers through sun, shade, drought, and hard shearing and still perfumes the spring like orange blossom.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese SpireaSpiraea japonicaFast, tough, and generous, Japanese spirea keeps giving flat pink flower clusters and shifting foliage color from spring to fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyJapanese StewartiaStewartia pseudocamelliaPlant it, wait for it, and cash in on summer flowers, blazing fall color, and patchwork bark.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingJapanese Umbrella PineSciadopitys verticillataA living fossil dressed in soft, whorled needles that pays back patience and steady moisture in spades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateJewel OrchidLudisia discolorGrown for its velvet, vein-streaked leaves, the jewel orchid is the one orchid you keep for the foliage.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 4–9 daysPet & child safeEasyJoe Pye WeedEutrochium purpureumTreat it to full sun and moist soil, and Joe Pye weed shoots skyward over the late-summer border, absolutely alive with pollinators.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyJuniperJuniperus chinensisGive it full sun and sharp drainage, and juniper rewards you with a long, easy life and almost no upkeep.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyKaleBrassica oleracea Acephala GroupPlant it once and keep pulling tender leaves from spring right through winter, because kale just keeps coming.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyKentia PalmHowea forsterianaGive it bright, indirect light and steady water, and the kentia palm rolls out slow, easy elegance across any room.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyKentucky BluegrassPoa pratensisGive it full sun and steady water, and Kentucky bluegrass knits into a dense, self-healing lawn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateKimberly Queen FernNephrolepis obliterataGive it bright indirect light and steady moisture, and this upright sword fern powers along full and tidy all year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyKiwiActinidia deliciosaGive it full sun, a strong trellis, and a male partner, and a kiwi vine pays back the patience with fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateKnock Out RoseRosaPlant it in full sun and hit it with one spring prune, and the Knock Out roars from June to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyKohlrabiBrassica oleracea Gongylodes GroupGrow it fast and cool, pull it small, and kohlrabi pays you back with a crisp, sweet bulb perched right on the soil.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyKousa DogwoodCornus kousaA small tree that keeps giving, with star-shaped blooms, edible fruit, and peeling bark across all four seasons.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateLacy PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaSow it once and watch the bees pour in, a haze of lavender-blue buzzing hard all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyLady PalmRhapis excelsaSlow to grow, easy in shade, and safe around pets, the lady palm rewards you with steady, effortless green.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyLamb's EarStachys byzantinaPlant it for soft, silvery leaves that spread across the ground and reward you for barely lifting a finger.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyLemon BalmMelissa officinalisSweep a hand through it and the whole garden wakes up: lemon balm throws off a bright, lemony scent and asks for almost nothing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyLemon VerbenaAloysia citriodoraBrush the leaves and the air bursts with lemon. Give it full sun and warmth, and this tender herb keeps the fragrant harvest rolling.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateLentilLens culinarisSow it early into cool, well-drained ground and watch this hardy legume feed itself and pay off big at harvest.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateLettuceLactuca sativaKeep it cool, moist, and racing along, and lettuce delivers crisp salads in barely a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–3 daysPet & child safeEasyLewisiaLewisia cotyledonGive it sharp drainage and a dry crown, and lewisia crowns its rosette with bright flowers each spring.☀️ Partial sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateLeyland CypressCupressus × leylandiiHand it room to breathe and steady water, and this fast evergreen rockets up a private green wall in just a few years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateLigulariaLigularia dentataDrop the leopard plant into damp shade and it rewards you with bold leaves and tall daisy spires.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateLingonberryVaccinium vitis-idaeaHand it acidic soil, full sun, and steady moisture, and this low evergreen carpet fires off two crops of tart red berries a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeModerateLipstick PlantAeschynanthus radicansGive it warmth, bright indirect light, and humid air, and the lipstick plant fires red flowers off a hanging basket for much of the year.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyLisianthusEustoma grandiflorumSlow off the line but a total payoff, lisianthus rewards a cool, patient start with rose-like blooms all summer long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingLithopsLithopsTiny living stones that run on almost no water and turn a sunny sill into a little living puzzle.