11 Low-Maintenance Flowers You (Practically) Can’t Kill

Whether you're new to gardening or just looking to keep things stress free, these resilient flowers will liven up your landscape without causing you to constantly fuss around with them.

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Pink Peonies
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Low-Maintenance Perennial Flowers: Peonies

Peonies are hardy plants. There are peony varieties growing in most U.S. states. These low-maintenance perennial flowers love the sun and will handle six or more hours per day with ease. Despite their easy disposition, peonies have some of the largest, prettiest and best smelling blooms on this list. Just a few blossoms look nice in a vase. Check out the list of short perennial flowers.
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Petunia Hanging Plant
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Petunias

So long as petunias are given partial or full sun, they’ll flourish all spring, summer and fall. The best part? They only need to be watered once a week! Supertunia Vista varieties are especially low-maintenance, as they last an extra month in southern states, and into the fall in moderate climates. There’s also no deadheading required for these flowers to bloom profusely!

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Blooming Begonia tuberhybrida close up
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Begonias

Begonias handle the shade well, so if you have a garden that’s low on sun, these flowers are a best bet. And, they can also tolerate drought conditions and a lot of sun. These easy-to-grow flowers do well in containers or when planted directly into the ground. You’ll be especially impressed by Surefire Begonias, which have very thick, durable stems and larger blossoms that continue to bloom without deadheading.

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Zinnias
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Low-Maintenance Annual Flowers: Zinnias

When these adaptable flowers get full sun, they can grow up to three feet in height. However, they will also do well in shade. Drought-tolerant zinnias grow fast. Because they’re annuals, they transform from seed to flower in record time and their blooms last all summer long.

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Marigolds
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Marigolds

These very-low-maintenance flowers prefer full sun, and require just a touch of deadheading in order to bloom well into fall. They can handle infrequent watering, too! Marigolds are also pest-free flowers, and so are great for companion planting in vegetable gardens to ward off potentially damaging insects.

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Potted Pansies
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Pansies

One of the most popular cool-season flowers, undemanding pansies require minimal deadheading to keep blooming throughout the spring. They’re also one of the top-selling bedding plants for fall landscapes, since they require soil temperatures between 45° F and 65° F for best growth. They need sun and soil that drains easily.

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Snapdragon
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Snapdragons

These flowers bloom energetically and can withstand unforgiving weather in spring and fall. They require full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Another selling point? Deer don’t like to eat them!

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Milkweed
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Butterfly Milkweed

These blooming plants thrive in any type of soil. Once planted, they require little water to survive. They’re great for attracting butterflies, as well as hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators.

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Cosmos
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Cosmos

These undemanding annuals bloom even in poor soil. They like full sun, but prefer afternoon shade in hot climates. They can tolerate drought and withstand general neglect. Because few pests bother these flowers, they’ll look beautiful throughout the whole summer, and they come in a variety of eye-catching colors.

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Geraniums

These low-maintenance flowers prefer full sun, but appreciate afternoon shade in hot regions. Hardy geraniums are drought-resistant and deer-resistant, and most bloom profusely from early spring until frost.

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coneflower
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Coneflowers

Coneflowers attract butterflies, bees and birds to your garden. They prefer full sun, but can handle shady conditions, if need be. They bloom in early spring and continue to thrive through the first frost of the year.

Alexa Erickson
Alexa Erickson is an experienced lifestyle writer who has contributed to Family Handyman, Reader's Digest, Martha Stewart, Bob Vila and Thrillist. She’s written more than 50 articles for Family Handyman on a range of topics, including home design, DIY home improvement projects, and storage and organization. Additionally, she runs her own website, Living by Lex, where she writes about home decor, travel, tech and more.