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Flowers are a wonderful addition to any garden. They brighten the landscape and attract beneficial pollinators. While some varieties have a reputation for being beautiful but fussy, which can deter new gardeners, there are plenty that are easy to grow with very little maintenance.
By choosing summer flowers that deliver the most blooms for the least effort, you can create a lively garden that will be the envy of your neighbors all season long. From classic picks like marigolds and sunflowers to low-maintenance perennials that return year after year, these easy-to-grow flowers stand out for their drought tolerance, resilience, pollinator-friendly benefits, and, of course, their beauty.
With varieties that handle tough conditions and require little upkeep, you do not need a green thumb to grow a garden that is both beautiful and hardworking.
Petunias
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A go-to for containers and hanging baskets, petunias bloom nonstop with minimal care. Their container-friendly nature makes them one of the easiest ways to add instant color to patios and small spaces.
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Calibrachoa
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These petite, petunia-like flowers are perfect for pots and window boxes, where they spill beautifully over the edges. Their self-cleaning habit means no deadheading, making them especially low-maintenance.
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Cosmos
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Light and airy, cosmos grow easily from seed and thrive even in poor soil. Their tough, low-input nature makes them ideal for beginners who want reliable blooms without much effort.
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Nasturtiums
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With trailing stems and vibrant blooms, nasturtiums flourish in containers or garden beds with little attention. Their ability to thrive in poor soil makes them one of the most forgiving flowers to grow. As an added bonus, the flowers are edible!
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Black-Eyed Susans
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These cheerful, daisy-like flowers return year after year with minimal care. As a native perennial, they’re naturally adapted to local conditions and easy to maintain.
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Coreopsis
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Known for its long-lasting blooms, coreopsis adds bright color all summer with little upkeep. Its drought-tolerant nature makes it a dependable choice for low-maintenance gardens.
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Coneflower
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This perennial garden staple handles heat, drought, and poor soil with ease. Their pollinator-friendly appeal means they’ll attract bees and butterflies while thriving with minimal care.
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Salvia
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With tall spikes of color, perennial salvias bloom for weeks and tolerate heat well. Their heat tolerance makes them a reliable option for sunny, low-maintenance beds.
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Yarrow
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Yarrow’s flat-topped blooms add texture and thrive in tough conditions. Its ability to grow in dry, poor soil makes it an easy choice for hands-off gardening.
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Blanket Flower
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These bold, sun-loving blooms keep going through heat and dry spells. Their exceptional heat tolerance makes them perfect for beginner gardeners in hot climates.
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Marigolds
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Many consider this flower a go-to for gardens, as it’s easy to grow when given an adequate amount of sun. They’re versatile enough to thrive in moist or dry soil, even without any fertilizer.
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Sweet Alyssum
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These dainty flowers, often used for landscape edging, prefer full sun. Their honey fragrance and pretty hues (they come in white, pink, and purple) make them a popular pick for gardens.
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Sedum
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If there’s an area of your garden that doesn’t get enough water or receives too much sun, this flower is for you. Their height differs depending on the variety you choose, and you’ll find them in pink, yellow, or red.
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Catmint
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Many gardeners like these cheerful flowers, which have a minty fragrance, for edging. Go for well-drained soil with a reasonable amount of fertilizer and tons of sun to allow these flowers to flourish.
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Sunflowers
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These vivid flowers come in more than 70 different varieties and tend to attract bees. Regardless of soil conditions, they typically grow beautifully as long as they have full sun. Heliotropism, meaning when flowers grow in response to sunlight, are more apparent in heirloom varieties.
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Zinnias
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This flower, which normally grows up to four feet tall, is a great choice to brighten up your garden. But keep in mind that Japanese beetles are drawn to white zinnias, so select a different variety if they’re popular in your region.
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Impatiens
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Enjoy the beauty of pansies—a popular choice for flowerbed work—by relying on well-drained soil and shady areas.
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Begonias
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From eye-catching rose to bold orange, you’ll find begonias in a number of gorgeous colors. Once they’re placed in the shade, they can blossom in pots or in a landscape environment.
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Snapdragons
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This easy-to-grow flower simply needs adequate water to last all summer long. However, they’re known to attract several kinds of pests and diseases, including powdery mildew.
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Morning Glories
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With a bit of shade and full sun, you can enjoy these trumpet-shaped flowers. They can tolerate challenging conditions, but favor moist, well-drained soil. Use them as dense ground cover or to add interest to a trellis or fence.
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Sweet Peas
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Often found in bi-colors, pastels, and blues, sweet peas are versatile enough to do well in containers or in the ground. Just choose your varieties wisely, as certain types are more suitable for warm weather than others.
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Moss Rose
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Let this low-maintenance flower, which can reach up to 8 inches tall, also serve as great groundcover. It responds best to well-drained soil and dry environments.
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Peonies
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These show-stopping, fragrant blooms can work in both warm and cool climates. To allow peonies to flourish, avoid windy locations and give them full sun and well-drained soil.
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Shasta Daisies
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Known for being deer-resistant, these low-maintenance perennials feature pretty flowers and stems that can grow up to four feet tall. They can also attract bugs that are beneficial to your garden.
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