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateLittle BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumHand it full sun and lean, dry soil and this native grass rockets upright and holds tall from summer straight through winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyLoganberryRubus × loganobaccusGive it full sun, rich soil, and a sturdy trellis, and the loganberry pours out a long summer of tart-sweet fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateLungwortPulmonaria saccharataGive it cool shade and steady moisture and lungwort sets the dim corners alight with early spotted leaves and pink-to-blue flowers.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 Every 7 daysPet & child safeEasyLycheeLitchi chinensisGive it heat, acidic soil, and a cool winter rest, and this tropical tree pays back every bit of the patience it asks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingMacedonian ScabiousKnautia macedonicaHand it full sun and lean, well-drained soil, and crimson pincushions dance over the border all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyMaiden GrassMiscanthus sinensisPlant it in full sun and lean soil and maiden grass rockets up tall, silvery plumes that hold strong all winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyMaidenhair FernAdiantum raddianumSteady water plus humid air unlocks a billowing cloud of lacy green that rewards every bit of attention.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingMajesty PalmRavenea rivularisFeed it steady moisture, bright light, and humid air, and this riverbank palm rockets a room full of feathery green.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerateMalabar SpinachBasella albaTurn it loose in the heat with a trellis to climb, and this vine races upward while it keeps the leaves coming.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyMangoMangifera indicaServe up heat, full sun, and quick-draining soil, and the tree floods a warm garden with a summer's worth of fruit.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateMexican Feather GrassNassella tenuissimaDrop it into lean soil and full sun and watch this grass dance all season long, just stay ahead of its seed.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyMexican SnowballEcheveria elegansHand it bright sun and dry roots and the Mexican snowball keeps a tight silver rosette going for years.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyMiniature RoseRosaGive it full sun, steady water, and good airflow, and a miniature rose blooms from spring right through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateMizunaBrassica rapa var. nipposinicaSow it in cool weather, keep it watered, and cut it often, and mizuna keeps feeding you for weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyMock OrangePhiladelphus coronariusPlant it in full sun and prune on cue, and mock orange packs early summer with orange-blossom scent.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyMondo GrassOphiopogon japonicusHand it shade and steady moisture, and mondo grass rolls out a soft, dark green carpet that asks for almost nothing.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyMoney TreePachira aquaticaFast-growing, pet-safe, and endlessly rewarding, the money tree turns a bright corner into a win.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyMontbretiaCrocosmia × crocosmiifloraDrop the corms in once and crocosmia takes off, firing up arching sprays of fiery summer color that hummingbirds dive for.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyMoon CactusGymnocalycium mihanovichiiTwo cacti fused into one, the moon cactus fires up a bold chlorophyll-free cap that rides entirely on the green stem below.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerateMoth OrchidPhalaenopsisGive it bright indirect light and a full dry-out between waterings, and a moth orchid rewards you with months of bloom.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyMountain FleecePersicaria amplexicaulisGive it steady moisture and room to spread, and mountain fleece rockets up red bottlebrush spikes from June to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyMugo PinePinus mugoA rugged evergreen mountain pine that wants full sun and sharp drainage, then powers ahead on its own.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyMulberryMorus rubraPlant it in full sun with space to spread, and this mulberry cranks out berries by the bucket every early summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyMuskmelonCucumis meloPour on warmth, full sun, and buzzing bees, and the muskmelon rewards you with sweet, netted fruit come late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateMustard GreensBrassica junceaDrop seed into cool spring or fall soil and mustard greens race to peppery, cuttable leaves in scarcely a month.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyNasturtiumTropaeolum majusGive it poor soil and full sun, and the nasturtium comes back with peppery leaves and bright, edible flowers all summer.