Plants that thrive in your garden.
Complete care guides for popular landscape plants — sun, water, zones, companions, and design tips. Build your garden with Arden.
Annuals for the garden
- PE
Petunias
Petunia × hybrida
Petunias are the workhorse annual for summer color. Trailing Wave types spill from hanging baskets. Upright grandifloras fill beds. They bloom from spring until frost as long as you keep them fed and deadheaded.
Full sun Moderate ZAnnual (perennial in 9–11) - MA
Marigolds
Tagetes spp.
Marigolds are the easiest annual for beginners. Bright orange, yellow, and mahogany blooms from early summer to frost. Their pungent foliage deters whiteflies and nematodes, making them a classic vegetable-garden companion.
Full sun Low ZAnnual - IM
Impatiens
Impatiens walleriana
Impatiens are the go-to annual for shade. They bloom nonstop in deep shade where petunias and marigolds refuse. Modern Beacon and Imara series resist the downy mildew that crashed older varieties.
Part to full shade High ZAnnual - ZI
Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Zinnias are the beginner cut-flower champion. Direct-sown seeds produce knee-high plants loaded with blooms in 60 days. Butterflies love them. The more you cut, the more they bloom.
Full sun Low ZAnnual - PA
Pansies
Viola × wittrockiana
Pansies shine in the cool shoulder seasons when summer annuals fade and winter looms. Frost-tolerant blooms keep going through freezes. Plant in fall in mild zones for winter-long color.
Full sun to part shade Moderate ZCool-season annual - GE
Geraniums
Pelargonium × hortorum
Geraniums (pelargoniums) are the backbone of window-box and patio-pot plantings. They shrug off heat, tolerate drought better than most annuals, and bloom from spring through frost. Easy to overwinter indoors.
Full sun Low ZAnnual (perennial 9–11) - CO
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos are the easiest cut flower you will ever grow. Scatter seeds on bare soil in spring and you get 4-foot wands of pink, white, and magenta blooms by July. Drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, reseeds itself.
Full sun Low ZAnnual - SU
Sunflowers
Helianthus annuus
Sunflowers are summer made visible. Choose towering Mammoth types for seed harvest, branching varieties like ProCut for cut flowers, or dwarf Suntastic for containers. Bees and finches will thank you.
Full sun Moderate ZAnnual
Climbers for the garden
- CL
Climbing Roses
Rosa climbing varieties
Climbing roses turn trellises, arbors, and walls into living cathedrals. Train horizontal canes to maximize bloom production. "Eden," "New Dawn," and "Zéphirine Drouhin" are time-tested classics.
Full sun Moderate Z5–9 - CL
Clematis
Clematis spp.
Clematis delivers the biggest, showiest blooms of any climbing vine. Different pruning groups bloom at different times — plant several for flowers spring through fall. The secret: "head in the sun, feet in the shade."
Full sun (roots shaded) Moderate Z4–9 - WI
Wisteria
Wisteria frutescens
Wisteria is the queen of cascading vines — 12-inch panicles of fragrant purple flowers dripping from pergolas. Choose native American wisteria (W. frutescens) over Asian species to avoid invasive problems. Needs a sturdy, massive support.
Full sun Moderate Z5–9 - HO
Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Native coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is the non-invasive, hummingbird-magnet cousin of the weedy Japanese honeysuckle. Tubular red-orange blooms from spring to frost. Well-behaved on trellises and arbors.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z4–9 - JA
Jasmine
Jasminum spp.
Jasmine perfumes summer evenings like nothing else. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum) covers fences with white starflowers in southern gardens. Common jasmine needs warmer zones. Both reward you with fragrance that carries across a yard.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z7–11
Grasss for the garden
- OR
Ornamental Grasses
Various genera
Ornamental grasses add sound, movement, and four-season structure. Seed heads catch morning light. Winter silhouettes add interest when everything else has died back. Almost maintenance-free once established.
