Low-maintenance perennials are every busy gardener’s dream – bringing long-lasting beauty to your outdoor space without demanding constant attention. Unlike annuals, they return year after year, so once established, you can enjoy their colour and foliage for several seasons to come.
Many are tough and resilient, thriving in conditions where other plants might struggle, from drought and poor soil to shade and cold. They’re reliable performers, too, often providing weeks or even months of colour, while many also offer valuable food and habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. And, of course, there’s the added bonus of saving you money over time, as you don’t need to replace them every spring. Choose the right varieties for your garden and they can deliver plenty of impact with surprisingly little effort.
We asked gardening experts to share the low-maintenance perennials they always recommend – and never regret planting.
Nick Wade of Gardeners Delight Nursery, which specialises in herbaceous perennials, is a fan of these four:
1. Euphorbia ‘Miners Merlot’
‘This euphorbia has a distinct dark maroon evergreen foliage with yellow flower bracts in early spring. The bracts provide an important source of nectar for pollinators when few other flowers are in bloom.’
2. Allium ‘Serendipity’
‘A spreading perennial allium with lavender-blue flower heads appearing from June to September. They are a magnet for bees while the seedheads are used by birds in the winter.’
3. Alstroemeria ‘Summer Chic’
‘A long-flowering perennial that just keeps on giving, producing colourful blooms from April to October at around 60cm high. The flowers make excellent cut flowers and are popular with bumblebees. Pull spent stems from the base to encourage fresh new shoots.’
4. Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’
‘A tall peachy orange flowering geum that flowers from March to May – regular deadheading will encourage further flushes of flowers well into September. Geums are generally relatively untroubled by slugs or snails and the open flowers are excellent for pollinators, providing a useful source of nectar from late spring onwards.’
Sue O’Neil, founder of Genus high-performance gardenwear, has a soft spot for these three:
5. Astrantia major ‘Claret’
‘I love Astrantia major, especially ‘Claret’, for its delicate, pincushion-like flowers and the way it quietly weaves itself through a border. It has a lovely natural, romantic feel, and flowers for months, making it a brilliant choice for a relaxed, wildlife-friendly garden.’
6. Nepeta racemosa ‘Little Titch’
‘This brilliant low-growing, low-maintenance perennial thrives in sunny spots with little fuss once established. Its long-lasting haze of blue flowers looks lovely in a border and attracts bees and other pollinators. A quick cut-back after flowering encourages fresh growth.’
7. Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’
‘Salvia is a superb plant for our UK climate, thriving in warm, sunny conditions and coping well with dry spells once established. Its long flowering period brings vibrant colour from summer into autumn, while its nectar-rich blooms are a valuable food source for bees and other pollinators.’
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) also lists these perennials as easy-to-grow and low-maintenance:
8. Geranium ‘Rozanne’
A long-flowering blue cranesbill that tolerates a range of conditions.
9. Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot cranesbill)
Extremely hardy and spreads to form useful ground cover.
10. Alchemilla mollis (lady’s mantle)
A dependable, spreading perennial with attractive foliage and yellow-green flowers.
11. Bergenia ‘Silberlicht’
A tough evergreen ground-cover plant that offers flowers and foliage.
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest
The Garden Edit