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyNemesiaNemesia strumosaGive it cool weather, steady moisture, and full sun, and nemesia floods a spring bed with color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyNerve PlantFittonia albivenisKeep it warm, humid, and evenly moist, and the nerve plant pays you back with leaves stitched in living color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 3–4 daysPet & child safeModerateNever-never PlantCtenanthe burle-marxiiGet the light, humidity, and water right and this prayer plant rewards you with bold, patterned leaves that fold up each night.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingNew England AsterSymphyotrichum novae-angliaeGive it full sun and a midsummer pinch, and the New England aster explodes into fall color just as the rest of the garden calls it quits.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyNew Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens hawkeriFeed it rich, moisture-holding soil and part shade, and New Guinea impatiens powers out blooms from spring clear to frost.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeEasyNorfolk Island PineAraucaria heterophyllaServe up cool air, bright light, and dependable watering, and this living conifer keeps flaunting its tidy, green tiers indoors the year round.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModerateNorthern CatalpaCatalpa speciosaA tough native shade tree that erupts in showy white flowers and races skyward almost anywhere.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyNorthern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumA native grass that turns problem shade into a highlight, then dances flat oat-like seed heads from summer clear into winter.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyNorway SprucePicea abiesTough, fast, and cold-hardy down to -40°F (-40°C), the Norway spruce grows into a towering evergreen with sweeping, pendulous branches.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyOatsAvena sativaA speedy, good-natured cool-season grass that races to fill three jobs at once: cover for the soil, grain for the feed bin, and cat grass for the windowsill.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyOkraAbelmoschus esculentusGive it heat, full sun, and steady moisture, and okra keeps the pods coming until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyOld Fashioned WeigelaWeigela floridaHand it full sun and a well-timed prune, and weigela erupts into a late-spring rush of tubular blooms.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyOld Garden RoseRosaTough, fragrant, and easygoing on their own roots, old garden roses pay you back season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateOld Lady CactusMammillaria hahnianaGive it bright sun, gritty soil, and a dry winter rest, and this woolly little cactus crowns itself with pink flowers.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyOliveOlea europaeaGive it full sun, lean soil, and a dry root run, and the olive thrives for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeModerateOncidium OrchidOncidiumGive it bright indirect light and a bark mix that drains fast, and the dancing lady orchid rewards you with sprays of fall flowers.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–10 daysPet & child safeModerateOregon GrapeMahonia aquifoliumPlant it in shade with shelter from winter wind and Oregon grape rolls out yellow spring flowers and blue-black berries.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyOrnamental Sweet Potato VineIpomoea batatasHand this vine sunshine, heat, and regular moisture and it races over pot rims and bed edges in a rush of colorful leaves all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–5 daysPet & child safeEasyOsage OrangeMaclura pomiferaPlant it once and let it rip. The Osage orange is just about indestructible, thorns, hedge apples, and all.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–21 daysPet & child safeEasyPampas GrassCortaderia selloanaFew plants throw a bigger show than a pampas grass clump in full plume, but those silver feathers ride on razor-sharp leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyPansyViola × wittrockianaGet them in the ground as the weather cools and pansies pump out color through fall, winter, and spring.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyPapayaCarica papayaPour on the sunshine, steady water, and frost-free heat, and this fast mover races from seedling to ripe papaya inside a year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–4 daysPet & child safeModeratePaper BirchBetula papyriferaGive it a cool, moist root run and paper birch rewards you with brilliant white bark for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModeratePapyrusCyperus papyrusPlant it in full sun with wet feet, and papyrus rockets up a summer stand of green, firework-burst rays.☀️ Full sun · 💧 0–1 daysPet & child safeModerateParlor PalmChamaedorea elegansGive it low light and steady moisture, and the parlor palm thrives where fussier plants sulk.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPassionflowerPassiflora incarnataGive it full sun and room to run, and the maypop rockets up its support, feeds butterflies, and flowers all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyPeaPisum sativumSow them while the soil is still cold, give them something to climb and steady moisture, and the pods come sweet and early.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyPeacock PlantGoeppertia makoyanaHand it warmth, humidity, and soft water, and the peacock plant rolls out some of the boldest leaves you can grow indoors.