The Best Outdoor Plants For Beginners

When it comes to gardening, the thought of flexing your green thumb might be a bit intimidating. But fear not, friends! There are actually quite a few plants that even the most novice of gardeners can grow with success. Here you’ll find our recommendations for outdoor plants that many label as “no-kill” plants. And you know what that means? Anyone can plants these without fear!

Here’s our list of the best outdoor plants for beginners…

Snapdragons

Not only do these plants have a super cute name, but they’re super colorful and fun to look at, too. These cooler season flowers don’t do well in extreme heat, and partial shade is nice to keep them from getting too much sun exposure. Snapdragons are a great way to add a pretty pop of color to your garden in the spring or fall, and they also grow well in pots should you prefer to plant that way. Fun little fact for you: the plant’s botanical name, Antirrhinum majus, translates to “like a snout” and is an ode to their resemblance of a calf’s nose.

Impatients

Out of all the plants on this list, these might be the most no-kill plants of all. If you want to get your green thumb on, these pretty little flowering plants are a perfect choice to test your gardening skills. These annuals are hardy, and although they’re primarily known as shade plants, they can tolerate quite a bit of sun. Choose from many bright and bold colors to add a bright pop to your garden with a plant that’s made to withstand the elements and a beginner’s touch.

Marigolds

These are some of the best plants for beginners because they’re bold, bright, and super easy to grow with success. A member of the daisy family, marigolds germinate quickly, so should you choose to sow them from seeds, you’ll see them grow much quicker than you would most flowering plants. These full sun plants are easy peasy to grow in almost every climate, and it’ll give you a sense of satisfaction once those blooms start to show on you soon after your first run! Just be sure to keep in mind that they bloom only from late spring to early fall, but be ready for ladybugs and butterflies to come flocking to them.

Pansies

These common English plants are lovely, colorful, and a standout in any garden around your home. It’s best for beginners to start growing these as established plants instead of seeds as it can be tricky to start fresh. You can select from solids or mixes, and the attractive color blends that appear like little “faces” are endless! These pretty outdoor plants can also be grown indoors, and their extended blooming season makes them a favorite choice among many gardeners. Just be sure that if you do plant pansies outdoors, you provide them shade during the hottest part of the day. Whatever you do, just keep in mind that these are classic cool weather plants, and they don’t do well in extreme heat.

Daffodils

Nothing says spring more than delightful little daffodils! These beloved bright yellow flowering plants are super easy to grow and the perfect choice for a spring touch to any garden. Daffodils are hardy perennials which do well in almost any climate, excluding extremely wet and hot, i.e. Florida. When planting your daffodils, be sure to plant many bulbs so you can create a nice sea of yellow blooms. Additionally, it’s good to know that these plants need sunshine, and they’re favorite type is the sunshine provided in early spring. Something interesting to note about these plants is that the original plant will produce “daughter” plants which will give you nice little clumps of daffodil plants year after year in the area in which you planted them.

Persian Shield

Are you in search of outdoor plants for beginners that will prosper in a shady yard? Persian shield is not only durable, but it makes for a standout plant wherever you choose to plant it in your garden. The metallic purple shade gives off a tropical vibe, so you can plant this anywhere you want to fill up space in shady areas of your yard and imagine you’re sitting back in the tropics! Or, if you want to get creative, you can add some persian shield to hanging baskets on your porch for cascading swirls of exciting color.

Sweet Potato Vine

Another vine type of plant, sweet potato vine grows plentiful and the bright green shade makes for an attention-grabber in any garden around your home. I’ve planted these before in my gardens, and boy, do they grow! With this in mind, it’s important to either prune them back regularly or to plant them in a space where you need to fill out your garden because these super growers will do the trick. Traditionally these plants are an eye-catching chartreuse, but they can also give off purple or red hues. Like persian shield, you can even add these swirling vines to hanging baskets, too.