Plant Smart This Spring: Top Low-Maintenance Perennials for Illinois Gardens

It’s not easy to take care of a garden. All plants have different wants and needs, and it can become confusing to pick the right one. Not only that, but it’s also time-consuming to take care of a garden.

While there is no such thing as a “no-maintenance” plant, there are certainly ones that are easier to care for. Let’s dive into some great low-maintenance perennials that will go great in your garden this year!

Easy-Care Native Plants

Some great ornamental grasses that are easy to care for are:

Blue Grama, Bouteloua gracilis, grows 8-12” tall and can get up to 2’. They like full sun, as well as tolerating heat, drought, and poor soils. These flowers are great to use in fresh and dried arrangements.

Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, can reach a height of 3’. They like full sun and are tolerant of most soils (except those that are wet). Beautiful in every season, this grass spreads readily by seed.

Easy-Care Wildflowers and Perennials to consider:

Butterfly Weed, Asclepius tuberosa, reaching 1-2’ high. Full sun plant that prefers mesic to dry soil. This plant is also clay-tolerant (which is great for our area!) This flower produces stunning orange flower clusters that last throughout the summer. Plus, monarch butterflies love them!

False Indigo, Baptisia australis, grows to 3-4’ and does well in full sun to partial shade. They are drought-tolerant and want a well-drained soil. Shows beautiful blue-purple flowers in a pea-like shape.

Yellow Coneflower, Ratibida pinnata, grows 3-5’ tall in full to partial sun in Mesic soil. A pollinator and bird favorite producing yellow petals. They are also deer-resistant!

Easy to Grow Perennial Herbs

Not only are there some easy-care native perennials, but there are also easy-to-grow perennial herbs that can serve a dual purpose: beauty in the landscape and culinary uses in the kitchen.

Chives, Allium schoenoprasum, grow in 12” grass-like clumps. They produce purple-pink flowers that are both decorative and edible!

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, has strong lemon-scented heart-shaped foliage reaching 1.5’ tall.

Sage, Salvia officinalis, has oval gray-green foliage and a woody stem. Sage is a small evergreen shrub and needs good drainage.

Thyme, Thymus vulgaris, is a low-growing mound that reaches 2-12” tall. The pink tubular blooms appear in early summer amongst the dark green, fragrant foliage.

Make Your Garden a Garden of Your Own

Picking out plants for your garden should be fun and stress-free! Knowing what plants fit your needs is the first step to planning out your garden for the season.

Whether you’re planning a full landscaping design or simply want to add in some easy-to-care-for plants this year, Sweeney’s Custom Landscaping is here to help.

👉 Contact us today to schedule your free consultation! Your outdoor oasis awaits!