Outdoor Plants You Can't Kill

Geraniums are the No. 1 selling annual, and for good reason. They come in a wonderful range of colors and hold up in the heat of summer, even with limited water.

Petunias bloom spring to frost in a seemingly limitless range of colors: light lemon yellow, lime green, pink, and more. Almost all varieties are self-cleaning (no deadheading required) for carefree color. For optimal performance, water and fertilize regularly.

A versatile group of plants, sedums range from short groundcovers to midsize clumping plants. Once planted, they require little care -- simply water if they look dry and cut back plants after flowering to maintain their shape.

Hostas can be one of the easiest plants to grow—as long as deer and slugs don't frequent your garden. (Repellents are available if you love hostas and have these unwelcome visitors.) Varieties range from tolerating dappled sun to tolerating part sun, such as Liberty Hosta. Colors range from pure green to yellow-green variegation to blue-gray and beyond.

Coralbells are easy to grow and bring evergreen (to semi-evergreen) color to your garden. Though they grow in full sun to shade, lime green varieties benefit being planted in shade. Bonus: Hummingbirds love the flowers.

Weigela is a maintenance-free shrub loved by gardeners, hummingbirds, and butterflies for its plentiful bell-shape flowers. Several varieties have rebloom abilities, including Wine & Roses and the Sonic Bloom collections.

Mint is a wonderful and rugged herb for the beginning gardener. Plant it where you don't mind if it spreads, or keep it from rambling by growing it in a container. If you are planting it for culinary purposes, consider the type: Peppermint is wonderful steeped in tea, but spearmint is better in a summer mojito.

Clusters of verbena blooms typically come in white, pink, or purple; they make a great accent plant. The variety 'Imagination' stands out for its ability to survive in the hottest, driest conditions.

Purple and a lime-tinged green are classic colors in this almost-can't-kill-it trailing vine, which flourishes in warm summer weather and can endure both sunny and shady conditions.

Another plant that thrives in shade is coleus. You'll want to plant a few to have a variety of foliage -- from plain green to wild reds. Bring the plants indoors during winter to enjoy as a colorful houseplant.

This durable Australian native withstands heat without wilting. Pretty blue-purple, fan-shape flowers thrive hanging out in baskets or sunny window boxes. 

Daylillies' delicate beauty belies their robust nature—you'll often find them grown in ditches or fields. You'll enjoy these perennials for years to come.

Pentas' summer-long star-shape flowers attracts butterflies. Plant in your garden or in containers—they don't care.