Easy Plants to Grow Outside

Geraniums are many gardeners' go-to annual, and for good reason. They come in a broad 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, purple, and more. Almost all varieties of this annual 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 these perennials are 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 perennials to grow—as long as deer and slugs don't frequent your garden. (Natural 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 these perennials grow in full sun to shade, lime green varieties benefit being planted in shade. One of our favorite reasons to grow coralbells: 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 rugged perennial 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 tasty steeped in tea, but spearmint is better in a summer mojito.

Get the most out of your flowers by planting verbena—you get height and color out of these summer plants. Clusters of verbena blooms typically come in white, pink, or purple; they make a great accent plant. The ‘Imagination,’ one of the perennial varieties, 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 annual vine. Sweet potato vine flourishes in warm summer weather and can endure both sunny and shady conditions. Look for the variety ‘Blackie’ which has deep purple foliage.

Another plant that thrives in shade is coleus. You'll want to plant a few of these annuals 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. Scaevola's pretty blue-purple, fan-shape annual flowers thrive hanging out in baskets or sunny window boxes.

Daylillies' delicate beauty contradicts their robust nature—you'll often find them grown in ditches or fields. There are dozens of varieties with different colors, patterns, and heights. You'll enjoy these perennials for years to come.

Pentas' summer-long star-shape flowers attract butterflies. These clustered blooms come in shades of pink, red and white. Plant this annual in your garden or in containers—they don't care.