Marigolds
People love marigolds because of how bright and bold they are. They also help keep pests away from your garden!
Lavender
Everyone loves lavender. It smells amazing, it looks great in photos, and it attracts those all-important bees to your garden.
Hydrangea
These giant fluffy blooms make your yard look great and require surprisingly little work. Just don’t get too attached to the color - they love changing shades.
Hostas
Perfect if you’ve got shady spots where nothing else wants to live. They’re basically the laid-back, low-maintenance roommates of the plant world.
Sunflowers
Van Gogh painted these beauties and they’ve been beloved of artsy types ever since. If you want some of your own, they’re easy to grow!
Peonies
They look like floral cupcakes and smell divine. Just be ready for ants – annoyingly, ants absolutely love them.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are very underrated, but they can make your yard look amazing. Ask at your local garden center about the best ones.
Roses
Rose are a beloved flower and they’re considered one of the most beautiful. Pack your garden with roses and you’ll never want to leave it.
Boxwood Shrubs
These are the go-to “green walls” for tidy borders and hedges. When used correctly, they make the garden look great.
Tulips
Plant a bunch of tulips, all in different colors, and suddenly your yard looks like it belongs in a postcard from the Netherlands.
Daffodils
These sunny little guys are nature’s way of saying, “Winter’s over - time to cheer up!” They multiply too, so you get more free flowers every year.
Coneflowers
Coneflowers are otherwise known as Echinacea, a name they got due to their resemblance to hedgehogs. Awww.
Japanese Maple Tree
These provide delicate, colorful leaves that make your yard look instantly sophisticated.
Zinnias
These a easy to grow, crazy colorful, and pollinators love them. You will have to keep planting them year after year though.
Clematis
This is a climbing plant that turns boring fences into walls of flowers. Then, you can use that wall as a backdrop for Instagram pics.
Lilacs
Their fragrance alone makes them worth it. Plant one, and your entire block will smell like spring every year for a couple glorious weeks.
Azaleas
Azaleas add drama to your yard with their bright colors. And like many of the other plants on this list, they attract pollinators.
Dogwood Tree
These give you gorgeous spring blossoms and lovely fall leaves. It’s the tree that keeps giving.
Gardenias
These flowers smell so good, you’ll want to cancel your scented candle subscription. They are quite high-maintenance though, so be warned.
Camellias
These bloom in cooler months when everything else looks sad. They also have a rich and fascinating history – they’re even referenced in the works of Alexandre Dumas.
Phlox
Phlox may have a name that’s difficult to say, but they’re great plants. They’re hardy and don’t need much from you.
Daylilies
These are one of the loveliest, most colorful flowers around. They’re extremely hardy and can survive tough winters.
Hibiscus
These give out tropical vibes in your backyard and attract pollinators. Just make sure they’re in a warm spot with wet soil.
Rhododendrons
These are big, bold, and dramatic –they’ll make visitors to your garden go “ooo”. Make sure you water them a lot, they’re thirsty plants.
Ferns
Ferns are low-key, low-maintenance, and make your yard feel like a fairy forest if you maintain them right.
Magnolia Tree
Growing a tree takes work – you need acidic soil, sun, and watering – but the results here are very, very worth it.
Geraniums
These come in beautiful colors and some of them have a great scent too. Plant them around May, and in a sunny spot.
Black-Eyed Susans
These are great for a beginner gardener, as they’re robust and hard to kill. They also support pollinators, making them an eco-friendly choice.
Red Hot Poker
Yes, that’s the real name. These tall, torch-like flowers add instant drama to your yard.
Bluebells
Plant a lot of bluebells together, and you have a scene straight out of a fairytale.
Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle has attractive flowers and gorgeous bark as well. If you live in a hot climate you should definitely try growing this, as it does well in the heat.
Snapdragons
Everyone loves snapdragons, but kids especially love them, thanks in no small part to the exciting name. If you have kids, it’s a great first plant for them!
Bamboo
Bamboo grows fast, looks exotic, and doubles as a privacy screen. Just be careful - it can take over your yard pretty dang fast.
Pansies
These are cheerful little plants that are easy to grow and make any yard, or flowerpot for that matter, look more colorful.
