The Top 50 Plants Every Small Garden Needs
Garden Design and Landscaping

The Top 50 Plants Every Small Garden Needs

May 27, 2024 by

1. Lavender (Lavandula)

  • Benefits: Aromatic, attracts pollinators
  • Description: A fragrant herb with purple flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 5-9
  • Tips: Needs well-drained soil and full sun

2. Boxwood (Buxus)

  • Benefits: Evergreen, perfect for hedges
  • Description: Dense, green foliage
  • Ease of Growing: Moderate
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Regular pruning helps maintain shape

3. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

  • Benefits: Stunning foliage, compact growth
  • Description: Small tree with colorful leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Moderate
  • Zones: 5-8
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and well-drained soil

4. Hosta (Hosta)

  • Benefits: Attractive foliage, shade-tolerant
  • Description: Large, lush leaves in various shades of green
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Requires moisture-rich soil

5. Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

  • Benefits: Beautiful blooms, various colors
  • Description: Large, round flower clusters
  • Ease of Growing: Moderate
  • Zones: 5-9
  • Tips: Needs regular watering and partial shade

6. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

  • Benefits: Aromatic, culinary uses
  • Description: Evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 8-10
  • Tips: Requires full sun and well-drained soil

7. Peony (Paeonia)

  • Benefits: Large, fragrant flowers
  • Description: Perennial with lush blooms
  • Ease of Growing: Moderate
  • Zones: 3-8
  • Tips: Needs well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade

8. Daylily (Hemerocallis)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period
  • Description: Perennial with trumpet-shaped flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Tolerant of various soil conditions

9. Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)

  • Benefits: Compact, evergreen
  • Description: Cone-shaped, dense foliage
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 2-6
  • Tips: Requires full sun and well-drained soil

10. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)

  • Benefits: Ornamental grass, drought-tolerant
  • Description: Clump-forming grass with blue-gray leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-8
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

11. Coral Bells (Heuchera)

  • Benefits: Attractive foliage, shade-tolerant
  • Description: Perennial with colorful leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and well-drained soil

12. Dianthus (Dianthus caryophyllus)

  • Benefits: Fragrant flowers, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Perennial with frilled petals
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Requires full sun and well-drained soil

13. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

  • Benefits: Evergreen, ground cover
  • Description: Climbing vine with glossy leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Can grow in full sun to full shade

14. Sedum (Sedum)

  • Benefits: Drought-tolerant, succulent
  • Description: Thick, fleshy leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

15. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)

  • Benefits: Unique flowers, shade-tolerant
  • Description: Perennial with heart-shaped flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and moist soil

16. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

  • Benefits: Fragrant, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with small, white flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 5-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun to partial shade

17. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Perennial with yellow, daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Requires full sun and well-drained soil

18. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans)

  • Benefits: Ground cover, attractive foliage
  • Description: Low-growing with purple-blue flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-10
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and moist soil

19. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

  • Benefits: Drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Perennial with silvery leaves and blue flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

20. Hellebore (Helleborus)

  • Benefits: Early blooming, shade-tolerant
  • Description: Perennial with cup-shaped flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Moderate
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and well-drained soil

21. Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Perennial with delicate white flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 5-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

22. Snowdrops (Galanthus)

  • Benefits: Early spring blooms
  • Description: Bulb with white, bell-shaped flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-7
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and well-drained soil

23. Armeria (Armeria maritima)

  • Benefits: Drought-tolerant, ornamental
  • Description: Clump-forming with pink flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

24. Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

  • Benefits: Attractive foliage, shade-tolerant
  • Description: Perennial with spotted leaves and blue flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-8
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and moist soil

25. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

  • Benefits: Aromatic, ground cover
  • Description: Low-growing herb with small, purple flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-8
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

26. Pansies (Viola tricolor)

  • Benefits: Vibrant colors, cool-season bloomers
  • Description: Annual with large, multi-colored flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 6-9
  • Tips: Prefers cool weather and partial shade

27. Camellia (Camellia japonica)

  • Benefits: Evergreen, winter blooms
  • Description: Shrub with glossy leaves and rose-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Moderate
  • Zones: 7-9
  • Tips: Needs partial shade and acidic soil

28. Heuchera (Heuchera)

  • Benefits: Attractive foliage, shade-tolerant
  • Description: Perennial with colorful leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and well-drained soil

29. Astilbe (Astilbe)

  • Benefits: Shade-tolerant, beautiful plumes
  • Description: Perennial with feathery flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-8
  • Tips: Needs moist soil and partial shade

30. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)

  • Benefits: Bright, colorful blooms
  • Description: Annual with tubular flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 7-10
  • Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

31. Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa)

  • Benefits: Continuous blooms, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with small, petunia-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

32. Coreopsis (Coreopsis)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Perennial with daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

33. Verbena (Verbena)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with clusters of small flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

34. Salvia (Salvia)

  • Benefits: Aromatic, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Perennial with spikes of flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 4-8
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

35. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)

  • Benefits: Fragrant, beautiful blooms
  • Description: Annual with colorful, fragrant flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 7-9
  • Tips: Prefers cool weather and full sun

36. Gazania (Gazania rigens)

  • Benefits: Drought-tolerant, vibrant flowers
  • Description: Annual with daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

37. Lantana (Lantana camara)

  • Benefits: Attracts pollinators, vibrant flowers
  • Description: Shrub with clusters of small, brightly colored flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 8-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

38. Nemesia (Nemesia)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, vibrant colors
  • Description: Annual with small, snapdragon-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Tips: Prefers cool weather and full sun to partial shade

39. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

  • Benefits: Attracts pollinators, medicinal uses
  • Description: Perennial with large, daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

40. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

  • Benefits: Drought-tolerant, medicinal uses
  • Description: Perennial with clusters of small flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 3-9
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

41. Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with clusters of small, blue flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 10-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

42. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

  • Benefits: Edible flowers and leaves
  • Description: Annual with vibrant, funnel-shaped flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

43. Begonia (Begonia)

  • Benefits: Shade-tolerant, continuous blooms
  • Description: Annual with colorful flowers and foliage
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 9-11
  • Tips: Prefers partial shade and moist soil

44. Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)

  • Benefits: Attractive foliage, drought-tolerant
  • Description: Annual with silvery-gray leaves
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 8-10
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

45. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 2-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

46. Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)

  • Benefits: Vibrant colors, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with small, blue flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 10-11
  • Tips: Needs partial shade and moist soil

47. Petunia (Petunia)

  • Benefits: Continuous blooms, vibrant colors
  • Description: Annual with trumpet-shaped flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 10-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

48. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

  • Benefits: Long blooming period, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with bright, daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 2-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

49. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

  • Benefits: Vibrant colors, attracts pollinators
  • Description: Annual with tubular flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 7-10
  • Tips: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

50. Marigold (Tagetes)

  • Benefits: Pest-repellent, continuous blooms
  • Description: Annual with vibrant, daisy-like flowers
  • Ease of Growing: Easy
  • Zones: 2-11
  • Tips: Needs full sun and well-drained soil

Jonathan Holmes is an experienced and enthusiastic gardener who has been cultivating his green thumb for over 20 years. His love of gardening started in Scotland, where he gained a deep understanding of different plants and flowers, as well as the importance of soil composition, watering techniques, and sunlight exposure. After moving to Australia, Jonathan adapted his gardening skills to the different climate and growing conditions of his new home, experimenting with different plants and techniques to create sustainable and beautiful outdoor spaces. He is known among his friends and family for his impressive gardens and often shares his knowledge and tips with others who share his passion for gardening.

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