At least a few perennial bushes and shrubs are recommended if you want to create a low-maintenance garden.
You could use them to build a hedge, for example, or to boost the height and structure of a perennial border.
So, which option should you choose?
You should think about solutions that offer blooms to attract pollinators and other species for as long as possible throughout the year if you want a low-maintenance ornamental garden.
The less effort you will have to put into your garden if there is more biodiversity.
General Tips for a Low Maintenance Perennial Border
- Select plants that are appropriate for your location.
- To minimize pruning demands, consider the fully developed size of a species when planting.
- As much as possible, increase diversity.
- To prevent exposed soil and minimize weeds, plant densely.
- For moisture retention and weed reduction, add an organic mulch.
- For the best year-round appearance, aim for perennial borders with around 1/3 evergreen species.
Here are just a few of the options for low-maintenance, year-round blooms to help you come up with your garden planting scheme:
Low Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs for Spring Flowers
1. Forsythia
Early in the spring, Forsythia, a low-maintenance shrub, adds a bright yellow burst.
These would be ideal for a site with nutrient-rich soil that is relatively free-draining. It grows best in full sun, although it may also tolerate light or dappled shade.
2. Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)
Ribes sanguineum is another easy plant that blooms early in the season.
Another low-maintenance option is flowering currant bushes.
This is another excellent choice for a fully sunny or partially shaded location that is moderately wet and fertile.
3. Viburnum x burkwoodii
This is a low-maintenance evergreen plant.
It has dark, glossy green leaves and fragrant white or pale pink flowers that bloom in mid-late spring. It can reach a height of around 8 feet.
4. Darwin’s Barberry (Berberis darwinii)
This berberis, or barberry, is another gorgeous low-maintenance evergreen option with stunning orange blooms that can really lift up a shady corner in the garden in spring.
Dark purple berries grow after the orange blossoms.
5. Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)
This is another low-maintenance perennial shrub that bears edible fruit and blooms in the spring.
The lovely profusion of bright red blooms produced on the plants in the spring is the primary reason to cultivate this choice in your garden.
Low Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs for Summer Flowers
6. Lilac (Various)
Lilac is a terrific option for a low-maintenance garden because it blooms for just a brief period in late spring/early summer.
You may have lovely delicate purple or white blooms while they’re in bloom, which will provide a lovely fragrance to your yard. Throughout the year, the bushes will continue to provide structure.
7. Weigela ‘Bristol Ruby’
Weigela is another popular late spring/early summer blooming option. One intriguing and attractive cultivar to consider is Bristol Ruby.
As the dark crimson bell-shaped blooms appear, you’ll see why this shrub is a fantastic option.
8. Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’
Ceanothus is a nitrogen-fixing plant that can help your garden with little effort on your part. In addition to providing plenty of stunning blue blooms, it is also a nitrogen fixer.
It’s worth researching a variety of easy, low-maintenance cultivars.
9. Spirea japonica
Spirea japonica, a low-maintenance hedge or garden bed or border plant, comes in a variety of cultivars with stunning summer blooms and structure.
If not pruned, bridal wreath spirea may grow wild. Nonetheless, there are a few less difficult and tidier cultivars to choose from.
During the summer, clusters of white, pink, red, or purple blooms adorn the branches of these shrubs.
10. Hebe (Various)
For your low-maintenance garden, you might also choose from a variety of Hebe cultivars.
The blooms range in color, leaf shade, and feel, and they are another stunning shrub for long-lasting summer flower shows.
There are a variety of shapes and growing habits to choose from, as well as several options.
Low Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs for Fall Interest
11. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
Hydrangeas come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and many of them are low-maintenance bushes.
Hydrangea paniculata is one possibility, and its foliage is stunningly simple.
It has yellow-green leaves and blooms that change to beautiful white/pale green as they mature. It is upright and spreading in form, with light lime green tones.
12. Oak-Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
The oak-leaf hydrangea is another hydrangea that’s easy to grow and care for. This plant, which has foliage that resembles oak tree leaves, is native to the Southeast United States and was given this name.
It thrives in both full and partial shade.
The color-changing leaves and dried flower heads add interest to the garden all season, despite the fact that they bloom in the summer.
13. Little Henry/ Henry’s Garnet (Itea virginica)
In July, the shrub produces cream white blossoms that last into late summer. Yet, the rich crimson and purple autumn hues, which add interest throughout the second part of the year, are what make this a fantastic option for a fall garden.
14. Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’
This beautiful evergreen plant, whether in full sun or partial shade, performs well in a variety of settings.
It has bright yellow, cheerful daisy-like blooms that bloom from late summer through fall and have silvery green leaves.
15. Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)
Potentilla fruticosa is a popular and easy-to-grow ornamental plant that is commonly used as a trouble-free shrub in temperate climates.
There are several cultivars to choose from, including a variety of smaller shrubs that are ideal for little areas.
Depending on cultivar, these shrubs produce white, yellow, and pink flowers. They need minimal care to thrive.
Some bloom in the summer and others bloom until late autumn.
Low Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs that Look Great in Winter
16. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)
The winter garden might be more interesting with witch hazel’s wiry flowers.
Witch hazel has yellow flowers and is easy to cultivate, requiring minimal care. However, there are some cultivars with coppery or crimson blooms to consider.
17. Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
The Mahonia species has a variety of low-maintenance shrubs.
The Oregon grape, which has sharp leaves and produces deep spires of sunshine yellow blooms in late winter, precedes to purple berries.
18. Christmas Box (Sarcococca confusa)
The fragrant white winter blooms of this winter flowering evergreen shrub are prized.
When viewed against the dark green foliage of the plants, these blooms stand out. They will flourish in full sun or shade and may be found in a well-drained location.
19. Winter Flowering Heathers (Various)
For your low-maintenance garden, there are a variety of lovely winter blossoming heathers to choose from.
White, pink, and purple blooming cultivars are available.
These may thrive in containers and may flourish at the front of a bed or around the edge.
20. Daphne (Daphne Odora/ Daphne bholua)
Throughout the winter and early spring, these shrubs frequently produce lovely, fragrant blooms.
There are several cultivars to choose from, including D. D. and O. For your low-maintenance garden, bholua are just two interesting options to consider.
Of course, there are countless more excellent low-maintenance perennial plants and shrubs to choose from.
There are a few other options worth exploring. Remember that designing a low-maintenance garden requires selecting the appropriate plants for the proper locations.
Always consider the circumstances in which you live when selecting plants.