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingPeanutArachis hypogaeaGive it full sun, loose sandy soil, and a long warm season, and the peanut cranks out a whole crop underground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModeratePeperomia 'Hope'Peperomia deppeana × quadrifolia 'Hope'Easy, pet-safe, and eager to trail, Peperomia 'Hope' rewards you for just bright indirect light and soil left to dry out.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPetuniaPetunia × atkinsianaGive it full sun and steady feeding, and the petunia fires off color from late spring right up to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–7 daysPet & child safeEasyPickerelweedPontederia cordataA hardy native pond marginal that fires up blue flower spikes all summer, asking only for full sun and wet feet.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPigsqueakBergenia cordifoliaTough, evergreen, and happy in the shade, bergenia carpets the ground and flowers when little else does.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyPincushion FlowerScabiosa columbariaPlant it in full sun with sharp drainage and the pincushion flower keeps firing off blooms from spring to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyPindo PalmButia capitataA vigorous, cold-hardy feather palm that sends up gray-green fronds in arching sprays and ripens sweet, jelly-ready fruit.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPineappleAnanas comosusGive it strong light, warmth, and a pot that drains fast, and a grocery-store crown turns into a houseplant that fruits.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModeratePink Muhly GrassMuhlenbergia capillarisHand it full sun and lean, dry ground, and pink muhly grass erupts into a rose-pink haze every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyPinstripe CalatheaGoeppertia ornataGive it warmth, humidity, and the right water, and the pinstripe calathea rewards you with painted leaves that dance through the day.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemandingPolka Dot PlantHypoestes phyllostachyaSet it in bright filtered light, keep it moist, and watch those freckled leaves stay bold.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyPonytail PalmBeaucarnea recurvataBright light and a good dry stretch between waterings, and this easygoing succulent just keeps on going.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPrayer PlantMaranta leuconeuraFeed it soft water, damp soil, and humid air, and the prayer plant pays you back by folding its leaves shut every single night.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeModeratePrickly PearOpuntia ficus-indicaSun, sharp drainage, and a barely-there watering routine, and prickly pear just keeps on going.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyPumpkinCucurbita pepoGive it full sun, rich soil, and room to run, and one pumpkin vine takes off across half the garden.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModeratePurple ConeflowerEchinacea purpureaDrop it into full sun and lean, well-drained soil and watch coneflower bloom from early summer straight into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyPygmy Date PalmPhoenix roebeleniiDial in bright, indirect light and even moisture, and this slow, elegant palm rewards you for years.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyRabbit's Foot FernDavallia fejeensisGet the light, moisture, and humidity right and those furry paws will march right over the pot.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateRadicchioCichorium intybusRide it into cool fall weather and radicchio flips from harsh green to a knockout deep red with a bittersweet kick.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateRadishRaphanus sativusRadishes race: hand them cool weather and steady water and pull crisp roots in a matter of weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–5 daysPet & child safeEasyRambling RoseRosaPlant it in full sun on a strong frame, prune it at just the right moment, and a rambler will race up a fence and burst into early summer flower.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateRaspberryRubus idaeusPlant it in full sun and rich soil, prune once a year, and this fast, generous berry piles your bowl high.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateRattlesnake PlantGoeppertia insignisBold, wavy leaves that fold up at night put on a nightly show and reward you for getting the water and humidity dialed in.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeDemandingRed CloverTrifolium pratenseSow it once and red clover fixes its own nitrogen, powers your pasture, and leaves the ground richer for the next crop.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyRed-hot PokerKniphofia uvariaPlant it in full sun with fast drainage, and red-hot poker rockets up torches of flame-colored spikes all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyRipple PeperomiaPeperomia caperataCompact, quick to propagate, and fun to grow, ripple peperomia rewards bright light and a light touch with water.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyRiver BirchBetula nigraFast-growing and tough, river birch flashes peeling salmon-and-cinnamon bark in any garden that keeps it moist and acidic.