Full sun Low Z4–9 - FE
Feather Reed Grass
Calamagrostis × acutiflora
Karl Foerster feather reed grass is the most popular ornamental grass in the world for a reason. Strictly upright to 5 feet, feathery plumes from June through winter, and it stands up to wind and snow without flopping.
Full sun Moderate Z4–9 - FO
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Fountain grass forms graceful arching mounds topped with bottlebrush plumes from mid-summer to frost. Hardy Pennisetum alopecuroides comes back each year; purple fountain grass (P. setaceum "Rubrum") is a stunning annual in cold zones.
Full sun Low Z5–9
Groundcovers for the garden
- TH
Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Thyme does double duty — culinary herb and tough groundcover. Creeping varieties spread between stepping stones, releasing fragrance when stepped on. Upright varieties fill herb beds.
Full sun Low Z5–9 - CR
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Creeping phlox transforms slopes and rock gardens into waterfalls of pink, purple, or white in early spring. Evergreen needle-like foliage covers bare soil the rest of the year. Drought-tolerant once established.
Full sun Low Z3–9
Herbs for the garden
- RO
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Rosemary earns space in both herb gardens and ornamental borders. Evergreen in mild climates, edible year-round, and drought-tolerant once established. Trailing cultivars cascade over walls beautifully.
Full sun Low Z7–10 (annual in colder zones) - SA
Sage
Salvia officinalis
Common sage is both a staple culinary herb and an attractive ornamental. Silver-green leaves, short purple bloom spikes, and a sharp, savory flavor for meats and stuffings. Lives 5+ years with good care.
Full sun Low Z4–10 - BA
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Fresh basil turns tomatoes into caprese and every summer dinner into something better. Pinch often to keep plants bushy. Genovese for Italian cooking, Thai basil for Asian dishes, lemon basil for fish — grow several varieties.
Full sun Moderate ZAnnual - MI
Mint
Mentha spp.
Mint is unstoppable — peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, mojito mint. Plant it in a container or buried bucket unless you want it everywhere. Once established, you'll have mint forever for tea, cocktails, and cooking.
Part sun Moderate Z3–8 - OR
Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Oregano is the backbone of pizza, pasta, and Mediterranean cooking. Greek oregano has the strongest flavor — hot, dry conditions intensify the essential oils. Also serves as a tough low-water groundcover.
Full sun Low Z4–10 - CH
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are the easiest perennial herb. Mild onion flavor, edible pink-purple pompom flowers, and they come back reliably for years. Tolerate poor soil, light shade, and neglect. Every kitchen garden should have a clump.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z3–9
Perennials for the garden
- LA
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender is the iconic sun-loving Mediterranean perennial. Silvery foliage, purple flower spikes, and a fragrance that feels like summer afternoons in Provence. It thrives on neglect — too much water or shade is the fastest way to kill it.
Full sun Low Z5–9 - HO
Hostas
Hosta spp.
Hostas are the go-to shade perennial. Huge, textured leaves ranging from electric chartreuse to deep blue-green to variegated. Low-maintenance once established, and they come back bigger and better every year.
Part shade Moderate Z3–9 - FE
Ferns
Various genera
Ferns bring texture and movement to shady spots where most other plants refuse. Unfurling fiddleheads in spring feel like watching evolution replay. Native species are nearly indestructible once established.
Part shade Moderate Z3–9 - AS
Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii
Astilbe fills the summer gap in shade gardens with airy, feathery plumes in pink, red, white, and lavender. Deer and rabbit resistant. A foolproof companion for hostas and ferns.
Part shade High Z4–8 - CO
Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Coneflowers are drought-tolerant prairie natives that bloom for months. Pollinators swarm them. Seed heads feed finches in winter. Perfect for low-maintenance, ecologically friendly gardens.
Full sun Low Z3–9 - BL
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida
Black-eyed Susans are the reliable workhorse of the sunny border. Golden petals around dark chocolate centers. Blooms from midsummer until frost. Spreads gracefully without being invasive.
Full sun Low Z3–9 - RU
Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Russian sage creates a lavender-blue haze from mid-summer through fall. Silvery foliage, aromatic leaves, and airy bloom spikes. Completely drought-tolerant once established.