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyRodgersiaRodgersia aesculifoliaPlant it in damp shade and watch rodgersia power out enormous, sculpted leaves season after season.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerateRomanescoBrassica oleracea var. botrytisGrow it as a cool fall crop and watch a head spiral up into pure green fractals.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeDemandingRose of SharonHibiscus syriacusPlant it in full sun with room to stretch, and watch this tough shrub pump out color from midsummer clear into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyRosemarySalvia rosmarinusPlant this tough, fragrant Mediterranean herb, give it sun and grit, and it pays you back with sprigs for the kitchen all year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyRozanne CranesbillGeranium 'Rozanne'One of the longest-blooming perennials you can grow, and it keeps the color coming for next to no effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyRugosa RoseRosa rugosaThe rugosa rose powers through salt spray and deep cold, blooms all summer long, and finishes the season loaded with red hips.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyRunner BeanPhaseolus coccineusPoint it at the sun, give it something tall to climb and plenty of water, and this fast, generous climber runs until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyRussian SagePerovskia atriplicifoliaPlant it in full sun and dry, sharp-draining soil and Russian sage throws up a blue haze from midsummer clear into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyRutabagaBrassica napus subsp. rapiferaGet the seed down in summer, cheer the roots on through the cool weeks, and let a hard frost crank up their sweetness for a harvest that keeps and keeps.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasySacred LotusNelumbo nuciferaSet it up with warm, still water and all-day sun, then watch the lotus send its flowers soaring high over the water.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateSaguaroCarnegiea giganteaHand it blazing sun, sharp drainage, and years of patience, and watch a saguaro rise into a true desert giant.☀️ Full sun · 💧 14–30 daysPet & child safeDemandingSalad BurnetSanguisorba minorDrop it into a hot, sunny, lean-soil spot and salad burnet keeps pumping out crisp, cucumber-flavored leaves all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySalsifyTragopogon porrifoliusDig a deep bed, sow early, and salsify runs down into a sweet, oyster-flavored root worth every day of the wait.☀️ Full sun · 💧 4–7 daysPet & child safeModerateSalvia (Annual)Salvia splendensGive scarlet sage full sun and steady water, and watch it fire up flower spikes from summer right to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasySan Pedro CactusEchinopsis pachanoiGive it full sun and a proper dry-out between waterings, and this tall columnar cactus takes off, climbing fast season after season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasySaucer MagnoliaMagnolia × soulangeanaPlant it clear of late frost and the saucer magnolia fires off goblet-shaped pink blooms before a single leaf shows.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateSawara False CypressChamaecyparis pisiferaSet it in full sun and free-draining soil, and false cypress keeps its color firing through every season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyScots PinePinus sylvestrisFast, tough, and raring to grow on poor, dry ground, Scots pine turns sun into serious height.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateSea HollyEryngium planumPlant sea holly in full sun and lean, dry ground and it comes alive with steel-blue, thistle-like flowers right through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasySea ThriftArmeria maritimaGive it full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, and sea thrift will pack the rock garden with pink cushions.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySedgeCarexPair the right sedge with the right spot and it delivers easy, year-round texture that keeps going in blazing sun or the deepest shade.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–10 daysPet & child safeEasySedumSedumHand this stonecrop some sun and gritty soil, and it takes off with hardly any coaxing.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyServiceberryAmelanchier × grandifloraOne small tree that delivers white spring flowers, sweet June berries, and fiery fall color.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyShasta DaisyLeucanthemum × superbumPlant it in full sun with quick drainage and it powers out clean white daisies straight through summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasyShrub RoseRosaPlant it in full sun with airflow, and a shrub rose puts on a show from late spring until frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyShrubby CinquefoilPotentilla fruticosaBombproof and blooming nonstop all summer, shrubby cinquefoil packs a huge payoff into a shrub that barely asks a thing.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySilver Lace VineFallopia baldschuanicaPlant it, stand back, and watch a bare fence vanish under froth of white bloom in a single season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySilver MapleAcer saccharinumQuick, tough, and eager for wet ground, the silver maple races skyward and hands you shade faster than almost any tree.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySlender DeutziaDeutzia gracilisAn easy, pet-safe shrub that erupts in white spring flowers and rewards you for barely lifting a finger.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySlipper OrchidPaphiopedilumKeep a slipper orchid warm, softly lit, and evenly moist, and it puts on a single bloom that runs for months.☀️ Medium indirect · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeModerateSmoke BushCotinus coggygriaPlant it in full sun with sharp drainage and watch smoke bush erupt into summer haze and fiery fall leaves.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySnap PeaPisum sativum var. macrocarponDrop the seeds into cold spring soil and watch snap peas race up the trellis, loading the vines with sweet, crunchy pods.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasySnapdragonAntirrhinum majusGive snapdragons sun and cool weather and they keep firing out fresh flower spikes across spring and fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySnowball BushViburnum opulusPlant it in full sun with space to spread, and the snowball bush erupts into white spring globes year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySouthern MagnoliaMagnolia grandifloraA standout evergreen with glossy leaves and lemon-scented white blooms that anchors a landscape for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateSoybeanGlycine maxPlant it in full sun and warm soil, and this self-feeding legume packs pod after pod all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasySpider PlantChlorophytum comosumHand it bright indirect light and a splash of water once the soil dries, and the spider plant races ahead while staying safe around your pets.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasySpike SpeedwellVeronica spicataPlant it in full sun with sharp drainage and watch speedwell fire off blue spikes all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySpinachSpinacia oleraceaSow it cool, keep it watered, and grab it young, and spinach rewards you with tender leaves in about six weeks.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasySplit RockPleiospilos neliiA tiny stone-mimic succulent that looks like a cracked pebble and pays you back with sun-fueled flowers.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateSpotted Dead NettleLamium maculatumTuck it into cool, dry shade where little else thrives, and the silver foliage lights the ground all season long.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySt. Augustine GrassStenotaphrum secundatumFeed it heat, faithful water, and a high mow, and St. Augustine grass takes off into a thick, carpet-like lawn.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateStaghorn FernPlatycerium bifurcatumMount it on a board, hand it bright indirect light and a good soak, and watch the staghorn throw out antler fronds like a trophy on the wall.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateStar CactusAstrophytum asteriasHand it bright light and gritty soil, let it dry right out between waterings, and this spineless little star rewards you by pretty much thriving on neglect.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeModerateStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoidesSet it loose on a fence and star jasmine rockets up, spilling clouds of fragrant white flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyStar MagnoliaMagnolia stellataStar magnolia races the calendar and wins, throwing open a cloud of fragrant white stars on bare branches before the leaves even think about it.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateStaticeLimonium sinuatumGive it full sun and quick drainage and statice keeps cranking out papery blooms that hold their color for months after drying.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasySteviaStevia rebaudianaGrow a no-calorie sweetener and snap off a leaf to chew whenever the craving hits.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateStockMatthiola incanaGive stock a cool head start and full sun, and watch it launch tall, sweetly scented spikes.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateStokes AsterStokesia laevisA rugged native perennial that keeps firing off fringed blue flowers all summer for barely any effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyStonecropSedumGive it full sun and gritty drainage and stonecrop takes off, filling ground fast with almost no effort.☀️ Full sun · 💧 10–21 daysPet & child safeEasyStrawberryFragaria × ananassaGive it full sun, steady water, and clean straw mulch, and the strawberry rewards you with sweet fruit year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyStrawflowerXerochrysum bracteatumHand it full sun and dry soil, and the strawflower fires back papery blooms that keep going long after the season wraps.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyString of TurtlesPeperomia prostrataA trailing peperomia strung with tiny leaves that mimic little turtle shells, ready to spill down a shelf for years.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyStromanthe TriostarStromanthe thalia 'Triostar'Serve up soft water, warm humid air, and bright indirect light, and watch those pink-striped leaves put on a show.