Full sun Low Z4–9 - HE
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heuchera spp.
Heuchera is the foliage rock star of shade gardens. Modern cultivars come in lime, caramel, peach, burgundy, silver, and nearly black. Delicate bloom spikes add charm. Easy, evergreen in mild climates.
Part shade Moderate Z4–9 - PE
Peonies
Paeonia lactiflora
Peonies can live 100+ years in the same spot. Spectacular late-spring blooms in pink, white, red, and coral. Plant once, enjoy for generations. The key is getting the planting depth right — too deep and they'll never bloom.
Full sun Moderate Z3–8 - DA
Daylilies
Hemerocallis spp.
Daylilies are nearly indestructible. They bloom in sun or part shade, tolerate poor soil, resist deer, and multiply quickly. Thousands of cultivars in every color except blue.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z3–9 - TU
Tulips
Tulipa spp.
Tulips open the spring garden with jewel-tone cups in every color imaginable. Plant bulbs in fall for April–May bloom. Most modern hybrids fade after 2–3 years — treat them like annuals or choose species tulips that return reliably.
Full sun Low Z3–8 - DA
Daffodils
Narcissus spp.
Daffodils are the most dependable spring bulb. Deer ignore them, squirrels won't dig them, and they multiply quietly year after year. Plant once in fall and enjoy for decades.
Full sun to part shade Low Z3–9 - IR
Iris
Iris germanica
Bearded iris deliver some of the most elaborate blooms in any garden — ruffled falls, upright standards, and fragrance in shades no paint can match. Plant rhizomes at the surface, not buried, for healthy long-lived clumps.
Full sun Low Z3–9 - SA
Salvia
Salvia nemorosa
Perennial salvias produce upright spikes of blue, purple, or pink that bees and hummingbirds find irresistible. Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and they bloom again after a hard cutback in mid-summer.
Full sun Low Z4–9 - GA
Garden Phlox
Phlox paniculata
Tall garden phlox delivers fragrant, mounded flower heads from mid-summer through fall. Classic cottage-garden plant. Modern mildew-resistant varieties like "David" and "Jeana" finally make phlox easy to grow well.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z4–8 - BE
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Bee balm is a hummingbird and bumblebee magnet. Shaggy red, pink, or purple blooms from mid-summer onward. North American native. Modern mildew-resistant varieties like "Jacob Cline" make it dependable.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z4–9 - SE
Sedum
Sedum spp.
Sedums combine succulent toughness with four-season beauty. Upright "Autumn Joy" blooms pink-to-rust from late summer through winter. Creeping types cover hot, dry slopes where nothing else survives. Pollinators love the late-season flowers.
Full sun Low Z3–9 - HE
Hellebore
Helleborus spp.
Hellebores bloom when nothing else does — late winter into early spring. Nodding flowers in cream, pink, plum, and near-black. Evergreen foliage, deer-resistant, long-lived. The quiet hero of the shade garden.
Part shade to shade Moderate Z4–9 - SH
Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum × superbum
Shasta daisies deliver the clean white-and-yellow daisy look everyone recognizes. Easy, long-lived, and excellent for cutting. "Becky" is the landscape standard — tall, sturdy stems that don't flop.
Full sun Moderate Z4–9 - CA
Catmint
Nepeta × faassenii
Catmint produces clouds of small blue-purple flowers from late spring into fall. Aromatic silver-green foliage deters deer. Drought-tolerant and shrubs off to revive after a mid-summer haircut. "Walker's Low" is the landscape standard.
Full sun Low Z3–8
Shrubs for the garden
- BO
Boxwood
Buxus sempervirens
Boxwood is the backbone of formal gardens. Dense evergreen foliage that holds crisp shapes — hedges, parterres, topiaries, spheres. Slow-growing and expensive up front, but these shrubs can live a century with good care.
Part sun Moderate Z5–8 - HY
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangeas deliver oversized, soft flower heads in blues, pinks, purples, and whites. The famous color-shift trick — acidic soil for blue, alkaline for pink — still fascinates gardeners. Plant once, enjoy for decades.
Part sun High Z5–9 - RO
Roses
Rosa spp.
Modern disease-resistant roses have eliminated most of the old "rose-growing is hard" mythology. Knock Out and Drift series bloom all season with zero spraying. Traditional hybrid teas still reward gardeners willing to work for them.
Full sun Moderate Z4–10 - AZ
Azalea
Rhododendron spp.
Azaleas erupt in spring color that stops traffic. Evergreen types dominate southern gardens; deciduous natives thrive in colder zones. The key is acidic soil — test before planting and amend if needed.
Part shade Moderate Z5–9 - RH
Rhododendron
Rhododendron spp.
Rhododendrons combine massive spring bloom clusters with evergreen four-season presence. They want cool roots, acidic soil, and dappled shade. Get the siting right and they live for decades.
Part shade Moderate Z4–8 - LI
Lilac
Syringa vulgaris
No shrub smells better in May. Common lilacs need cold winters to bloom well — they are heirloom classics from grandmother's garden. Modern reblooming Bloomerang series extends the show into fall.
Full sun Low Z3–7 - FO
Forsythia
Forsythia × intermedia
Forsythia explodes into pure yellow before most shrubs even break dormancy — the unofficial start of the garden season. Give it space to arch naturally; forcing it into a formal shape ruins the display.
Full sun Low Z5–8 - BU
Butterfly Bush
Buddleia davidii
Butterfly bush lives up to its name — fragrant purple, pink, or white panicles attract butterflies in clouds. Choose sterile varieties (Lo & Behold, Flutterby series) to avoid invasive reseeding in ecologically sensitive areas.
Full sun Low Z5–9 - SP
Spirea
Spiraea spp.
Spirea is the low-maintenance flowering shrub. Bridal wreath types cascade with white spring blooms. Bumald types ("Anthony Waterer," "Goldflame") carry pink flowers and colorful foliage all summer. Almost foolproof.
Full sun Low Z3–8 - VI
Viburnum
Viburnum spp.
Viburnums deliver everything: fragrant spring blooms, summer berries for birds, fall color, and winter structure. With 150+ species, there's a viburnum for almost any site. Korean spice viburnum is the most fragrant.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z3–8
Trees for the garden
- JA
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
A Japanese maple is the quiet showstopper of any garden. Lacy, deeply cut leaves. Silhouettes that look deliberately sculpted. Fall color that ranges from fire-engine red to deep burgundy. One tree can anchor an entire landscape.
Part sun Moderate Z5–9 - MA
Magnolia
Magnolia spp.
Magnolias are living fossils — their ancestors bloomed before bees evolved. Saucer magnolia's pink spring goblets, star magnolia's white stars, and southern magnolia's evergreen grandeur cover nearly every zone.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z4–10 (varies by species) - DO
Dogwood
Cornus florida
Flowering dogwood is the quintessential American spring tree — tiered branches covered in white or pink bracts, red fall foliage, and red winter berries for birds. Native Cornus florida struggles with anthracnose; Kousa and hybrids are more disease-resistant.
Part sun Moderate Z5–9 - RE
Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Eastern redbud smothers its bare branches in magenta-pink blooms before the leaves unfurl — one of the most dramatic spring displays. Heart-shaped leaves. Native to eastern North America. "Forest Pansy" adds purple foliage.
Full sun to part shade Moderate Z4–9 - CR
Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia indica
Crape myrtle is the southern summer tree. 100+ days of pink, white, red, or purple panicles, cinnamon exfoliating bark, and blazing fall color. Stop "crape murder" — don't top them. Let them grow into their natural vase shape.
Full sun Low Z6–10 - OA
Oak
Quercus spp.
Oaks support more wildlife than any other tree genus in North America — over 500 species of caterpillars feed on them, fueling the songbird food web. Plant a white oak and you leave a legacy that outlives you by centuries.
Full sun Low Z3–9
Design your garden around plants that thrive
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