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingSugar MapleAcer saccharumHand it deep, moist soil and elbow room, and the sugar maple rewards you with cooling shade and a fall canopy that catches fire.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateSummer SavorySatureja hortensisGive it sun and quick-draining soil and this fast, peppery bean herb keeps the harvest coming.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasySummer SquashCucurbita pepoPlant it in sun and rich, well-watered soil, and summer squash takes off, piling on fruit by midsummer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasySummersweetClethra alnifoliaGive it steady moisture and a little shade, and summersweet fires off fragrant spikes long after the rest of the garden has clocked out.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasySunchokeHelianthus tuberosusPlant it once and it keeps giving for years, provided you rein in its wandering ways.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–10 daysPet & child safeEasySunflowerHelianthus annuusGive it full sun and shelter from wind, and the sunflower shoots up and holds tall from summer into fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySweet AlyssumLobularia maritimaA fast-spreading carpet of honey-scented bloom that runs from spring to fall and calls in the good bugs.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasySweet CornZea maysGrow it in blocks, never a single row, keep it well fed, and sweet corn hands back plump, milky ears come late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateSweet FlagAcorus gramineusPlant it in constantly wet ground with a little sun, and sweet flag throws up a fresh grassy fan all season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasySweet PotatoIpomoea batatasGive it heat, bright sun, and a long summer, and the sweet potato piles the ground with roots.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasySweet WoodruffGalium odoratumA fast, fragrant shade carpet that takes off the moment the soil turns cool and moist.☀️ Full shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasySweetgumLiquidambar styracifluaPlant it in deep, acidic soil and full sun and watch the sweetgum throw out star-shaped leaves and a fall show that lights up the yard.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasySweetheart HoyaHoya kerriiWater it like a succulent, give it bright light, and the sweetheart hoya rewards you for barely lifting a finger.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasySwiss ChardBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgarisSow it once, keep snipping the outer stalks, and Swiss chard rewards you with leaves all season long.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasySwitchgrassPanicum virgatumHand it full sun and lean soil and switchgrass rockets up, standing proud from summer clear into winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyTamukeyama Japanese MapleAcer palmatumThe weeping laceleaf that erupts in deep red, feathery leaves and only gets better from spring to fall.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateTea PlantCamellia sinensisSet it up with acidic soil, part shade, and steady moisture, and Camellia sinensis grows the very leaves behind every cup of tea.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateThanksgiving CactusSchlumbergera truncataFeed it bright indirect light and cool fall nights, and this forest cactus bursts into bloom right on holiday cue.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyThymeThymus vulgarisPlant thyme in full sun and lean, dry soil and watch it hand you fragrant sprigs year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyToad LilyTricyrtis hirtaGive it shade and steady moisture and the toad lily rewards you, saving its speckled, orchid-like flowers for the grand finish of the season.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyTropical Pitcher PlantNepenthesGive it warmth, high humidity, and rainwater, and this carnivore builds its own insect-trapping cups.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeDemandingTrumpet VineCampsis radicansGive it full sun and a strong support, and the trumpet vine will pack the summer with hummingbirds.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyTuberosePolianthes tuberosaPlant it in full sun and fast-draining soil, and tuberose rewards you with a knockout scent all through late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateTulip TreeLiriodendron tulipiferaA fast, sky-reaching shade tree that hoists tulip-shaped flowers into the high canopy and blazes gold every fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateTurmericCurcuma longaHand turmeric warmth, rich moist soil, and a long season, and it pays you back with a haul of golden rhizomes.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeModerateTurnipBrassica rapa subsp. rapaSow it cool, water it even, and pull it young, and the turnip rewards you with roots and greens in one short, satisfying season.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyUrn PlantAechmea fasciataKeep the central cup brimming and the light bright, and this bromeliad pays you back with months of color.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyValerianValeriana officinalisPlant valerian in full sun and moist soil, and it powers up fast into fragrant summer flowers and a root that gets cats going.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyVanda OrchidVandaGive it bright light and high humidity, soak the bare roots every day, and this orchid comes roaring back with big, showy flowers.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–2 daysPet & child safeDemandingVenus FlytrapDionaea muscipulaNail full sun, rainwater, and a cold winter rest, and a Venus flytrap will hunt its own dinner for years.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeDemandingVerbenaVerbena canadensisSet verbena in hot sun and soil that drains in a hurry, and it rewards the effort with wave after wave of bloom from spring clear into fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyViburnumViburnumGive it sun, space, and steady water while young, and viburnum keeps delivering spring fragrance and fall berries for decades.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyViolaViola cornutaPlant them while it's cool and violas keep firing out cheerful, edible flowers from fall right through spring.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyVirginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaPlant it in rich, moist shade and watch Virginia bluebells wash the spring woodland in sky-blue.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateVirginia SweetspireItea virginicaA native shrub that keeps earning its place, with scented spring spires and blazing fall color year after year.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasyWater LilyNymphaeaHand it full sun and calm water, and the water lily throws out flowers from late spring clear through fall.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeModerateWater PoppyHydrocleys nymphoidesHand it full sun and warm, still water, and water poppy races out glossy leaves and bright yellow blooms all summer long.☀️ Full sunPet & child safeEasyWatercressNasturtium officinaleHand watercress cool, clean, moving water and it fires back a peppery harvest from spring straight through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 1–3 daysPet & child safeEasyWatermelonCitrullus lanatusGive it full sun, warm soil, and room to sprawl, and watermelon rewards you with sweet, heavy fruit come late summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateWatermelon PeperomiaPeperomia argyraeaGive it bright, filtered light and a smart hand with water, and this little striped stunner practically grows itself.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyWax PlantHoya carnosaGive it bright light and a let-it-dry watering habit, and this easy-going wax plant rewards you with clusters of porcelain flowers.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeEasyWeeping WillowSalix babylonicaPlant it by water, give it room to spread, and watch the weeping willow sweep its long branches to the ground.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateWhite CloverTrifolium repensA fast, self-feeding carpet that greens the lawn, buzzes with bees, and just keeps going.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyWhite FirAbies concolorHand it room, sun, and well-drained acidic soil, and the white fir keeps its silvery-blue pyramid standing for generations.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeModerateWild GeraniumGeranium maculatumGive it dappled shade and moist woodland soil and this tough native throws a pink carpet across the spring garden.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyWindmill PalmTrachycarpus fortuneiHardy down to single digits, the windmill palm brings a true tropical look to gardens far colder than most palms can stand.☀️ Partial shadePet & child safeModerateWinter SquashCucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepoGive winter squash full sun, sprawl room, and warm soil, and watch it pack the pantry long after frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeModerateWishbone FlowerTorenia fournieriPlant it in the shade, keep it watered, and wishbone flower rewards you with bloom from summer to frost.☀️ Partial shade · 💧 2–4 daysPet & child safeEasyWitch HazelHamamelis virginianaGive it moist, acidic soil and room to spread, and witch hazel rewards you with ribbon-like flowers just as the rest of the garden clocks out for winter.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeEasyWoodland SageSalvia nemorosaGive it full sun and dry, lean soil, and woodland sage rockets up violet flower spikes from early summer straight through fall.☀️ Full sun · 💧 7–14 daysPet & child safeEasyZebra HaworthiaHaworthiopsis attenuataGive it bright indirect light and a good dry stretch between waterings, and this striped little succulent rewards you for barely lifting a finger.☀️ Bright indirect · 💧 14–21 daysPet & child safeEasyZebra PlantAphelandra squarrosaStriped leaves and a golden flower spike, a rewarding grow for anyone who gives it the warm, humid air it loves.☀️ Bright indirectPet & child safeDemandingZinniaZinnia elegansSun-loving and quick to flower, the zinnia blooms nonstop from summer to frost.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–7 daysPet & child safeEasyZoysia GrassZoysia japonicaTough, dense, and drought-tolerant once it takes hold, zoysia rewards a slow start with a lawn that keeps on giving.☀️ Full sun · 💧 5–10 daysPet & child safeModerateZucchiniCucurbita pepoGive it a blast of full sun, warm soil, and water it never has to beg for, and a plant or two will pour squash into your kitchen all summer.☀️ Full sun · 💧 3–7 daysPet & child safeEasy